Smart diplomacy? US apologizes to Gaddafi?!

Might as well stick a fork in the State Department, because they’re done: The US State Department has apologized for slighting terrorist Gaddafi, he of the traveling tent, the Lockerbie bomb, the sartorial flourishes, and the many spellings,

US apologises over Gaddafi comments

The US state department has apologised for comments made about Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s call for jihad against Switzerland.

Department spokesman PJ Crowley, who made the dismissive comments, said they did not reflect US policy and were not intended to offend.

Col Gaddafi had criticised a Swiss vote against the building of minarets and urged Muslims to boycott the country.

Mr Crowley described it as “lots of words, not necessarily a lot of sense.”

Libya and Switzerland are embroiled in a long-running diplomatic row.

Clarification

“I regret that my comments have become an obstacle to further progress in our bilateral relationship,” Mr Crowley said.

And why is the US kissing up? Oil!

Last week, Libya’s National Oil Corporation warned US oil firms of possible “repercussions” over Mr Crowley’s reaction.

The Libyan ambassador to the US sought to clarify Col Gaddafi’s remarks saying the Libyan leader meant an economic boycott not “an armed attack”.

“I should have focused solely on our concern about the term jihad, which has since been clarified by the Libyan government,” Mr Crowley added.

“I understand my personal comments were perceived as a personal attack on the president,” he said.

“These comments do not reflect US policy and were not intended to offend. I apologise if they were taken that way.”

Rather than explore, develop and exploit America’s own oil resources, now it’s official US policy to bend over backwards to accommodate psychotic terrorists.

Can’t wait to see what the US will do once the water crisis comes to a head.

And…
The Lockerbie bomber’s still alive, free, and enjoying his $4 million.

Hat tip: Dan.

UPDATE
Robert Spencer:

Dhimmitude at the State Department: Official apologizes for remarks about Libya’s declaration of jihad against Switzerland

Instead, he [the State Dept. official] should be calling on Gaddafi to apologize for the double standard of his call for Muslims to undertake economic jihad against Switzerland for banning minarets when non-Muslim religious practice is restricted far more severely than cosmetic issues all over the Islamic world.