NEW YORK – Vice President Dick Cheney (search) said Tuesday it would be wrong for him to judge Sen. John Kerry's service during the war or his anti-war activities later, given that he avoided military service altogether.
Cheney was asked if Kerry should apologize for saying that troops in Vietnam committed atrocities, testimony that riled some officers who served with him.
"I didn't have to serve in Vietnam and I try to make it a point always to thank those who did for their service, regardless of what their views are or exactly where they served during that period of time or under what circumstances," the vice president said on "The Sean Hannity Show," a syndicated radio program.
"I really don't think it's for me to be trying to judge his behavior then," he added.
Cheney was given five deferments from military service in the 1960s, explaining later that he had "other priorities."
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