I can’t agree that Carter was one of our better presidents.
(snip)
Who in his right mind would turn over complete ownership and control of the Panama Canal to a nation not exactly friendly to vital American interest?
(snip)
However, the real disgrace was the Iranian Hostage incident. Here we were the strongest nation in the world, rendered helpless and incompetence to national honor as Iran held American hostages for 444 days.
Well, you prefer the US being the worlds policeman?
Maybe he gave the canal back to Panama in the first place, because it is in Panama (i don’t know the exact terms when it was built and for how long the US was “leasing” it)?
For the second: It was a decade of world terrorism. What we face today is different, but not more than in that times.
Why is your “national interest” and “national honour” the only measure for a good president? These two things are often reasons for starting wars, but nothing more!