2010 Flashback: US Apologizes for Criticizing Gaddafi after he called for Jihad

Sometimes in hindsight, one can say that they were wrong, that they didn't see the fault of their ways until it was too late.  Sometimes, however, you are wrong from the start.

In 2010, Libyan Dictator Maummar Gaddafi stated that Switzerland "deserved to be attacked through jihad."  In response to this outrageous comment, former State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley slammed Gaddafi and dismissed his statement.

Soon enough, however, Crowley did an about-face.  Apparently after being asked to rescind his comments, Crowley stated:

"I regret that my comments have become an obstacle to further progress in our bilateral relationship... I should have focused solely on our concern about the term jihad, which has since been clarified by the Libyan government.  I understand my personal comments were perceived as a personal attack on the president.  These comments do not reflect US policy and were not intended to offend. I apologize if they were taken that way."

This absolutely ridiculous.  Even in 2010 his was absolutely ridiculous.

Gaddafi

When a leader of a country calls for an "attack through jihad," how do you not see it as an "attack?"  Even worse, why would this Administration allow and/or force Crowley to apologize?  When a crazed dictator says something like that, he should be the one clarifying or apologizing.  If the United States didn't have the guts to call out Gaddafi back then, their bumbling now should come as no surprise.

Big shock: the US apologized for doing the right thing.

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