Diplomat Sorry for Remarks

Who's apologizing now?

State Department diplomat Alberto Fernandez is apologizing for his "US is Arrogant, Stupid remark...(how long do you think he'll remain in the State Department after this gaffe?)

CNN: "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.

Fernandez gave the Qatar-based network the 35-minute interview from Washington, where he is director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of Near East Affairs. His apology Sunday differed from a defense of his comments that he made to CNN during an interview Saturday night.

The US is Arrogant, Stupid

Who's speaking their mind now?

That would be Alberto Fernandez, director of public diplomacy in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department. Think this is more State Department vs the DOD? Ah, yeah....

TS:
BAGHDAD - A senior U.S. diplomat said the United States had shown “arrogance” and “stupidity” in Iraq but was now ready to talk with any group except Al Qaeda in Iraq to facilitate national reconciliation.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera television aired late Saturday, Alberto Fernandez, director of public diplomacy in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department offered an unusually candid assessment of America’s war in Iraq.

“We tried to do our best but I think there is much room for criticism because, undoubtedly, there was arrogance and there was stupidity from the United States in Iraq,” he said.