In contrast to Carter's economic policies which were uncertain and left the public confused, his foreign policy was more clearly defined. Although foreign policy is where Jimmy Carter suffered his worst defeats. In his inaugural speech he stated that "our commitment to human rights must be absolute." He singled out the [[Soviet Union]] as a violator of human rights and strongly condemned the country for arresting it's citizens for political protests. However, he was criticized for not doing enough to promote his proclaimed human rights foreign policy stance in his administration, such as continuing to support the Indonesian government even while it was implicated in the commission of acts of genocide in the occupation of [[East Timor]].
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In contrast to Carter's economic policies which were uncertain and left the public confused, his foreign policy was more clearly defined, although foreign policy is where Jimmy Carter suffered his worst defeats. In his inaugural speech he stated that "our commitment to human rights must be absolute." He singled out the [[Soviet Union]] as a violator of human rights and strongly condemned the country for arresting it's citizens for political protests. However, he was criticized for not doing enough to promote his proclaimed human rights foreign policy stance in his administration, such as continuing to support the Indonesian government even while it was implicated in the commission of acts of genocide in the occupation of [[East Timor]].
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Carter also tried to remove the U.S. image of interventionism by giving Panamanians control of the [[Panama Canal]]. Relations with the United States and the Soviet Union suffered a significant setback under Carter when Soviet troops invaded the Central Asian nation of [[Afghanistan]] in December 1979. President Carter responded by imposing an [[embargo]] on the sale of grain to the Soviet Union and boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in [[Moscow]]. The policy of detente that was established by President Nixon had virtually collapsed.
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Carter also tried to remove the U.S. image of interventionism by giving Panamanians control of the [[Panama Canal]]. Relations with the United States and the Soviet Union suffered a significant setback under Carter when Soviet troops invaded the Central Asian nation of [[Afghanistan]] in December 1979. President Carter responded by imposing an [[embargo]] on the sale of grain to the Soviet Union and boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in [[Moscow]]. The policy of detente that was established by President Nixon had virtually collapsed.