FBI Director James Comey at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in
Washington: He 'regrets' remarks suggesting that the average Pole
played a role in the Holocaust – but will not 'apologize.'
Mr. Comey's 'Regret': When saying 'Sorry' is 'Beneath U.S. Dignity' (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
"'An
expression of regret in the language of diplomacy means a lot,' says Foreign
Minister Schetyna. 'In
English, "I regret" implies that a person has made the decision to repent.
That shows courage on the part of the FBI director. 'I am sorry' means "I
apologize to someone for something I did," which suggests dependence on
the person being apologized to. That would be beneath the dignity of the FBI director
and the United States.'" – Polish Foreign Minister GrzegorzSchetyna
Saturday:The Washington Post reprints a speech
by FBI Director James Comey delivered at the U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Museum in which he claimed that: "The sick, evil Nazi
leaders responsible for the slaughter of millions of Jews were joined by, and
followed by, people who loved their families, took soup to a sick neighbor,
went to church, and gave to charity. In their minds, the murderers and accomplices
of Germany, and Poland and Hungary, and so many, many other places, didn't do
something evil."
Sunday.U.S.
Ambassador
Stephen Mull insists, "that Poland is in any
way responsible for the Holocaust is not the position of the United States. … Director
Comey certainly did not mean to suggest that Poland
was in any way responsible for those crimes." Mull sought
to reassure by saying, "even in the best friendships misunderstandings
occur."
Monday: "We now
expect an adequate apology for the unfortunate remarks of Mr. Comey," says Foreign Minister GrzegorzSchetyna.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Tuesday: Still no
apology from Mr. Comey, but the Polish-American
alliance is unwavering. President BronislawKomorowski announces the purchase of billions of dollars of U.S.
Patriot missiles.
Wednesday: Defense
Minister Tomasz Siemoniak says, "The FBI director
has no class." Ambassador to Washington RyszardSchnepf sets off to the FBI headquarters to rescue Polish honor
and convince Mr. Comey to write a note. The word
"sorry" doesn't appear – just an expression of regret.
Thursday:Comey’s note indicates deep reflection in the right
direction says President Komorowski. However, the
Foreign Ministry fails to disclose the embarrassing circumstances that led to
the Comey-Schnepf meeting. Typically, apologies come
from those seeking forgiveness. Comey, however, didn't
go to the Embassy because that would have been a real apology.
Friday: "An
expression of regret in the language of diplomacy means a lot," says
Foreign Minister Schetyna. "In
English, 'I regret' implies that a person has made the decision to repent. That
shows courage on the part of the FBI director. 'I am sorry' means 'I apologize
to someone for something I did, which suggests dependence on the person being
apologized to. That would be beneath the dignity of the FBI director and the
United States.'"
[Editor's Note: Comey's expression
of regret reportedly said: "Poland was invaded and occupied by Germany.
The Polish State bears no responsibility for the horrors imposed by the Nazis.
I wish I had not used any other country names because my point was a universal
one about human nature."]
The Comey affair is now closed,
but a new one is already gearing up. At 10am, the Embassy informs that
Ambassador RyszardSchnepf
, during a ceremony at the grave of [WWII Polish resistance fighter] Jan Karski
at Washington’s Mount Olivet Cemetery, will address the issue of the
unacceptable phrase "Nazi Poland" that appears in the Mattel game
"Apples to Apples."
