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BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 (AFP) - Former US president Jimmy Carter came out swinging at the Democratic convention Monday, blasting George W. Bush for an "unbroken series of mistakes" he said had squandered the world's goodwill for the United States.
Despite pledges to keep the four-day convention free of Bush- bashing, Carter used his opening-night speech to launch a fierce, partisan broadside on the incumbent that Democrats hope to oust in November's election.
"Truth is the foundation of our global leadership, but our credibility has been shattered and we are left increasingly isolated and vulnerable in a hostile world," Carter said, focussing on unhappiness over the war in Iraq.
"In the world at large, we cannot lead if our leaders mislead," said Carter, who criticised Bush over "wars of choice" and charged that he had fumbled in the fight against terrorism since the September 11 attacks in 2001.
"After 9-11, America stood proud, wounded but determined and united. A cowardly attack on innocent civilians brought us an unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding around the world," he said.
"But in just 34 months, we have watched with deep concern as all this goodwill has been squandered by a virtually unbroken series of mistakes and miscalculations," Carter said, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd.
He lashed out at "these few months of extremism" under Bush, which he said were a "radical departure" from "basic American values" that Democratic challenger John Kerry would bring to the Oval Office.
"The United States has alienated its allies, dismayed its friends, and inadvertently gratified its enemies by proclaiming a confused and disturbing strategy of 'pre-emptive war," Carter said.
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