What a surprise. The worst U.S. president of the 20th century has opined that the intelligence used by the Bush administration in advance of the Iraqi invasion was “manipulated, at least.” Of course, this is not the first time he has opened his yap. Last year, he said that the war was “based on lies and misinterpretations” cooked up by “Bush Jr.,” about as demeaning a term of reference from an ex-president as can be imagined. And the Nobel committee used him to get at George W. in 2002, an opportunity he gladly took in his acceptance speech.

The magnitude of Jimmy Carter’s disaster as president is exceeded only by his messianic moralizing; in fact, the two phenomena are inseparable. Many have interpreted his activities since leaving office as a quest for redemption, but Carter has never felt the need to redeem himself, only the rest of humanity. If anything, his failure seems to have convinced him of his own absolute moral authority, the very same kind he accuses conservatives of wielding.  It's remarkable how the sin of pride visits even those who have no business with it.

In a less forgiving country, Carter would have been disqualified from offering his views on foreign policy the moment he left office on January 20, 1981, which, considering who took his place, should be remembered as one of the truly great days in American history.