Tonight State Department official Alberto Fernandez apologized for his outrageous statements to Al Jazeera television—but the damage is done: Envoy Sorry for Iraq ‘Stupidity’ Comment. (Hat tip: Ethel.)

WASHINGTON�Oct 22, 2006�(AP)—�A senior U.S. diplomat apologized Sunday night for saying U.S. policy in Iraq displayed “arrogance” and “stupidity.”

A day after his remarks in an interview were broadcast by the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera, Alberto Fernandez issued a written apology through the State Department press office.

“Upon reading the transcript of my appearance on Al-Jazeera, I realized that I seriously misspoke by using the phrase ‘there has been arrogance and stupidity’ by the U.S. in Iraq,” said Fernandez, director of public diplomacy in State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

“This represents neither my views nor those of the State Department,” Fernandez added. “I apologize.”

“Not his views?” Then why did he say it?

UPDATE at 10/22/06 9:53:34 pm:

Al-Reuters is running with this ball; their headline says Fernandez “admitted” US arrogance: Diplomat admits U.S. ‘arrogance’ in Iraq.