Tony Bennett has apologised for remarks he made in a recent interview, during which he suggested that US foreign policy was to blame for the 9/11 attacks.
The 85-year-old singer made the claim during an interview with Howard Stern earlier this week.
Referring to the terrorist attacks and proceeding wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Bennett said: "Two wrongs don't make a right. They flew the plane in, but we caused it. Because we were bombing them, and they told us to stop … Who are the terrorists? Are we the terrorists, or are they the terrorists?"
In a message on Facebook clarifying his comments, Bennett said: "I am sorry if my statements suggested anything other than an expression of my love for my country.
“I am so grateful to be an American."
He continued: "As a second world war veteran, I was proud to fight to protect our values, which have made America the greatest country on the planet.
There is simply no excuse for terrorism and the murder of the nearly 3,000 innocent victims of the 9/11 attacks on our country."
Bennett's remarks come in the same week that he released his new album 'Duets II', which features collaborations with Lady Gaga and the late Amy Winehouse.
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