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| Alberto Fernandez : I misspoke on Iraq policy | |
| 2006-10-23 | |
| A senior State Department diplomat apologized Sunday for having told the Arab satellite network Al-Jazeera on Saturday that there is a strong possibility history will show the United States displayed "arrogance" and "stupidity" in its handling of the Iraq war. "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," Alberto Fernandez said in an e-mail sent to reporters by the State Department and attributed to him. "This represents neither my views nor those of the State Department. I apologize," the statement said.
His apology Sunday differed from a defense of his comments that he made to CNN during an interview Saturday night. "History will decide what role the United States played," he told Al-Jazeera in Arabic, based on CNN translations. "And God willing, we tried to do our best in Iraq. "But I think there is a big possibility (inaudible) for extreme criticism and because undoubtedly there was arrogance and stupidity from the United States in Iraq." (Watch what Fernandez told Al-Jazeera -- :19) | |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #11 There was an editorial in the local newspaper on Sunday that tore the rear end of one of our city employees a new one for defaming and saying derogatory comments against an elected official. The newspaper said that the employee, speaking in a public place, was wrong, and needed to either resign or be fired. This idiot belongs in the same category. He should have woke up this morning to a pink slip on his desk, along with instructions on how to clear the building in one hour. People who use their office or position for political purposes should be shown the door, post-haste. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-10-23 22:13 |
| #10 So, does this a--hole know what his job description is? Whom he works for? What he is supposed to be accomplishing? It would appear that the answer to those three questions is "nope". Aside from being able to speak clearly in two languages with his foot in mouth up to the knee-joint, he doesn't seem to have many qualifications at all. This artless display of incompetance is not what we pay the State Department for. Well, it's not what the citizens of the United States pay their state department for. Dunno about other possible potential donors... |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2006-10-23 19:13 |
| #9 Doesn't this guy know any history? We've always been arrogant and acted stoopid, according to the world. SOS |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-10-23 13:00 |
| #8 And Represenative Foley misspoke/misIM'd himself too. Does he get a do over? |
| Posted by: Procopius2K 2006-10-23 12:24 |
| #7 So, Albeto notes that the words he spoke have no meaning...either from him or State. Time to excile/reassign him to France, or better yet NYT/CNN/AP/Rooters/can get quotes from him (sources) that mean nothing. How did this diplojerk get his job? |
| Posted by: Phineter Thraviger1073 2006-10-23 11:20 |
| #6 JFM : South Park joke. |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-10-23 10:37 |
| #5 Even of those who are serving in the Armled Forces while some whities tell to get rid of them? |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-10-23 10:22 |
| #4 Can we get rid of all the Mexicans now? |
| Posted by: Mr. Garrison 2006-10-23 08:53 |
| #3 They need to fire his ass. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2006-10-23 07:51 |
| #2 The ole' "translation error." This clown has been in the Middle East too long; he's picking up on the local's bad habits. At the very least, a "Public Press and Public Diplomacy" guy who can't speak clearly, clearly needs to seek out new employment options. |
| Posted by: Clomoter Omolutch4002 2006-10-23 07:38 |
| #1 From an article at Yahoo news: Fernandez spoke in fluent Arabic in the interview, which Al-Jazeera said was taped in Washington on Friday. His remarks were translated into English by The Associated Press. So did AP mess up the translation? That's not what Ferny sez. More likely: "They translated it? I didn't know my remarks would be translated! Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle, I could be in hot water! Better prepare a denial. Yes, that's it; it was a mistake. Mea culpa." |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-10-23 07:15 |