Rest at ease.  All of the answers
to any concerns you may have raised
have been quietly prepared in advance           
for your convenience.  As for your final
question, nobody knows.  Rest assured
we’ve pursued every possible
possibility and yielded no returns.
And regarding the discrepancies                                                         
you seem to have unearthed,
don’t let them deter you
from honoring the best decisions.                               
You see, the best and brightest on earth
have overseen the oversights and,
to be sure, each was made
with true intention.  Not carelessness
or other kinds of inattention.  Indeed,
they took great care with such lapses.
Have confidence in their design.  A mistake?
No.  Not a slip-up, blunder, fumble, or goof. 
And as for you, you have some work
to do to restore our confidence
in you.  What kind of fool would remain
uncertain after so many forms
of reassurance? So many pledged to uphold               
one oath or another?  What nerve,     
to dispute our certitude.  There’s no
argument here.  There’s nothing
controversial.  Lay down your sword. 
There is no red flag, no red herring
in our erring.  Can’t you see we calculate
what’s at stake before we commit
a mistake? Besides, true citizens
don’t think twice.  So raise
your white flag of surrender.  Don’t let
your loyalty flag.  And remember,
the next time the powers demand
you approach the altar of sacrifice,
you are either with us or against us.