Rebecca West sounds like the mirror of a nasty venomous outcast. But at least she had some refinement of thought.

Dear David F.,

I've been reading more about former US President
Jimmy Carter and learning more about him as a result
so thank you for pointing me in that direction.
I've learned that" he was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize for his work to find peaceful solutions to
international conflicts, to advance democracy, and
human rights and to promote economic and social
development." That he aspired to make government
"competent and compassionate."

Unfortunately, although his achievements were notable
it was impossible for his administration to meet these
high expectations due to an era of rising energy costs,
mounting inflation and continuing tensions. But he certainly
did try and I can understand your admiration for the man.

___________________________________________________________

Is Mise,

Are u OK? It sounds like you need some clarity.
________________________________________________________________

Rebecca West?

She was a major figure in 20th century literature. Her
prose is instantly recognisable, with its long, coolly
balanced sentences and its precise startling imagery.
H.G. Wells her lover, who fathered her child, said:

" I had never met anything like her before, and I
doubt if there was anything like her before."

Of course as with any authors, or works of art - its subjective.
And - she's not everyone's cup of tea. I simply liked the quote.

Dear Canem Malum,

In my opinion the US should not have interfered when Iran nationalized the oil industry. The oil companies in the US had too much influence, and Eisenhower succumbed to that influence. If left alone Iran under Mossadegh might have transitioned to a secular democracy.

Carter had a bad hand in Iran and he played it poorly. Offering a sick old man, the Shah, refuge in the US, seems a decent thing to do. I don't think it had to mean the break with Iran that it did.

The three initiatives by Carter could have been three steps toward peace. The Camp David agreements between Begin and Sadat could have ushered in an era of peace in the Middle East if followed up. The Salt 2 agreement on weapons with the USSR could have led to the end of the Cold War between the US and USSR. The turning of the Panama Canal to Panama could have led to a new relationship between the US and Latin America.

Unfortunately Reagan got in, and Carter's initiatives in the Middle East and Latin America were not followed up. Reagan had a lot to do with the ending of the Cold War. If that had been accompanied by a Marshall Plan for the USSR there might not be the present confrontation with Putin.

Foxy
If Bryce was a republican before she took office then she perjured herself when she took the oath of allegiance , if she became republican after she took the oath then she should have resigned.
Either way she is now a liar and a perjurer.

Is Mise,

There, now you must feel better having said
what you wanted to all along. And as CM would
say - "Kudos, for standing up for your principles!"

However, many would disagree with your take on this
and many other things. But that's to be expected
for all of us I suppose.

In this case even our former PM Tony Abbott disagreed
with your take on this issue. He said that the Dame
Quentin Bryce was entitled to express her personal
opinion.

Whether she had that opinion earlier - none of us
know but as Mr Abbott said:

"It's more tan appropriate for the Governor-General
approaching the end of her term, to express a
personal view on a number of subjects and that's
what she's doing."

She did it with grace and style at the final Boyer
lecture 24th November 2013 just before she retired -
having done her job beautifully for five years.

Here is the text of the former Governor General
Dame Quentin Bryce's final Boyer Lecture delivered
just 4 months before she retired from her Vice-Regal
role,

The few remarks that she made that caused some controversy
came at the END of a speech entitled "Advance Australia
Fair." They were NOT the emphasis of her speech and should be
taken in context:

http://australianpolitics.com/2013/11/24/quentin-bryce-boyer-lecture.html