The deceased US vice-president Dick Cheney, who has died at age 84, was regarded as arguably the most significant holders of that position in American history. Although many second-in-commands were confined to marginal or symbolic positions, Cheney wielded huge power during the administration of George W Bush, to such an extent that he was frequently referred to as the "actual president".
Bush objected to this portrayal and stated the relationship was more complex. He pointed out that Cheney was deferential, invariably addressing him in public as President, while he called him as Dick. Bush challenged even portrayals of their partnership as a collaboration because it suggested that they were equals. Despite these objections, Cheney found the easygoing president accommodating on a whole raft of governmental choices.
The Aftermath of 9/11
Leading of a faction of neo-conservatives that included military head Donald Rumsfeld and assistant defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he strongly advocated the military intervention of Iraq in 2003 in answer to the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington. During of the 9/11 attack, Bush had been participating in a session at a elementary school in Florida. As Bush made his way to a secure location in Nebraska, Cheney took command, commanding the downing of any non-communicating aircraft nearing the US Capitol.
Cheney claimed the strikes changed him, making him become determined on revenge. Together with other neo-conservatives, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a takeover of Afghanistan in an attempt to apprehend Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the military action of Iraq, though there was insufficient indication of Saddam Hussein being involved.
Debated Policies
He showed no remorse about the armed intervention, in which an estimated 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, nor about the harsh treatment of individuals captured after 9/11. He informed CNN in 2015 that the Iraq military action, which was predicated on misleading information repeated by Cheney, was the proper course of action. "It proved to be the right thing to do back then. I had faith at the time and I hold that view presently."
However even at the time, there were opposing views at a top tier about the mishandling of Iraq. One of the White House's own representatives to the area, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was dismissed from the post. "I saw, as a baseline," he wrote later "true dereliction, inaction, and recklessness: in the worst case, falsehoods, ineptitude, and corruption."
Broader Context
Cheney was not solely responsible for the Iraq campaign. Prior to 9/11, Wolfowitz had called for such action. He had written a document setting out scenarios in which American interests might be compromised (including "availability of essential resources, mostly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had asserted that "the US should be postured to act independently when collective action cannot be arranged," explicitly mentioning armed actions against Iraq.
Bush too had entered the presidency somewhat determined on carrying out what his father had specifically avoided to do in 1991; topple Saddam. Subsequent to he had been fired by the White House, the Treasury head Paul O'Neill recounted how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his plan of reducing America's involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and suggested defense operations against Iraq.
Bush bore a private grievance against Saddam, believing he had been involved in a plot to kill his father, President George HW Bush, on a visit to Kuwait in 1993. He furthermore objected to that one of the biggest hotels in Baghdad had a ground design with a portrait of his parent's face that each person had to tread upon.
Investigation Approaches
However it was Cheney who was part of the most vehement supporting invading Iraq, frequently quoting information documents that were either insubstantial or entirely deceptive. He endorsed what the Bush administration indirectly described as "intensive questioning", the employment of simulated drowning and torture.
Responding to a Senate report in 2014 that found that no valuable data had been obtained through the torture, Cheney dismissed the conclusions as "full of crap". He told Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to take steps and put in place initiatives to apprehend the individuals who killed 3,000 of us on 9/11 and guarantee it would not recur. That was specifically what they did and they deserve a lot of recognition."
Public Persona
Cheney took pleasure in labels imposed on him by critics such as Darth Vader and The Prince of Darkness, and by the concept that he was a sinister influence directing Bush. In the author's 2013 book about the pair, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is cited as commenting: "Is it me who is the sinister strategist in the corner that remains unseen leave his lair? It's a effective way to function, actually."
Commercial Ties
Controversy over his corporate affiliations accompanied him during his tenure as vice-president. While he had limited background in corporate affairs but established relationships in security, notably in Saudi Arabia, he was offered a position at Halliburton, one of the world's most substantial energy conglomerates, in 1995 as chairman and chief executive.
In 2000 he was selected as Bush's election partner for the executive branch. Debatably, during the conflict in Iraq, Halliburton was awarded US agreements totaling multiple billions.
It greatly increased his wealth. His yearly compensation during his time at the corporation increased from his quarter-million dollars while Pentagon chief to millions. When he departed in 2000 he had a package worth more than $20m|twenty
