can somebody say 'waterboarding'....

http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/API/610221752

October 22. 2006 9:09PM

Official Sorry for 'Stupidity' Comment

The Associated Press

A senior U.S. diplomat apologized Sunday night for saying U.S. policy in Iraq displayed "arrogance" and "stupidity."

A day after his remarks in an interview were broadcast by the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera, Alberto Fernandez issued a written apology through the State Department press office.

"Upon reading the transcript of my appearance on Al-Jazeera, I realized that I seriously misspoke by using the phrase 'there has been arrogance and stupidity' by the U.S. in Iraq," said Fernandez, director of public diplomacy in State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

"This represents neither my views nor those of the State Department," Fernandez added. "I apologize."

(snip)

link: http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/API/610221752

There is nothing to apologize for, he was right.

By backing down from the truth, he's propping up stupidity and arrogance. He can't claim ignorance on the matter, either. His squirming will cost us additional weeks and months of bloodshed in Iraq, and bolster the GOP in the upcoming elections.

He owes us all an apology now, big time.

He will be seen as officially stating that the US has no honor, and deserves no respect, and cannot be trusted. He's essentially doing what a Latino would be doing saying that his mother's a whore, or a loyal Catholic saying that the Pope screws pigs, or a devout Klansman saying his mother was a Jew and his father a black gang member. Or some avid DUer proudly saying that he's managed to convince his entire family to vote for Santorum.

In a culture where honor is vastly important, truth is not the issue. As a diplomat, specializing in this area, he was worse than an idiot. Again, firing him isn't humiliation enough--unless suitable action is taken, and his apology is not suitable action, the administration will be seen as confirming his views.

Truth is subservient to honor, simply a pragmatic fact. For example, Al-Sistani wrote a day or two ago that in no way can the killings in Iraq be considered sectarian. He lied, in spades, through his teeth, knowing he was lying--or he's a cretin. But in making the statement, he removed the need to defend one's honor (whether anybody will accept his dodge is doubtful; but the motive remains the same): One does not have to get revenge against Sunnis for a Shi'ite that was killed, because it wasn't a Sunni per se that killed the Shi'ite per se. No aliquot of honor shifted from Shi'a-dom to Sunni-dom, and therefore no act is needed to shift it back. It was, we could imagine, a member from Clan A that killed a member from Clan B--or, even better, some thug, not a person acting as a member of a group. Revenge, then, is impossible, or not strictly necessary. And some Shi'ite that would be tempted to kill some random Sunni has a face-saving way to not commit murder to regain honor for his "tribe", the Sh'ia.

Think Worf if it helps. Not quite right. But a lot closer than anything you'll have learned from the media.

Anyone who can't see the stupidity of our Iraq policy for themselves is, um... stupid.

That makes no sense. One can't use these two words to describe the situation without knowing what one wanted to express. And one doesn't use these words as a diplomat if you aren't persuaded that it is correct.

The way to get out of a gaffe is to deny the obvious.

e.g.: "This represents neither my views nor those of the State Department," Fernandez added. "I apologize."

I think he really meant to level with his intended Arab audience.
If he said otherwise, would not be credible. He just didn't realize
that the whole world to be listening.

The Bushies got knocked off message by their own propaganda operation.
This is good even if got retracted.

n/t

:eyes:

recalibration session.

Did Fernandez issue his apology before or after he typed his resignation and updated his resume?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6075934.stm
(2 hours ago)

US official retracts Iraq remarks

The US state department official who said that the US had shown "arrogance and stupidity" in Iraq has apologised for his comments. Alberto Fernandez, who made the remarks during an interview with Arabic TV station al-Jazeera, said that he had "seriously misspoke". His comments did not represent the views of the state department, he said.

Mr Fernandez is an Arabic speaker who is director of public diplomacy in the state department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. On Saturday, he told the Qatar-based broadcaster that the world was "witnessing failure in Iraq". "That's not the failure of the United States alone, but it is a disaster for the region," he said. "I think there is great room for strong criticism, because without doubt, there was arrogance and stupidity by the United States in Iraq."

State department spokesman Sean McCormack initially said that Mr Fernandez had been quoted incorrectly and rejected his comments.

And in a statement posted on the state department's website, Mr Fernandez retracted his remarks.
"Upon reading the transcript of my appearance on al-Jazeera, I realised that I seriously misspoke by using the phrase: 'There has been arrogance and stupidity' by the US in Iraq," he said. "This represents neither my views nor those of the state department. I apologise."

acute hubris and dumbassedness

:)

one is baling water and nobody is steering the vessel! bwahahahahahaaaaaaa!

:evilgrin:

its not like he's gonna keep his job now anyways.

George only wants liars working for him.

What a mess we are in, thanks to Bush.

Well, at least now he's confirmed that he actually said it in the first place.

But it's good that he apologized. The world knows he was forced to apologize.

He was defending this comment at least through Sunday morning.

The arrogance of these punks is astounding. Nothing happened unless WE SAY it did. Bush is now saying he never said "stay the course," which he only said about 6,000 times. They're so past psychopathic lying, I don't think a term has been invented yet. Perhaps psychologists should consider "Bushing." Def: Telling wild, easily disprovable lies, and demanding that everyone accept them as truth or you'll run a multi-million dollar PR and advertising campaign smearing them as traitors, criminals, and terrorist-lovers.

At the home of the free and the brave.

You'd think he would have known that in Bush-World telling the truth can be a career ender. He's lucky they didn't just ship him off to Gitmo.

Saturday night.

He was actually referring to his pet names for Cheney and Bush, "Arrogant" and "Stupid"