To note that this entire venture is an extraordinary propaganda windfall for radical Islam is an understatement. If anyone knows that, it should be the former president. His Atlanta-based Carter Center has had a full-time office in Ramallah, West Bank, since 2006 to "monitor developments in the region." Apparently, the staff has failed to apprise its founder that he is being celebrated as the man who will "bring an end to Zionist hegemony."

Hamas, it should be noted, is listed by the U.S., Israel and the European Union as an international terrorist organization. Hamas radio pledged as recently as this week to "destroy the illegal Jewish entity" and continue to "deliver Allah's fire" (meaning Iranian-built 107-mm and 122-mm rockets) on "the occupiers" (meaning any Israeli within range). During the course of the past year, Hamas terrorists have fired the high explosive missiles repeatedly into Israeli communities, killing and wounding hundreds of civilians.

Unlike his past efforts on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, it is hard to fathom what good Carter sought to achieve in this peripatetic itinerary. His trip is taking place during Passover, one of Judaism's holiest holidays. Other than a brief no-press-allowed arrival meeting with Israel's ceremonial president, Shimon Peres, he will meet with no other senior Israeli officials. That hasn't deterred his desperate bid for attention -- or his bid to grant legitimacy to Hamas.

On Tuesday, Carter met with Hamas representatives in Ramallah. He then went to Cairo, Egypt, for "a listening session" with the terror group's Gaza leaders: Mahmoud Zahar and Said Siyam. But it was the meeting he scheduled in Damascus, Syria, with Hamas kingpin Khaled Mashaal -- wanted in connection with the death of more than a half-dozen American citizens and scores of Israelis -- that defies comprehension.

In response to critics -- and the entreaties of the Bush administration not to meet with the leaders of Hamas or go to Damascus -- Carter generously said, "I'll share what I find with the Israelis and with Fatah and also, of course, with the American government officials."

That's mighty kind of the man. By the time his trip concludes, Carter will have broken bread with the sworn enemies of the United States and disparaged our only democratic ally in the region. He also has broken faith with his countrymen. He's not naive and he's not ignorant. But he is on an ego trip.