The late US VP Dick Cheney, who passed away at the age of 84, was considered one of the most powerful incumbents of that office in the nation's history. Although numerous second-in-commands were limited to peripheral or figurehead functions, Cheney exercised substantial influence during the term of George W Bush, to such an extent that he was commonly referred to as the "actual president".
Bush objected to such a characterisation and stated the relationship was more complex. He observed that Cheney was deferential, consistently referring to him in public settings as President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush questioned even characterisations of their relationship as a partnership because it implied that they were peers. Despite these objections, Cheney viewed the relaxed president accommodating on a broad range of governmental choices.
The Post-9/11 Era
Leading of a faction of conservative hawks that encompassed military head Donald Rumsfeld and assistant defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he strongly advocated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in reaction to the terrorist strikes on New York and Washington. At the time of the 9/11 strike, Bush had been participating in a session at a school in Florida. As Bush made his way to a secret bunker in Nebraska, Cheney assumed control, commanding the destruction of any non-communicating airplanes approaching the government building.
Cheney stated the attacks altered his perspective, leading him to become determined on retaliation. Together with other neo-cons, like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he campaigned for a occupation of Afghanistan in an effort to seize Osama bin Laden. Cheney then vigorously pushed for the invasion of Iraq, even though there was little proof of Saddam Hussein playing a role.
Debated Actions
He showed no remorse about the armed intervention, in which an estimated 100,000 Iraqis perished, nor about the waterboarding of suspects captured after 9/11. He told CNN in 2015 that the Iraq military action, which was founded on inaccurate information repeated by Cheney, was the right path to take. "It was the proper decision to do then. I was convinced back then and I maintain that stance presently."
Yet even then, there were opposing views at a top tier about the botched execution of Iraq. One of the government's own special envoys to the Middle East, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was dismissed from the position. "I witnessed, at a minimum," he subsequently stated "obvious failure, negligence, and irresponsibility: in the worst case, deception, unfitness, and dishonesty."
Broader Context
Cheney was not completely responsible for the Iraq invasion. Even before 9/11, Wolfowitz had pushed for such action. He had composed a memorandum detailing situations in which US concerns might be compromised (including "access to crucial commodities, mainly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had argued that "the United States should be prepared to act independently when joint efforts cannot be orchestrated," specifically mentioning military moves against Iraq.
Bush too had assumed the White House generally inclined on carrying out what his predecessor had famously refused to do in 1991; topple Saddam. Following he had been sacked by the White House, the treasury secretary Paul O'Neill disclosed how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had declared his plan of diminishing America's engagement in the Middle East dispute and proposed armed intervention against Iraq.
Bush carried a private grievance against Saddam, thinking he had been involved in a scheme to murder his father, President George HW Bush, on a trip to Kuwait in 1993. He additionally disliked that one of the most prominent hotels in Baghdad had a floor mural with a image of his parent's visage that each person had to step on.
Interrogation Methods
Yet it was Cheney who was among the most outspoken advocating attacking Iraq, frequently citing intelligence reports that were both insubstantial or completely inaccurate. He endorsed what the Bush government politely called as "advanced techniques", the application of interrogation method and physical pressure.
Addressing a Senate analysis in 2014 that concluded that no actionable intelligence had resulted from the harsh techniques, Cheney disregarded the report as "riddled with crap". He stated to Fox News: "We instructed [the CIA] to implement measures and establish procedures to capture the bastards who murdered 3,000 of us on 9/11 and ensure it was not repeated. That's exactly what they did and they merit a lot of recognition."
Public Image
Cheney took pleasure in nicknames assigned to him by opponents such as Darth Vader and the sinister presence, and by the idea that he was a sinister influence directing Bush. In Peter Baker's 2013 publication about the two, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is reported as stating: "Do I represent the sinister strategist in the corner that nobody ever sees emerge from his hole? That is a effective way to function, in fact."
Corporate Connections
Debate over his corporate affiliations followed him through his period as second-in-command. Even though he had limited background in commerce but established relationships in security, notably in Saudi Arabia, he was offered a position at Halliburton, one of the world's largest energy corporations, in 1995 as chair and top executive.
In 2000 he became Bush's election partner for the White House. Contentiously, during the military campaign, Halliburton was awarded US contracts worth substantial sums.
It greatly increased his wealth. His yearly compensation during his period at the corporation rose from his $258,394 when he was military head to millions. When he departed in 2000 he had a compensation package valued at in excess of $20m|twenty
