Official sorry for 'stupidity' comment
(AP)
Updated: 2006-10-23 10:20
Related: Official: US showed 'stupidity' in Iraq
WASHINGTON - 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 US. 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."
US officials had sought to play down Fernandez' assessment of the security
situation in Iraq.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Saturday that
Fernandez said after the broadcast he didn't think reports of his comments were
an "accurate reflection of what he said." Asked whether the Bush administration
believed that history will show a record of arrogance or stupidity in Iraq,
McCormack replied, "No."
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.
Fernandez also said Washington was ready to talk with any Iraqi group except
al-Qaida in Iraq to facilitate national reconciliation.
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