If I had to pick the one thing that has most frustrated me about the Obama administration, it would be their refusal to enforce the laws involving war crimes. In fact, nothing else I can think of comes close. Dick Cheney is a war criminal who belongs in prison, and yet, he remains free due in large part of the refusal of our president to hold him accountable.

I applaud President Obama for banning torture and for taking numerous steps to improve upon the foreign policy of his predecessor. And yet, I find it difficult to have much respect for an administration that has looked the other way when it comes to prosecuting self-confessed war criminals.

Much like how he has handled health care reform, President Obama seems determined to exchange real progress for the appearance of bipartisanship. The problem is that when it comes to something as serious as war crimes, this means that he gives up the moral authority his position might otherwise command. He cannot very well condemn other nations for war crimes when he refuses to hold Cheney accountable for committing war crimes in our names. Worse still, he runs the risk of becoming complicit in Cheney's crimes.

Subscribe to Red State Progressive