Bush exploited Sept 11 attacks, says Carter

President Bush has exploited the Sept. 11 attacks for political gain, former president Jimmy Carter said in an interview published yesterday.

Asked in an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper why US polls were split over the war in Iraq, the former Democrat president said:

"I think the basic reason is that our country suffered, in 9/11, a terrible and shocking attack ... and George Bush has been adroit at exploiting that attack and he has elevated himself, in the consciousness of many Americans, to a heroic commander-in-chief, fighting a global threat against America."

"He's repeatedly played that card, and to some degree quite successfully. I think that success has dissipated," he added.

"I don't know if it's dissipating fast enough to affect the election."

The Nobel Peace Prize winner described the invasion of Iraq by US-led forces as "unwarranted" and "a completely unjust adventure based on misleading statements."