I was surprised (and touched) that a former student of mine (Ana) called me to apologize to me to me (as an Arab) on behalf of the American people for the (mis)deeds of those who tortured and abused Iraqis. But I will tell her: that I do not (and one should not) hold the American people responsible for the actions of the few Americans in those pictures. Just as I argue that Arabs/Muslims should not be blamed for the actions of Muslim kooks (like Bin Laden and his gang); similarly, one should not blame the American people for what happened in Abu Ghrayb Prison. Institutional responsibility is legitimate and warranted, but the people of any country are not collectively responsible for what some individuals may do.