The US Should Apologize to Pakistan For Mistaken Killings
It has been seven months since US airstrikes mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on their own soil, near the Afghan border. US officials have expressed regret for the loss of life and acknowledged that mistakes were made by both countries which led to the disaster, but they never apologized. An apology is long overdue.
The refusal to apologize has led many in Pakistan to conclude that the killings were deliberate. To express its outrage, Pakistan has shut down NATO convoys that deliver essential supplies to US troops in Afghanistan, giving up much-needed income. The closure has taken a financial toll on the United States as well, since it forces the US military to take a far more expensive route. Last week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave the first public estimate of the closure’s cost: $100 million a month.
Pakistani officials say they would have quickly reopened the routes if they had received a swift apology. But a number of factors, including bad blood between the two countries, got in the way. Some in the Pentagon wanted to wait until after an internal investigation of the incident was completed in December. After that, debates raged over the timing and wording of an apology. To make matters worse, Pakistani diplomats have been informed several times that American officials were on the verge of saying sorry. Pakistani officials say they were told that an apology would be issued after Pakistan’s parliament released a report on the incident on April 12. They traded e-mails with American diplomats, coordinating the timing of the report and the response. But after the report was released, the promised apology never came.
One reason is that some in the US military are convinced that elements in Pakistan’s intelligence service are supporting the Haqqani terrorist network, which is killing US soldiers in Afghanistan. They balk at the idea of apologizing to a country that they believe has had a hand in deadly attacks. Officials who take this view are more interested in finding ways to prosecute the war in Afghanistan without Pakistan’s help than repairing the relationship. But this view is short-sighted. As extremist as some elements in Pakistan are, the refusal to apologize for an accident won’t make them any more moderate. The longer the United States waits, the more hardened each side becomes. Recently, Pakistan has allegedly upped the ante by demanding not just an apology, but far larger payments per truck in order to reopen the supply lines.
There is also another powerful motivation at work in the saga of the delayed apology: the presidential election. Mitt Romney’s book, “No Apology,” criticizes Obama for allegedly saying sorry for US mistakes. Some in the White House believe Obama will look weak and play into that narrative if he apologizes to Pakistan now. But the refusal to apologize, even when the United States is in the wrong, doesn’t make this country stronger. It just makes us stubborn. And it makes an expensive war even more costly.
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We all agree 24 soldiers were mistakenly killed, and that the US has expressed regret for the loss of life, acknowledging mistakes were made. Isn’t that enough of an apology? Or, is there a particular verbiage Pakistani authorities are expecting? At this stage, one wonders what is more important, a sincere regret or an extracted apology?
NOT ONLY AN APOLOGY BUT ALSO A PROMISE OF NOT REPEATING THIS AGAIN!
I said this elsewhere, and repeat it here. Apology will come when PIGS FLY. So, you better hurry up – put on your wings, and learn how to fly.
Seems like you didn’t have your dose of cow pee today,if needed just let us know,we can send you chilled one for free,bottoms up!
ha ha ha ha ha
I only know one place where pig fly its india .
during Partition Pakistan removed lots of PIG from pakistan
& in india will call them sharaNarthi “शरणार्थी”
i think you are one of them always spitting Hatrat
@harsh words well then only when “PIGS FLY” will Pakistan open the supply routes and choke the americans in afghanistan! have it your way!!!!
Regrett is not an apology and it wasnt a “sincere” regret anyhow, how can it be sincere when the siege took place for 2 HOURS!!!!!
Had it been the way round we would be expecting american warships on our waters and america demanding an apology down the barrel of the gun! so its no surprising this arrogance and hypocrisy by the americans. Im glad finally Pakistan taking a stance and let this be a lesson to the americans to treat others as it would like to be treated!
You aren’t attentive. Didn’t you hear that Panetta ruled out the possibility of negotiating with Pakistan on their ridiculous demand? How does that teach a lesson to someone who, on his own accord, doesn’t even want to deal with you.
It is so comical that Pakistan is begging for an apology so that Pakistanis have an excuse to open the passage for US/NATO supplies that provides subsistence for a deprived nation.
@Harsh Word,
There is no need to be jittery.If you don’t want to apologise,don’t do it.But then be ready to face the consequences.
You cannot have both ways.
LoL , They Will Apologize.
Because there A ss is Burning in Afghanistan
If its not the Case.
then simply dont apologize.
and dont be so hurry for Reopening GLOC.
But……..Like i said
There A.ss in Burning
Where my comments on Kashmir gone ?
Pakistan choose 10 years ago when it choose to protect OBL and the Taliban. That decision to be an enemy of the USA has consequences, which are only now becoming apparent. On minor consequence is that Americans do not apologize to their enemies.
@andy i agree its time Pakistan sticks two fingers to its enemy: America and when we make afghanistan a graveyard dont start whining like little babies!
Its Amazing how a poor country like Pakistan Standing its ground against Nato & Lone Super Power & is not in mood of compromise.
I salute brave pakistani who are making this happan .
I Hope india Also have BALLS to do that but my country has chosen to be subservant of US.
It is stupid and wrong for us to call them “mistaken killings”. We know they were not mistaken so why are we giving them an excuse???
very true !
TIME for Pakistan and Pakistani Media to move on! STOP REPEATING and time say sorry YOU HAD OPPRTUNITY but you are TOO LATE! THANK YOU AND GOODBYE USA/NATO