Dick Cheney Wants Obama Administration To Apologize- What's The Point?

Dick Cheney is calling on the Obama administration to apologize for criticizing the Bush administration for their reaction to the events of September 11, 2001.

On CNN’s State of the Union, Vice President Cheney praised the Obama administration for their actions with the drone strikes that resulted in the death of Anwar al-Awlaki, but  reminded the CNN host that previously, the Obama administration has accused the Bush administration of overreacting with the War on Terror.

Vice President  Cheney said:

"I’m waiting for… the administration to go back and correct something they said two years ago when they criticized us for, quote, ‘overreacting’ to the events of 9/11. They, in effect, said we had walked away from our ideals, taking a policy contrary to our ideals. We had enhanced interrogation techniques, they clearly had moved in the direction of taking robust action if they feel it’s justified. In this case, I think it was, but I think they need to go back and reconsider what the president said when he was in Cairo.”

While it is understandable that the former Vice President must now feel vindicated, and logically, the Obama administration should apologize for criticizing the Bush administration, the real question is: What’s the point?

In the article Apologies, we discussed the difference in a true, heartfelt apology and an apology on demand. While it is highly unlikely that anyone remotely connected with the Obama administration will come out and give an apology to the Bush administration, it is even more unlikely that any apology given would be sincere.

It all comes down to politics as usual. Unfortunately, politics are no different from any other aspect of our lives today, in this regard. Society has a new found "enlightenment", but integrity, authenticity and sincerity are rarities in our world today.

Whether or not the right action was taken by the Obama administration in the death of Anwar al-Awlaki is a moot point. There is the argument that his civil liberties have been violated. There are those who say he lost his civil liberties when he turned his back on this country. Those arguments are a completely different issue.

The issue on the table right now is an apology has been demanded. No matter what happens, nothing is going to change. An apology will not suddenly make our political atmosphere all peachy-keen. Politics will still remain politics as usual- apology, or no apology.