Jimmy Carter Reams Bush: Bush Responds Like A Wounded Swamp Sow

AP article verifies that President Jimmy Carter said President Bush's administration is "the worst in history" in international relations, singling out the White House's pre-emptive war, and the Administration's feeble

The criticism from the 39th President also dug into Bush's environmental policies, and the "quite disturbing" faith-based initiative funding.

"I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history," Carter told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a story on Saturday. "The overt reversal of America's basic values as expressed by previous administrations, including those of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and others, has been the most disturbing to me."

Carter spokeswoman Deanna Congileo confirmed his comments to The Associated Press on Saturday and declined to elaborate. He spoke while promoting his new audiobook series, "Sunday Mornings in Plains," a collection of weekly Bible lessons from his hometown of Plains, Ga.

The White House on Sunday dismissed Carter as "increasingly irrelevant."

White House spokesman Tony Fratto in Crawford, Texas, where Bush spent the weekend, said: "I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," said Fratto. "I think it's unfortunate. "

"Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man," said Amber Wilkerson, Republican National Committee spokeswoman.

On Monday, the former President seemed to back off somewhat from his previous statements:

An AP dispatch Monday included the following: "Former President Jimmy Carter said Monday his remarks were "careless or misinterpreted" when he said the Bush administration has been the "worst in history" for its impact around the world. "

---o0o---