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Message: <blockquote data-quote="newfie" data-source="post: 6111048" data-attributes="member: 58700"><p>Also in that time period Jack Anderson a wapo columnist who was known to have excellent sources in the CIA ran a story that Carter was considering an invasion of Iran to resolve the Hostage crisis and possibly bolster his standings in the polls . this story is a little shakier since the argument goes against carters normal style of handling things which was diplomacy. </p><p></p><h3>Summary of Jack Anderson’s Reporting</h3><p>Jack Anderson, an investigative journalist, published columns during the Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979–1981) that often revealed government plans based on leaks. While no specific article explicitly states President Jimmy Carter considered invading Iran to “save his presidency,” Anderson likely reported on Pentagon or administration discussions of military options, including contingency plans for an invasion. These plans, discussed in 1980, were hypothetical and reflected pressure on Carter to resolve the crisis decisively. Anderson’s columns may have framed such options as politically motivated, given the crisis’s damage to Carter’s 1980 re-election campaign, but this framing could be speculative or exaggerated, as no primary source confirms Carter’s intent was electoral gain.</p><h3>Why Carter Might Have Considered Invasion (If True)</h3><p>If Carter contemplated an invasion, the motivations could include:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Resolve the Crisis</strong>: With 52 Americans held hostage for over a year, Carter faced intense pressure to act. An invasion might have aimed to free the hostages or force Iran’s compliance, especially after the failed Operation Eagle Claw (April 1980).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Political Survival</strong>: The crisis dominated Carter’s presidency, portraying him as weak. With the 1980 election nearing, a successful military operation could have bolstered his image, countering Republican criticisms and potentially swaying voters. Carter’s “Rose Garden strategy” tied his political fate to the crisis’s outcome.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Strategic Pressure</strong>: Advisors like Zbigniew Brzezinski advocated stronger measures. An invasion could have signaled U.S. resolve to Iran and deterred further defiance, though Carter prioritized hostage safety, rejecting escalation due to risks of mass casualties and hostage executions.</li> </ul><p>However, Carter’s documented restraint—favoring diplomacy and sanctions—suggests any invasion plan was likely a last resort, not a political ploy. The “save his presidency” narrative may reflect critics’ cynicism or Anderson’s sensationalism rather than Carter’s intent.</p></blockquote><p></p>

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