"My concern for the future safety of your nation led me to make remarks which I can now view in retrospect as inappropriate and insensitive in light of a national grief experienced because of your father's illness," the letter said.

I say "non-apology" because it appears he's only apologizing "in light" of the current national grief. Would it have been appropriate and sensitive in, say, five years? He also comments on "the holy prophet Joel and his view of the inviolate nature of the land of Israel." In other words, "The bible proves I'm correct." In the midst of his apology, Robertson is at best trying to save face, or at worst making an insincere, political apology in order to salvage his Jesusland project.

Here's an actual apology: "I was wrong. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
No excuses, just a sincere, straightforward apology. If you spend more time on the explanation than on the apology, then I just don't believe you have the other person's best interest at heart; it's self-serving and therefore not a "real" apology. Just my two cents...