Wednesday was a day of relief for the world. Peace between the two most militarily dangerous nations appears to be secured, at least for the time being.
The long-awaited apology from the U.S. has finally come, ending the two-week-old standoff over an American surveillance plane’s mid-air collision with a Chinese aircraft which resulted in the dearh of the Chinese pilot.
Now that America has mustered the gumption to say “we’re sorry” for the death they caused, China’ has released the American aviators whom they have held as hostages
For 11 days, the world had to shudder at the prospect of World War III. Though it was by no means incipient, visions of nuclear destruction raised the hair on many necks.
All this because America wouldn’t offer a simple apology.
It would not be kowtowing to the Chinese to say we made a mistake. It would merely constitute telling the truth, acting diplomatically and in the interests of world peace, the most noble of all goals. Before this incident, there were many circles in the world community that believed the U.S. was a bully, and the Bush administration’s posturing does nothing but strengthen that notion.
Of course, China doesn’t win any points by taking hostages, either. Yet they were well within the bounds of reason in asking for an apology. Regardless of who was at fault for the accident, no matter any death in which we may have had a hand warrants, at the very least, an apology.

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