Word: regretful
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...aging autocrat who staked his authority on building a better relationship with the West, only to come under fire at home for going too far. In a test of pride and power, two Presidents fought to control the weapons of diplomacy, the tiny spaces between a concern, a regret and an apology...
...kind of good morning that Laura Bush is used to. At 5:40 a.m. last Wednesday, the phone rang in the presidential bedroom. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was on the line. Chinese diplomats had finally accepted a U.S. letter of regret about the South China Sea air crash that had locked the two countries in 11 days of tense confrontation. The standoff was safely over, the American air crew heading home. The President, still in bed, rolled over to his wife and dryly delivered the news. "Looks like the matter is going to be resolved," he said, according...
...softer tone - the administration settled on a plan that relied on consistency. Led by Secretary of State Colin Powell, the diplomats took charge. In an early missive to Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen, the secret contents of which were shown to TIME by administration officials, Powell proffered gentle regret and deferential suggestions for ways to end the crisis. "I want to take this opportunity to let you know that President Bush is very concerned about your missing pilot," Powell wrote, at a stage when the Chinese were still hunting for Wang. "His thoughts and prayers are with the pilot...
...invaded China's airspace. "We're not going to take that change to the President, and we're not going to accept it," Powell instructed his lead negotiator, Beijing ambassador Joseph Prueher, to tell the Chinese. The U.S., however, in an upgrade of regret, did move from saying it was "sorry" for the airspace incursion to saying it was "very sorry." In the end Beijing complied with every aspect of Powell's initial agenda, except the last of seven bullet points - return of the plane...
...potentially explosive standoff. The dénouement was crafted to exact concessions from both sides but leave each able to claim victory. China yielded on its demand that Washington take full blame and didn't force the U.S. to end its airborne surveillance. The Bush administration used language of regret that earned charges of "national humiliation" from the Republicans' conservative ranks...