The Point

So Colonel Gadhafi of Libya declares a jihad against Switzerland and now we’re apologizing? Really?

REALLY?

The story is a bit complicated – get the blow-by-blow in this Wall Street Journal editorial – but basically: Gadhafi’s son acted badly, Switzerland threw him out, Gadhafi’s government arrested two Swiss nationals, Switzerland banned the Gadhafi government from 25 EU countries, Gadhafi declares jihad against the Swiss.

So essentially your typical escalating, tit-for-tat diplomatic dispute… Until a U.S. State Department official suggested that this was all a bit of senseless hyperbole on the part of the Libyan strongman.

At which point the Libyans became upset: by “jihad” Gadhafi was referring to economic sanctions, according to his government. Oh. Of course. That kind of jihad.

So now the State Department employee is apologizing for the misunderstanding. To a man declaring jihad. Really.

Tags: apology, Gadhafi, State Department, Swiss, Wall Street Journal