Truly Sorry

A lot of people think President Bush should apologize for this whole Iraqi prisoner mess.

Funny, but I don't remember hearing anyone say the deviants who strung up those four American contractors in Fallujah should apologize.

Or for that U.S. military convoy that was blown to bits checking out a supposedly sacred mosque. No one's apologizing to them.

Or to the families of those earliest American prisoners of the war, two of whom were butchered and hacked in captivity. No apologies there.

Or to all those Palestinians I remember dancing in the streets on September 11, after 3,000 innocents were senselessly slaughtered here. No apologies asked for. No apologies given.

Or to those scores of United Nations workers injured and killed in a Baghdad terrorist attack for simply trying to keep the peace. No apologies from those who couldn't keep the slightest hint of humanity.

Or Aban Elias, the American engineer taken hostage on Thursday. Where are the "we're sorries" for him?

It is not surprising that we take the actions of a few to make a grander, false point about the many. Why should it be surprising that the world would prefer to trump pictures of American soldiers abusing prisoners over American soldiers helping kids and curing the sick?

No, it's far easier to say "screw you," than simply "thank you."

There is much we do wrong in this country. But at least we have the guts to admit it. We deal with it and correct it. It's a shame that so many outside this country haven't the guts to acknowledge it. Or even critics in this country, who haven't the decency to withhold sweeping judgment on it.

And that's sorry, indeed.

Watch Neil Cavuto's Common Sense weekdays at 4 p.m. ET on "Your World with Cavuto."