Topic: Official Sorry for 'Stupidity' Comment

Media: The Associated Press
Byline: n/a
Date: 23 October 2006

WASHINGTON_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."

U.S. 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.