Carter would have got a second term if he had invaded Iran in 1979. He just couldn't do it. Carter's ultimate problem (well a problem being the leader of the world's most powerful military that could destroy the world dozens of times over) is he valued human life too much. He was next level Christian and not the zionist kind. His values prevented him to do what needed to be done.
I can get on board with that...but I also understand you can't always be a nice guy when you're in that position.