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US not apologizing for Pakistan airstrikes

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    Decision follows months of top-level discussions after 24 soldiers were left dead

  • Duration 2:22
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To be saying we're sorry to Pakistan for airstrikes that killed 24 and its soldiers.

-- intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge tells us about the politics behind the decision.

Senior US officials tell -- the Obama administration has definitively decided not to apologize to -- for this November incident in which US helicopters believing they were under attack -- on to Pakistan any border posts.

I heated debate -- senior -- of the Obama administration over whether to apologize -- -- The minute you apologize.

You were accepting not only responsibility but the possibility.

That -- gonna have to pace.

-- a currency that you don't like.

As -- -- diplomacy the timing was delicate in late February is riots erupted in Afghanistan.

President Obama wrote to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and apologize for the US military's inadvertent burning of -- -- It virtually the same time secretary of state Hillary Clinton was traveling to London to meet with Pakistan's foreign minister.

Mid flight Clinton was told not to apologize for the November border incident.

According to some analysts apologizing on the same -- to Pakistan and Afghanistan was politically loaded.

But I think there's any doubt that the Romney people would have seized -- -- immediately why not.

It's very much in their interest to paint the American president to Democrats.

As being weak on national defense.

Underscoring the persistent tension with Pakistan and one US official pointed to Osama bin Laden's hideout.

-- when the pakistanis would apologize to the US for allegedly giving high level terrorist shelter.

And then there's the Taliban and militant group it launches cross border attacks on US and NATO forces from its safe havens inside Pakistan.

Even though they are exasperating at times.

And and duplicitous.

In some of the things they say.

And many of the things that they do.

Nonetheless I don't think we can afford a complete divorce.

After the border incident an essential supply line for US forces in Afghanistan was close -- Pakistan.

Well divided over the apology administration officials are somewhat optimistic that the -- may soon be.

Reopened.

Current and former government officials have described the US Pakistan relationship like a bad marriage with no hope of divorce.

If there's going to be a dignified exit from Afghanistan and one US official said the US will need Pakistan in its -- -- thanks Castro.

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