Good question. I wonder which tack the inevitable sneering reply from her critics will take. Will it be that Afghans are perfectly entitled to value a copy of the Koran over the lives of two allied soldiers because that’s their culture, QED? Or will it be that, as occupiers, we deserve every bad thing that’s coming to us without apology, even by the guy whom we’ve been propping up for 10 years?
Has Karzai apologized yet, incidentally? I checked his website, where the announcement of Obama’s apology is prominently displayed, but found only a statement of regret about the civilians killed in the rampage plus some news about the delegations he’s putting together to get to the bottom of an accidental book-burning. Quote from the last link: “NATO officials promised to meet Afghan nation’s demand of bringing to justice, through an open trial, those responsible for the incident and it was agreed that the perpetrators of the crime be brought to justice as soon as possible.” I’m mighty keen to see what NATO regards as a proper penalty for inadvertently torching a bunch of Korans that Bagram detainees were using to exchange jihadist messages. Everyone there is trained in “cultural sensitivity” so there’s potentially some sort of negligence charge pending. Is a wrist slap for negligence enough to calm a mob in a frenzy?
Another good question: At what point do the endless groveling apologies become counterproductive?
Added
http://www.burn-the-koran.com/
The Guardian refers to our apologies as attempts to to try “to contain fury over the incident….”
Perhaps the words of that leading Saudi Sheikh Nasser Al Omar should be taught to OUR leaders:
Apologies mean NOTHING!
They cannot be taken into account.
See, this is why I doubt Obama is anything other than an atheist, Marxist, Leftist ideologue.
If he were a Muslim, or had even paid attention to its teachings when he was taught them, he would know better than to apologize.
If Palin had simply asked “when will Karzai apologize?” that would be a legitimate question, one – given the impetus (the deaths of US soldiers) – thankfully free of partisan snark. But not only is the blatant political subtext of her question distasteful, the naivety it exposes is further proof she made the best decision both for her bank account and America to vacate elected office. It’s simplistic, a poor basis for statesmanship, and, frankly, illogical to suggest that how Karzai and Obama react to separate incidents should somehow be linked. Even more illogical are the simultaneous complaints implicit in this post that Karzai hasn’t apologized, and that Obama has. So which is it? Which is wrong, which is right? More importantly, what is the value of an apology if it’s just an empty gesture that’s only offered when one is received? I don’t have a problem with the US doing the right thing regardless of the response, but apparently Palin does.
@Tom: Simplistic indeed, how you could even suggest “uncoupling” let alone lending any measure of equivalent value to the death of two of our soldiers, who are there defending and propping up Karzai to the burning of a few scraps of paper is not only “simplistic” it is frankly. . . how should I put this, “illogical”. Which is wrong? Which is wrong? Are you kidding me or are you just too intoxicated by the noxious odors of wherever your head has been. On the one hand you have the sons, husbands, and fathers of Amercians being taken away, on the other the maniacal scribblings of a death cult.
The “right thing” the US should do is turn the whole damned region into ashes.
@JustAl:
Nice try, Al. Unfortunately for your argument, my “Which is wrong, which is right” questions are clearly in reference to apologizing in general and the concept that there is some sort of equivelancy between aplogies, when obviously (as I noted above) there isn’t, because every potential reason for an aplogy is different and should be treated so. So your argument is with Palin, or perhaps, Curt. You can dice what I’ve written any way you like, but you’re never going to find the kind of “lack of Patriotism” you so strongly want to attribute to me, because it’s not there. I hope that doesn’t ruin your need to feel like a hero in contrast.
they burn that book because of the multiple billions nano bugs virus progressing on those bacterium
they where saving their lives by doing it, now one took it out of a purifying fire, he had spread the plague on his neighbor, and told them it was a desecration, would the MILITARY HAVE WARN THEM OF THE
INFECTED KORAN? THE SAME REACTION FROM OUTRAGE WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE, NOW THEY ARE A MOB TOGETHER SPREADING THE BUGS AMONG THEM SPITTING FOAMING AT THE MOUTH,on each other, that’s the careless gesture of the AFGHAN WHO TOOK THE KORAN OUT OF THE FIRE, WHICH WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE THE PRISONERS FROM IT, NOW THE CROWD HAS BEEN TOUCH BY INFECTED BACTERIUM,
THAT’S WHAT THE MILITARY WHERE TRYING IN A DISCREET MANNER TO AVOID INSULTING
THEM BY SAYING THE BOOK IS INFECTED,
THIS IS CLEAR TO SEE, what is the problem with the AFGHANS? THEY DON’T SEE THAT?
IT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES, THE GUARDS WHERE SAVING THEIR LIVES,
THE AFGHANS SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO AMERICANS PROTECTING THEM, AND THANK THEM,
BUT THEY ARE BLINDED BY THOSE TELLING THEM TO HATE, AND THEY BELIEVED THE TALIBANS,
they kill 2 soldiers on top of that, the soldier trained the AFGHANS and end up being shot in the back by them agreeing with the crowd, what kind of WAR is that,
how about lining up with RON PAUL AMERICA,
@Nan G: He IS a moslem — no doubt about it — he is acting totally on their behalf