THIS IS AN APOLOGY?
President Bush was widely credited with an apology, as reported below by DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent on May 7, 2004.
In his Rose Garden appearance with Abdullah, Bush shed his customary reluctance to apologize or acknowledge mistakes. "I told him (Abdullah) I was sorry for the humiliation suffered by the Iraqi prisoners and the humiliation suffered by their families," the president said. "I told him I was equally sorry that people who have been seeing those pictures didn't understand the true nature and heart of America."
THIS IS NOT AN APOLOGY -- IT IS AN ABPOLOGY OR A BUSHPOLOGY
A minimum apology would be "On behalf of (a) myself as a human being (b) my country as its President and (c) the armed forces as Commander-in-Chief, I am sorry for what American troops did to Iraqui detainees."
A complete apology would add "It was a terrible thing and you can be sure that I will do my best to see that nothing like this ever happens again."
If President Bush were to spill hot coffee on someone, he would probably say "I am sorry you got wet and I am equally sorry you did not understand my intentions". Thus, at the same time, (a) essentially evading responsibility and (b) blaming the suffering victim for the victim's lack of understanding.
He should simply say, "I am sorry I spilled hot coffee on you."
Martin Carbone, 5/7/04