Jimmy Carter

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr. was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. His presidency was marked by significant challenges in foreign policy, nuclear nonproliferation efforts, and involvement with unconventional intelligence programs.

Nuclear Nonproliferation and South African Tests

Carter and Leonid Brezhnev worked together to lead an international campaign of protest against South Africa's suspected nuclear test in the Kalahari in August 1977. The South African government backed down, and Carter publicly announced that South Africa did not intend to develop nuclear explosive devices. However, the CIA later concluded that the strong international protests had only deflected South Africa "at least temporarily" from its planned test, and that Israeli military personnel were openly present at the Kalahari test site.¹

Israeli Satellite Intelligence Access

In March 1979, President Carter made the decision to provide Israel with access to KH-11 satellite photographs, a move that significantly impacted the satellite's carefully planned schedule. This agreement granted Israel access to satellite intelligence concerning troop movements or other potential threats up to one hundred miles inside the borders of neighboring Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan. This decision was seen by some American intelligence officials as a reward for Prime Minister Menachem Begin's successful Camp David summit with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat the previous year.²

VELA Satellite Incident

On September 22, 1979, a VELA Satellite recorded two distinctive bright flashes of light over the South Indian Ocean, probable evidence of a nuclear explosion. This event, suspected to be a joint Israeli-South African nuclear test, created a horrible dilemma for President Carter, just months before the 1980 presidential campaign. Carter, who had emphasized nonproliferation, faced criticism for hypocrisy if he did not act, but political repercussions if he sought sanctions against Israel and South Africa.¹

Psychic Research Programs

His presidency coincided with the early years of the Grill Flame program, the U.S. government's secret psychic research effort. President Carter was reportedly aware of the Grill Flame program, with Congressman Charlie Rose even discussing it with him. However, his administration's stance on the program was complex. While some officials, like William Perry, sought to cut its funding, the program managed to continue.³

Iran Hostage Crisis

The Iran Hostage Crisis (1979-1981) was a major challenge during his presidency. Remote viewers were extensively tasked by the Pentagon and CIA to gather intelligence on the hostages' whereabouts and conditions, though the administration's handling of the crisis, including the failed rescue attempt, ultimately led to the hostages' release on the day Carter's presidency ended.³

Latin American Policy

During his presidency, Carter's human rights foreign policy in Latin America reportedly distanced the CIA under Stansfield Turner from any death-squad interdiction. His administration was also reportedly reluctant to pursue certain figures involved in the drug trade, such as General Torrijos of Panama, due to ongoing negotiations for the Panama Canal treaty.⁴

Connections to BCCI

Jimmy Carter accepted millions from Agha Hasan Abedi and BCCI for charitable organizations.⁵ In August 1982, Bert Lance introduced Abedi to Carter.⁶ Abedi's National Bank of Georgia was the largest single lender to the Carter family's peanut farm in Plains, Georgia.⁷

In the early 1980s, Abedi donated $500,000 to help establish the Carter Center at Emory University in Atlanta and contributed millions to Carter's Global 2000 Foundation, founded in 1985 for Third World healthcare.⁷ BCCI provided $8.1 million to Carter during the 1980s, and Abedi arranged an additional $2.5 million from Sheikh Zayed through the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.⁷ Carter also utilized BCCI's jet for his travels and Global 2000 Foundation used office space at BCCI's London headquarters.⁷

Carter and his second wife, Rosalynn, became friends with Abedi and his wife, Rabia, and spent holidays together in Switzerland. Carter introduced Abedi to acquaintances like James Callaghan.⁷ Abedi's joint appearances with Carter in various countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, and the Soviet Union, served as key targets for BCCI's business development.⁷ Carter continued to accept at least $1.5 million from BCCI even after the bank was indicted and convicted in Florida.⁷