I’ve often heard arguments particularly from the left about excessive American hubris. Even Bush ran in 2000 on a platform of a “more humble foreign policy.” And the announced purpose of French foreign policy is to “counter American hegemony.” Now John Kerry is arguing that we’ve squandered the good will of the world after 9/11.

I wander at what point, exactly, this “good will” was squandered. Many point to the war in Iraq, but I would place it earlier. The “good will” was gone after we went to Afghanistan. The “good will” of France (and other like-minded nations) requires a humbled, defeated, and victimized America. Once we responded, we ceased being victims and lost their “good will.”

In other words, the “good will” was not solidarity, it was pity with maybe even a touch of sadism. There was an agreement that it was a shame that innocents suffered and died, but that it was the direct result of an unenlightened U.S. foreign policy. If the U.S. learned her lesson, then maybe the victims would not have died in vain.

What have we lost by squandering that “good will?” For a country that has not accepted defeat and surrender, it was worthless to begin with.

One reason for my optimism that “things are getting better all the time” is that few people who are ever set free are ever satisfied with less than freedom. The Iraqi athletes can badmouth America if they like, but the fact remains that they aren’t being tortured by Uday anymore. Even those ingrates wouldn’t want to go back.