Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. Former US President Carter 'Disappointed' With Blair ---------------------------------------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=13AD7CA:A6F02AD83191E16065B5C20F9C3AF5D79574F7DCC14957C0 Jimmy Carter said he thought Tony Blair could have had a moderating influence on Washington Former US President Jimmy Carter Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says he is "extremely disappointed" with Tony Blair for what he says is the British prime minister's failure to constrain President Bush's policies toward Iraq. Mr. Carter, an outspoken critic of the 2003 U.S.-led Iraq invasion, was quoted Sunday in Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper. He said he thought that Mr. Blair could have had a moderating influence on Washington, "and he has not." Mr. Blair has been President Bush's closest international ally on Iraq, and Britain has the second largest contingent of troops in the country. Mr. Carter said people in many countries he has visited equate U.S. policy with British interests, and said that U.S. popularity in moderate countries like Egypt and Jordan is currently less than five percent. The 81-year-old Mr. Carter, the 39th U.S. president, served from 1977 to 1981. Some information for this report was provided by AP. .