One-time VP Dick Cheney: A Look Back on the Impactful Political Career
The deceased US second-in-command Dick Cheney, who has died at the age of 84, was seen as arguably the most influential occupants of that position in American history. Whereas countless vice-presidents were confined to minor or symbolic functions, Cheney exercised huge sway during the term of George W Bush, to such an extent that he was frequently called as the "true president".
Bush disliked this portrayal and stated the connection was more complicated. He noted that Cheney was respectful, always calling him in official appearances as the President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush questioned even descriptions of their partnership as a partnership because it indicated that they were peers. Despite such protestations, Cheney viewed the laidback president pliable on a broad range of governmental choices.
A Period Following the Attacks
In charge of a group of neo-cons that encompassed Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld and Pentagon second-in-command Paul Wolfowitz, he strongly advocated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in response to the terrorist strikes on New York and Washington. At the time of the 9/11 assault, Bush had been participating in a gathering at a school in Florida. While Bush traveled to a secure location in Nebraska, Cheney assumed control, commanding the shooting down of any non-communicating aircraft approaching the US Capitol.
Cheney stated the attacks changed him, causing him to be determined on revenge. Together with other conservative figures, like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he lobbied for a takeover of Afghanistan in an endeavor to seize Osama bin Laden. Cheney then vigorously pushed for the armed intervention of Iraq, though there was no evidence of Saddam Hussein being involved.
Debated Actions
He voiced no apologies about the armed intervention, in which an approximated 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, and not about the harsh treatment of suspects apprehended after 9/11. He stated to CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion effort, which was based on faulty intelligence circulated by Cheney, was the proper path to take. "It represented the proper decision to do at that time. I had faith back then and I hold that view presently."
But even then, there were opposing views at a senior level about the botched execution of Iraq. One of the administration's own delegates to the Middle East, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not reappointed from the role. "I observed, at a minimum," he subsequently stated "obvious failure, inaction, and recklessness: potentially, deception, ineptitude, and dishonesty."
Additional Factors
Cheney was not completely to blame for the Iraq military action. Before 9/11, Wolfowitz had advocated for comparable steps. He had drafted a memorandum setting out circumstances in which US concerns might be endangered (featuring "access to vital raw materials, primarily Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had contended that "America should be postured to take unilateral action when joint efforts prove impossible," specifically mentioning armed actions against Iraq.
Bush too had entered the White House somewhat determined on carrying out what his predecessor had notably declined to do in 1991; topple Saddam. Following he had been fired by the administration, the finance chief Paul O'Neill disclosed how, at the initial gathering of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had announced his objective of lowering America's involvement in the regional tensions and proposed defense operations against Iraq.
Bush bore a private grievance against Saddam, convinced he had been involved in a plot to assassinate his parent, President George HW Bush, on a journey to Kuwait in 1993. He furthermore objected to that one of the largest establishments in Baghdad had a surface artwork with a image of his father's visage that everyone had to tread upon.
Questioning Techniques
But it was Cheney who was among the most vociferous supporting attacking Iraq, consistently citing information documents that were whether insubstantial or totally inaccurate. He supported what the Bush White House euphemistically referred to as "enhanced interrogation", the use of simulated drowning and harsh treatment.
Addressing a Senate report in 2014 that concluded that no useful information had been obtained through the harsh techniques, Cheney rejected the conclusions as "full of crap". He informed Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to take steps and create programmes to catch the perpetrators who took the lives of 3,000 of us on 9/11 and guarantee it would not recur. That is precisely what they did and they merit a lot of credit."
Public Image
Cheney enjoyed labels given to him by detractors such as Darth Vader and the dark figure, and by the concept that he was a shadow power manipulating Bush. In the author's 2013 volume about the two, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is reported as stating: "Is it me who is the evil genius in the corner that operates invisibly leave his hole? This represents a nice way to function, truthfully."
Commercial Ties
Dispute over his commercial relationships pursued him through his period as second-in-command. While he had limited background in corporate affairs but strong connections in military, notably in Saudi Arabia, he was offered a position at Halliburton, one of the world's most substantial oil and gas companies, in 1995 as chair and CEO.
In 2000 he was selected as Bush's running mate for the White House. Contentiously, during the conflict in Iraq, Halliburton was awarded US agreements worth substantial sums.
It greatly increased his wealth. His annual income during his time at the company rose from his previous salary during his time as Pentagon chief to millions. When he left in 2000 he had a severance arrangement totaling more than $20m|twenty
