United States had shown "arrogance" and "stupidity" in Iraq

[freethefly 6]

Envoy: U.S. Showed 'Arrogance' in Iraq

Oct 21, 7:58 PM (ET)

By HAMZA HENDAWI

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - 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-Qaida 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.

"We are open to dialogue because we all know that, at the end of the day, the solution to the hell and the killings in Iraq is linked to an effective Iraqi national reconciliation," he said, speaking in Arabic from Washington. "The Iraqi government is convinced of this."

The question of negotiations between the United States and insurgency factions has repeatedly surfaced over the past two years, but details have been sketchy. One issue that was often raised in connection with such negotiations was the extent of amnesty the United States and its Iraqi allies were willing to offer to the insurgents if they disarmed and joined the political process.

Fernandez spoke to the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera after a man claiming to speak for Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party told the network the United States was seeking a face-saving exodus from Iraq and that insurgents were ready to negotiate but won't lay down arms.

"Abu Mohammed", a pseudonym for the man, appeared to set near impossible conditions for the start of any talks with the Americans, including the return to service of Saddam's armed forces, the annulment of every law adopted since Saddam's ouster, the recognition of insurgent groups as the sole representatives of the Iraqi people and a timetable for a gradual, unconditional withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign troops in Iraq.

"The occupier has started to search for a face-saving way out. The resistance, with all its factions, is determined to continue fighting until the enemy is brought down to his knees and sits on the negotiating table or is dealt, with God's help, a humiliating defeat," he said. The man wore a suit and appeared to be in his 40s but his face was concealed.

"There is an element of the farcical in that statement," Fernandez said of Abu Mohammed's comments. "They are very removed from reality."

Still Fernandez warned that failure to pacify the widening sectarian strife in Iraq as well as an enduring insurgency would damage the entire Middle East.

"We are witnessing failure in Iraq and that's not the failure of the United States alone but it is a disaster for the region. Failure in Iraq will be a failure for the United States but a disaster for the region."

Although the actual identity of Abu Mohammed remains unknown, the interview adds to growing indications that Iraq's Sunni insurgents sense the tide may be turning against the United States and the Iraqi government it backs.

Fernandez's comments, on the other hand, join a series of sobering remarks by President Bush and the U.S. military in recent days.

Bush this week conceded that "right now it's tough" for U.S. forces in Iraq and on Saturday met with his top military and security advisers to study new tactics to curb the staggering violence in Iraq. Three U.S. Marines were killed also Saturday, making October the deadliest month for American forces in Iraq this year.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said attacks in Baghdad were up 22 percent in the first three weeks of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan despite a two-month old U.S.-Iraqi drive to crush violence in the Iraqi capital.

On Wednesday, and again on Friday, Sunni insurgents believed to belong to al-Qaida in Iraq, staged military-like parades in the heart of five towns in the vast and mainly desert province of Anbar, including the provincial capital Ramadi. Some of these parades, in which hooded gunmen paraded with their weapons, took place within striking distance of U.S. forces stationed in nearby bases.

The parades proved to be a propaganda success, with TV footage of Wednesday's parade shown in many parts of the world, a likely embarrassment for the U.S. military as well as the embattled Iraqi government.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Skyrad 0]

Surely not

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[kallend 2,148]

(CNN) -- A senior U.S. State Department diplomat told Arab satellite network Al Jazeera that there is a strong possibility history will show the United States displayed "arrogance" and "stupidity" in its handling of the Iraq war.

Alberto Fernandez, director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of Near East Affairs, made his comments on Saturday to the Qatar-based network.

"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 ... for extreme criticism and because undoubtedly there was arrogance and stupidity from the United States in Iraq," the diplomat told Al Jazeera.

"I can only assume his remarks must have been mistranslated. Those comments obviously don't reflect our policy," a senior Bush administration official said

Mistranslation? - Bwaahahaha, good one, George.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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"I can only assume his remarks must have been mistranslated. Those comments obviously don't reflect our policy," a senior Bush administration official said

Mistranslation? - Bwaahahaha, good one, George.

