Apology Accepted...Wait, Come Again?

In a certain episode of Futurama ("A Taste of Freedom," for those of you who whose fandom has not yet approached obsession like mine has), the character Dr. Zoidberg is convicted of desecrating the flag (by eating it). After "the Court orders an apology," Zoidberg's immediate response is "apology accepted. Just don't let it happen again."

Keep that in mind when you read this excerpt from a recent interview with President Bush:

PELLEY: Do you think you owe the Iraqi people an apology for not doing a better job?

BUSH: That we didn't do a better job or they didn't do a better job?

PELLEY: Well, that the United States did not do a better job in providing security after the invasion.

BUSH: Not at all. I am proud of the efforts we did. We liberated that country from a tyrant. I think the Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude, and I believe most Iraqis express that. I mean, the people understand that we've endured great sacrifice to help them. That's the problem here in America. They wonder whether or not there is a gratitude level that's significant enough in Iraq.

The "blame the Iraqis" movement is in full swing. Whose first reflex, after a catastrophic war which plunged their entire nation into chaos, is to wonder if the its the Iraqis fault for not doing a better job?

To be fair, President Bush thinks that "most Iraqis" express that "huge debt of gratitude" we're owed. The problem Americans have is that we don't know it (presumably, because the liberal media keeps shoving images of their country alight down our patriotic throats).