Checking Wiki, I see among the causes poor training and a lack of capabilities. I wonder who was responsible for a poorly trained, less capable military? (You may go to war, or in the case- rescue, with the Army you have, but the Army you have is a direct result of political decisions.)
It wasn't Carter in this case, it was the post Vietnam treatment of the military. Eagle Claw happened just a few years after Vietnam...when the military was in a very neglected shape after the end of that war
My understanding was the mission was planned then sent through the chain where it was "improved" by various pencil pushers till it failed
More of trying to make do with what they had, it was to be an arduous mission even with the finest of equipment, which they didn't have.
8 helicopters were launched, 6 made it to the site, Two aborted due to mechanical failures. One aborted at the desert one site due to a hydraulic pump failure. Five were insufficient to carry the mission out, they aborted the mission at that point.
When the remaining helicopters were being refueled to return to the carrier, one was hovertaxing due to a flat tire and due to the extreme sandstorm, was following the ground guide and he inadvertently stepped back and the helicopter followed, smashing into the tanker.