3 CHEERS...

...for the 39th US President, Jimmy Carter, who may not always be right in what he says but is still saying it at the age of 85. Most American presidents spend their retirement after leaving the White House in writing their memoirs and setting up libraries of their official papers but, after his defeat in 1979 by Ronald Reagan, Carter and his wife turned to humanitarian issues and established the Carter Center whose good work was recognised in 2002 by Carter's award of the Nobel Peace Prize. A non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation, the Center offers expertise in peace negotiations, vetting of elections and disease prevention in the Third World. Despite a considerable programme of legislation it cannot be said that Carter's presidency was a great success and it ended with the taking of American Embassy hostages by Iranian students and the failed attempt by a US task force to rescue them by helicopter. Mr Carter holds strong views on the Israel-Palestinian dispute and last week plunged into America's most difficult domestic issue -- by accusing many white Americans of opposing Barack Obama because of his colour.