He's a pilot. Not a diplomat. The only apologies that really count are those of the government.
Additionally, if this happened in Saudi Arabia, you guys might have more of a point here. Because at least then you know the country as a whole hates Americans.
However, Israel is really the last country deserving of 4 decades of conspiracy theories regarding the intentional murder of Americans.
Israelis love Americans, and everything American. I've seen more American patriotism in Israel then in most parts of California that I've lived in.
This pilot made a mistake in war. A mistake that wasn't directly his fault. We can blame lots of people for this (including, and especially, the NSA or whoever sent this ship there in secret). But the best 'person' to blame is the FOG OF WAR.
I'm not dumping on Israel.
I am dumping on this guy.
While I mostly agree with that, the man's apology does matter. Especially to those he hurt. His "apology" offers more injury than healing.
As far as what the NSA did, wasn't the ship in international waters? Did it not have every right to be there?
And yes accidents do happen. It is what you do about them once they happen that really matters.
I agree. Friendly fire incident happen in the fog of war. They've happened before and as we saw with Pat Tillman recently they go right on happening. Nothing is to be gained by raking this matter over the coals again and again. We have bigger fish to fry in the Middle East.
Yeah I don't remember the pilots in "Top Gun" taking a sensitivity training class. These guys are arrogant asses--THEY HAVE TO BE. It makes them invincible in the air. They do their job, try and come home alive, and they don't look back.