Would you have boycotted the Olympics in 1980 if you were the President?

[UdoKier]

If Gerhard Schroeder or Jacques Chirac were anything like Jimmy Carter...

...wouldn't they be boycotting the olympics right now?

This weeks' Olympic Games reminded me of Carter's infuriating decision to boycott the 1980 games.

Anyone out there agree with that decision?

[UdoKier]

1. No bites, huh?

Oh well.

[2Design]

2. No I thought it was awful. The athletes had trained for years

for some this was their only chance and I felt carter stole that. I don't even remember the political reasons but I felt sorry for the victims of that decision.

[UdoKier]

3. It was as a protest against the Afghan invasion by the Soviets.

I thought it was a terrible idea, too.

[2Design]

5. ah that was when we started to help make osama bin laden into

the person he is today.....yes history and hindsight sure are clearer...

We have been funding trouble in the middle east and giving arms to people all around the world and then decide the friend I have today is my enemy tomorrow and then my friend again.....

Yes those athletes lost out over something that was not their fault and never should have been used politically.....

Carter has gone on to do good deeds but that was not one of them

[genius]

4. No. I think we always need to try peaceful communication

I understand why Carter did it. But it was our athletes who were hurt. I'm sure the Soviets didn't mind.

[TeeYiYi]

6. No. That boycott was . . .

. . . disingenuous and misleading. Here's why --->> http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/BRZ110A.html

I don't believe that 'all's fair in love and war'. Not when innocent people get hurt. The end didn't justify the means in this case.

TYY

[UdoKier]

7. WOW. That interview speaks VOLUMES

about what is going on today.

[TeeYiYi]

9. It does . . .

. . . doesn't it? Here's a followup --->> http://www.sianews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=271&mode=&order=0&thold=0

TYY

[iamtechus]

8. It was simply wrong to politicize the games

The olympics are about people from different cultures finding a common ground. The games are not about nations or political ideas. Neither are they about military competition.

While political leaders should be welcome at the the olympics, the games are not about them and should not be controlled by them.

[coloradodem2005]

10. It did not sound like a good decision.

I have a lot of respect for Jimmy Carter, but I didn't like that decision. At least from what I hear. I was not even quite a year old at the time.

[VOX]

11. It wasn't just Carter. Some 60 nations boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games.

Carter appealed to the IOC to move the games to a neutral site, like Athens, and the U.S. would then participate.

And the Soviets didn't think twice about boycotting the 1984 games in Los Angeles, and there were more countries competing at that time.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/20/spotlight/