rssThe Geopolitics of Apology
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 9:45 am
- 10 Comments
It’s the Persian New Year, Nowruz, and President Obama recorded a video message to the Iranian people, intended to indicate respect for their cultural heritage. A gesture, sure, and one that a spokesman for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad — who’s seemingly determined to react churlishly to such U.S. gestures — greeted thusly:
In an interview with The Washington Post, Javanfekr said the United States must also apologize for long-ago actions, including supporting Iraq in its war with Iran in the 1980s; downing of an Iranian civilian aircraft with 290 passengers on board in 1988 (the U.S. has expressed regret for the loss of life and paid damages, but has not apologized directly to the Iranian government); and helping to organize a coup d’etat against a democratically elected government in 1953.
Now being a superpower means never having to say you’re sorry, I suppose, but what would be the real, tangible downside of, you know, apologizing?
None of the three incidents mentioned are exactly sterling moments in American history. More importantly, unless there’s a legal issue with the civilian airliner downing that I’m unfamiliar with, apologizing for the U.S. role in these incidents would have no actual adverse effect on current American policy. Just as it takes the larger man or woman to apologize for past misdeeds, so too with the larger nation. If there’s a cost-free way to build actual goodwill in the a manner the Iranian government recognizes — or, to be more cynical, to deprive it of a pretext for intransigence — why not pursue it?
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10 Comments
Comment posted March 20, 2009 @ 8:38 am
I'm shocked by the ignorance and naivete of both the writer of this article and with the Obama administration. Does no one realize that if we capitulate to Iran's demands and apologize, that they will simply come up with more things for us to apologize for. Then they will make some additional demands on what we must do before they will agree to talk to us. Nevermind the fact that Iran has much more to apologize to us for than we do. In that situation, which country appears to be in control and which country is subservient? Our worldwide credibility will suffer if this ad-hoc diplomacy continues.
Comment posted March 20, 2009 @ 8:49 am
While I understand that Persians have a different sense of history than Americans, taking a much longer view… Asking Barack Obama to apologize for US policy in 1953, is a bit like asking Nelson Mandela to apologize for SA's involvement in Nambia.
In 1953 in the USA, Barack Obama's parents would have been arrested for miscegination. He could not have been conceived, much less born, much less become president. He couldn't even have used the same public restroom as white people, in 1953.
Comment posted March 20, 2009 @ 9:52 am
Mr. Ackerman, apologizing to the regime will only embolden their resolve to stand against US interest. Sure, it may open quicker discussions, and the US sure has dark moments vis-à-vis Iran, but the Islamic Republic will only use the gesture as proof that the Great Satan has bowed to the Revolution. The stubborn stance in opposition to the US will be payed off by US apology. Not apologizing is not about keeping US pride, but about how the Islamic Republic will use this overture of US regret to further the regime’s stability and strengthen the Revolutionary millenarianism.
Moreover, a regime with such vehement human rights abuses should have no apologies extended its way just yet. Apology would emboldening its Revolutionary resolve. Dissidents fill their prisons, and regime apparatus is always on ready to shut down any action that smells of opposition to the fundamentals of the Revolution. So many Iranians within and without the Iranian state are fighting to reform the Revolutionary stance and allow for a greater civil society. A complete and absolute gesture to Iran such as an admittance of guilt can work to subvert the work done by these Iranians.
As soon as the US apologizes, the Islamic Republic has the upper hand. IF the US ever does use the gesture of apology to get something one day, it has to be within the context of discussions, and targeted at certain concessions. Let the US utilize this current overture of peace, internationalism, and cooperation as a stepping stone and let the Islamic Republic do something this time.
Comment posted March 20, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Good comments. If I can clarify, I don't mean that Obama should consider apologizing to the regime, though I take your point that any apology will surely be presented by the regime that way.
But let me take the point that you make in your second paragraph further. Let's say Obama does apologize for historic transgressions against the Iranian people. (I note that Newroz is a pre-Islamic cultural celebration.) Nothing about the regime or the revolution. Doesn't that allow the dissidents and reformers breathing room to contend that the U.S. is interested in a holistic breach of relations, preventing the regime from using the threat of external U.S. aggression as an excuse for intransigence?
I don't disagree with your point about any apology coming in the context of negotiations. Maybe it can be a point in some joint communique in the future.
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[...] usually marvelous Spencer Ackerman argues, ‘Why not apologize?’. But apologizing to the regime will only embolden their resolve [...]
Comment posted March 20, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
No, then Barack will fly over there and push them down on the pavement. If they still want more apologies he will rub their knuckles on the plaster and spit on their owies.
Does that satisfy your sixth grade mentality enough that the grownups can now do some grownup talking?
Comment posted March 21, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
“I will never apologize for America.” -George Bush Sr. after the US Navy shot down an Iranian commercial airliner in 1988, killing all 290 people onboard.
How can we Americans justify not apologizing for the manslaughter of 290 innocent people including 66 children? Our military shot down a commercial airliner and then we have the audacity to not say we're sorry. That is inhumane, racist, uncivil and disgusting.
What would we say if the Iranian military accidentally shot down an American Airlines flight with 290 Americans on board? If you don't think we would demand an apology then you're crazy, and we would deserve one. More than likely many Americans would demand the launch of an all out war to wipe Iran off the face of the earth.
Wake up Americans, we are not the only people on earth. Every human deserves to be treated with respect and civility. This is why so many people around the world hate us, it's not because they hate our way of life or our religion, it's because we have the arrogance to believe that we can do anything we want anywhere in the world, we can kill innocent people, we can destroy lives, and we never have to apologize for anything because we're America and we're always right.
Sick. Sick. Sick.
Comment posted March 23, 2009 @ 11:37 am
Nothing expresses strength more than the willingness to apologize for past wrongs. As a loyal American, I'm delighted to see President Obama stand up and apologize for our past diplomatic blunders.
And yes, Iran's short-term response may be to demand still more apologies. But in the long run, maybe America will garner more respect around the world not only for its strength, but for its civility.
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Comment posted March 23, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Nothing expresses strength more than the willingness to apologize for past wrongs. As a loyal American, I'm delighted to see President Obama stand up and apologize for our past diplomatic blunders.
And yes, Iran's short-term response may be to demand still more apologies. But in the long run, maybe America will garner more respect around the world not only for its strength, but for its civility.
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