The former US VP Dick Cheney, who died at age 84, was considered one of the most powerful incumbents of the vice-presidency in American history. While many vice-presidents had to settle for minor or ceremonial functions, Cheney wielded substantial power during the presidency of George W Bush, to the point that he was frequently described as the "actual president".
Bush objected to this portrayal and said the connection was more complex. He pointed out that Cheney was respectful, invariably addressing him in official appearances as the President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush disputed even portrayals of their relationship as a partnership because it implied that they were peers. Despite these objections, Cheney viewed the relaxed president pliable on a whole raft of governmental choices.
A Period Following the Attacks
At the head of a group of neo-cons that included defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Pentagon second-in-command Paul Wolfowitz, he vigorously promoted the armed incursion of Iraq in 2003 in response to the terrorist strikes on New York and Washington. During of the 9/11 attack, Bush had been participating in a gathering at a school in Florida. While Bush traveled to a secret bunker in Nebraska, Cheney took charge, directing the destruction of any non-communicating airplanes approaching the government building.
Cheney claimed the assaults altered his perspective, causing him to be determined on retaliation. In conjunction with other neo-cons, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a takeover of Afghanistan in an effort to capture Osama bin Laden. Cheney then vigorously pushed for the invasion of Iraq, although there was insufficient indication of Saddam Hussein having involvement.
Disputed Policies
He voiced no apologies about the invasion, in which an estimated 100,000 Iraqis died, and not about the enhanced interrogation of detainees captured after 9/11. He told CNN in 2015 that the Iraq military action, which was based on faulty intelligence repeated by Cheney, was the correct path to take. "It was the right thing to do then. I was convinced back then and I hold that view now."
Yet even then, there were dissenting voices at a high level about the botched execution of Iraq. One of the White House's own representatives to the area, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not retained from the role. "I saw, at the very least," he later wrote "obvious failure, negligence, and unaccountability: potentially, deception, unfitness, and corruption."
Wider Perspective
Cheney was not completely accountable for the Iraq invasion. Before 9/11, Wolfowitz had advocated for similar measures. He had composed a memo setting out circumstances in which US concerns might be compromised (featuring "obtaining essential resources, mostly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had argued that "the United States should be prepared to operate alone when joint efforts cannot be arranged," particularly citing military moves against Iraq.
Bush additionally had entered the presidency vaguely intent on carrying out what his parent had specifically avoided to do in 1991; topple Saddam. Subsequent to he had been dismissed by the White House, the treasury secretary Paul O'Neill recounted how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his objective of diminishing America's involvement in the regional tensions and suggested defense operations against Iraq.
Bush bore a personal grudge against Saddam, convinced he had been involved in a conspiracy to assassinate his predecessor, President George HW Bush, on a journey to Kuwait in 1993. He additionally resented that one of the largest hotels in Baghdad had a ground design with a likeness of his father's visage that everyone had to tread upon.
Investigation Approaches
But it was Cheney who was among the most outspoken supporting invading Iraq, repeatedly citing information documents that were whether insubstantial or totally inaccurate. He backed what the Bush government euphemistically referred to as "enhanced interrogation", the use of simulated drowning and torture.
Answering a Senate report in 2014 that found that no useful information had been obtained through the harsh techniques, Cheney disregarded the findings as "full of crap". He stated to Fox News: "We asked [the CIA] to implement measures and establish procedures to apprehend the individuals who murdered 3,000 of us on 9/11 and guarantee it never happened again. That is precisely what they did and they earn a lot of praise."
Public Image
Cheney took pleasure in nicknames imposed on him by critics such as the dark character and the dark figure, and by the notion that he was a dark force controlling Bush. In the journalist's 2013 publication about the duo, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is cited as commenting: "Do I represent the sinister strategist in the background that remains unseen leave his lair? This represents a nice way to work, truthfully."
Commercial Ties
Debate over his business interests accompanied him throughout his time as vice-president. Although he had minimal expertise in corporate affairs but strong connections in military, particularly in Saudi Arabia, he was asked to become part of Halliburton, one of the world's biggest petroleum companies, in 1995 as leader and chief executive.
In 2000 he assumed the role of Bush's election partner for the presidency. Debatably, during the military campaign, Halliburton was awarded US deals valued at substantial sums.
It greatly increased his wealth. His yearly compensation during his period at the corporation rose from his $258,394 while military head to millions. When he resigned in 2000 he had a compensation package worth more than $20m|twenty
