And other sage advice

Colonel Manners Answers Your Questions on the Etiquette of War, Nuclear Threats, and Surveillance | Mother Jones

Regular countries, like regular people, are obliged to say they're sorry. You invade your neighbor, for instance, and an apology is indeed in order. With an exceptional superpower, however, it's another matter. For Washington to apologize, whatever the issue, would be like the guest of honor at a formal dinner arriving in jeans. Nobody would ever forget it or think well of you again.