Right, what are the chances Al-Jazeera would mistranslate for propoganda purposes?

Good one!!

[akarunway 1]

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"I can only assume his remarks must have been mistranslated. Those comments obviously don't reflect our policy," a senior Bush administration official said

Mistranslation? - Bwaahahaha, good one, George.

Right, what are the chances Al-Jazeera would mistranslate for propoganda purposes?

Good one!!

And the U.S govt wouldn't lie either. Wolves in sheeps clothing

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Amazon 7]

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Mistranslation? - Bwaahahaha, good one, George.

OOPS there goes another carreer diplomats carreer down the right wing toilet.

Since he is not with them.. he must be against them

[slug 1]

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Mistranslation? - Bwaahahaha, good one, George.

OOPS there goes another carreer diplomats carreer down the right wing toilet.

Since he is not with them.. he must be against them

IMO argueing over anthing thar was reported in the media is a waste of time.

Furthermore arueing over what a politician, career diplomat says is a waste of time.

Some people know what the truth is regardless of the BS propaganda. If people want to believe what they read in the press or what their told by their elected officals Fine with me
Excuse me i gotta look under my pillow to see if the tooth fairy left me a gift

R.I.P.

[Skyrad 0]

Al Jazeera wouldn't have to translate its audiance speek Arabic

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Right, what are the chances Al-Jazeera would mistranslate for propoganda purposes?

It states pretty clearly that it was based on CNN translations. Didn't you get that on your pro-bush-no-matter-what talking points email? Cause, obviously your reactions aren't based on the actual text of the article....

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Al Jazeera wouldn't have to translate its audiance speek Arabic

Correct. They would have to translate from English to Arabic. Then it would be translated from Arabic back to English.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Right, what are the chances Al-Jazeera would mistranslate for propoganda purposes?

It states pretty clearly that it was based on CNN translations. Didn't you get that on your pro-bush-no-matter-what talking points email? Cause, obviously your reactions aren't based on the actual text of the article....

and you wonder why your questions don't get answered.
-

[Tonto 1]

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Correct. They would have to translate from English to Arabic. Then it would be translated from Arabic back to English.

From the article:

"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.

"We are open to dialogue because we all know that, at the end of the day, the solution to the hell and the killings in Iraq is linked to an effective Iraqi national reconciliation," he said, speaking in Arabic from Washington."

My bold.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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and you wonder why your questions don't get answered.

I know why. Nobody has the answer. Pretty scary when thousands die and nobody knows what for. Well, they only know that their fearless leader told them to....now where did I hear that before?

[Samurai136 0]

So what you're saying is, according to CNN, CNN had to translate the US State department officials words from Arabic to English to make their news report, in english... for Americans?

You got that from the original report? I think you're reaching.

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[Gravitymaster 0]

It may be that in this case Al Jazeera got the quote correct. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying I wouldn't trust Al Jazeera not to misquote for propoganda purposes.

[kallend 2,148]

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It may be that in this case Al Jazeera got the quote correct. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying I wouldn't trust Al Jazeera not to misquote for propoganda purposes.

Apparently the guy in question first claimed mistranslation, but upon seeing the actual transcripts retracted that, and now says his comments were a mistake (I guess he wants to keep his job).

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Amazon 7]

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Apparently the guy in question first claimed mistranslation, but upon seeing the actual transcripts retracted that, and now says his comments were a mistake (I guess he wants to keep his job).

See.... right here we have a perfectly good reason to replace all these career diplomats with Administration appointees who are spot on with the political talking points of the administration propaganda.

[mr2mk1g 10]

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I know why. Nobody has the answer. Pretty scary when thousands die and nobody knows what for. Well, they only know that their fearless leader told them to....now where did I hear that before?

I wonder if they can translate 'the old lie'; "Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori"?