Congressman Coble on February 10, 2003 issued an apology:
: "In recent days, there has been considerable media attention and interest surrounding comments I made on a morning radio call-in show regarding the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the implications of this policy in today's society. I regret that many Japanese and Arab Americans found my choice of words offensive because that was certainly not my intent. The point that I was trying to make during the radio show was that given the circumstances in which President Roosevelt found himself at the time and the information that was available to him, he made a decision which he felt was in the best interest of national security. Today we can certainly look back and see the damage that was caused because of this decision. We all know that was in fact the wrong decision and an action that should never be repeated. It is my sincere hope that this situation will be a reminder to us all that while we have made great strides to improve diversity, acceptance, and understanding since 1941, there is much work left to be done." (Source: 80-20)