The bitter US-India dispute over the treatment of an allegedly criminal consular official was entirely unnecessary.
The affair began with the clumsy, violent arrest in new York City of Devyani Khobragade for lying on official US government immigration forms about the status and payment to her maid and for paying the servant an unacceptably tiny amount of money, by US standards.
US Marshals, after determining that Ms. Khobragade has no diplomatic immunity outside her official duties, arrests her "in the normal manner". She was detained and handcuffed in front of her daughter's school, taken to a prison lockup, strip-searched and cavity-searched.
In India, citizens have almost entirely taken up Ms. Khobragade's claim that as someone with higher status than common citizens, she deserved special, gentle treatment when called to answer criminal charged. India demanded an apology and has threatened more, tougher retaliation.
The assistant consul never deserved special treatment, and deserved none now. But the US government, by refusing to act to protect Ms. Khobragade at the time of her arrest, deserves every word of criticism it is getting, and more. instead of digging in its heels, the US should apologize and promise to take a new look at the unacceptable ways it deals with foreign diplomats. India has no claim to damage. Its consul was treated like anyone else under rule of law. She also faces serious charges of exploiting her employee, and should not be allowed to avoid the crux of the case.