The actual statement is even worse than the headline:
“If I were a World War II veteran who was drafted by the United States military to go and fight for our country overseas in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, I might feel quite embittered, and I think it would be a perfectly natural and understandable human reaction to not be particularly satisfied with the words of the Japanese Prime Minister,” Earnest said.
By emphasizing that they were "drafted" and had to fight "overseas", Earnest is making it sound very Vietnam-ish -- like it was
wrong to respond in that manner. And he goes on:
But Earnest followed up by saying those veterans should overcome those feelings for the good of the country.
“Yes, there may be some who feel personally embittered,” he said. “But I’m confident that many will set aside their own personal bitterness, not because they’re personally satisfied by the words of the Prime Minister, but because they recognize how important this moment is for the United States.”
Exactly
why is the Japanese PM coming to Pearl Harbor and not offering an apology an "important moment" for the United States?? We got along perfectly fine without that happening for more than 70 years. So exactly what is this going to accomplish that makes it so important to the country?
