"Sometimes our impetuousness leads to misunderstanding," said Sandra Baldwin, a US IOC member.
She added that Americans "have not always been good partners" but she did not apologize for the US sponsors and the US network money that drive the Olympics.
"It is what it is," Baldwin said.
The US cannot win that one. The only thing it can do is show restraint, which is not easy thing to do when thugs are flying planes into your buildings.
Cheers for fears
At most Summer Games and Winter Games, the loudest fans are usually Americans, stridently chanting, "U-S-A!"
But as Baldwin noted, "I loved it when people chanted, `Aussie-Aussie-Aussie' in Sydney."
There was a warm tone Friday night. The predominantly American crowd was warmed up by the television personalities Al Roker and Matt Lauer, but the evening did not become merely a raucous celebration of the US.
The audience cheered for Iran as it did for more friendly nations, but it did reserve its lustiest cheers for the delegation from Britain, the US' biggest supporter since the attacks.
Will the congeniality and sportsmanship carry over? One can only hope. The USOC does not help by talking up medal counts. Theoretically, the games are about individual athletes, seeking to do their best.
The organizers mean well with the pageants and the tributes, the music and the words and the costumes, at the opening ceremonies.
But, I'm waiting for the youth and the bustle of the athletes. I want to see 18-year-old Ilya Kovalchuk shoot the puck for Russia, and 16-year-old Sarah Hughes.
With all due respect to the opening ceremony -- the sooner the better.
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