The late US VP Dick Cheney, who passed away at age 84, was regarded as arguably the most significant holders of the vice-presidency in the nation's history. While numerous VPs had to settle for marginal or ceremonial functions, Cheney wielded enormous influence during the administration of George W Bush, to such an extent that he was frequently referred to as the "actual president".
Bush disliked this portrayal and claimed the dynamic was more complicated. He observed that Cheney was deferential, invariably addressing him in public as the President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush disputed even characterisations of their relationship as a team because it implied that they were equals. Regardless of such protestations, Cheney viewed the easygoing president malleable on a whole raft of administrative determinations.
The Aftermath of 9/11
Leading of a contingent of conservative hawks that featured defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Pentagon second-in-command Paul Wolfowitz, he strongly advocated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in answer to the terrorist strikes on New York and Washington. During of the 9/11 assault, Bush had been taking part in a session at a educational institution in Florida. While Bush made his way to a secure location in Nebraska, Cheney took charge, commanding the destruction of any unresponsive aircraft approaching the government building.
Cheney stated the strikes altered his perspective, leading him to become intent on retribution. In conjunction with other neo-cons, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a invasion of Afghanistan in an attempt to seize Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the invasion of Iraq, although there was insufficient indication of Saddam Hussein having involvement.
Disputed Decisions
He expressed no regrets about the armed intervention, in which an reckoned 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, or about the enhanced interrogation of suspects apprehended after 9/11. He told CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion effort, which was predicated on inaccurate reports circulated by Cheney, was the right decision. "It represented the correct action to do then. I was convinced back then and I maintain that stance today."
Yet during that period, there were opposing views at a top tier about the botched execution of Iraq. One of the administration's own representatives to the area, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was dismissed from the position. "I witnessed, at the very least," he subsequently stated "obvious failure, inaction, and recklessness: at worst, lying, ineptitude, and graft."
Broader Context
Cheney was not completely accountable for the Iraq military action. Prior to 9/11, Wolfowitz had pushed for similar measures. He had written a memo setting out scenarios in which US concerns might be compromised (featuring "obtaining essential resources, mostly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had argued that "America should be positioned to operate alone when collective action cannot be orchestrated," particularly citing military moves against Iraq.
Bush also had arrived in the Oval Office generally inclined on implementing what his father had famously refused to do in 1991; topple Saddam. Following he had been sacked by the president, the Treasury head Paul O'Neill revealed how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had declared his intention of diminishing America's participation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and proposed military action against Iraq.
Bush held a personal grudge against Saddam, thinking he had been involved in a conspiracy to assassinate his father, President George HW Bush, on a journey to Kuwait in 1993. He also disliked that one of the biggest establishments in Baghdad had a surface artwork with a portrait of his parent's visage that everyone had to step on.
Interrogation Methods
But it was Cheney who was one of the most vehement supporting striking Iraq, repeatedly citing intelligence reports that were either weak or entirely misleading. He backed what the Bush White House indirectly described as "advanced techniques", the employment of interrogation method and torture.
Responding to a Senate document in 2014 that determined that no valuable data had come from the harsh techniques, Cheney disregarded the conclusions as "loaded with crap". He stated to Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to take steps and establish programmes to capture the individuals who killed 3,000 of us on 9/11 and ensure it was not repeated. That is precisely what they did and they earn a lot of praise."
Public Image
Cheney enjoyed labels given to him by opponents such as the Star Wars villain and The Prince of Darkness, and by the notion that he was a shadow power directing Bush. In the author's 2013 book about the pair, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is reported as stating: "Do I represent the sinister strategist in the shadows that nobody ever sees come out of his hole? This represents a advantageous way to operate, in fact."
Corporate Connections
Debate over his corporate affiliations pursued him during his tenure as VP. While he had little experience in business but established relationships in defence, particularly in Saudi Arabia, he was asked to become part of Halliburton, one of the world's largest energy conglomerates, in 1995 as chairman and chief executive.
In 2000 he was selected as Bush's VP candidate for the presidency. Contentiously, during the military campaign, Halliburton was given US deals totaling multiple billions.
It greatly increased his wealth. His annual income during his time at the corporation rose from his $258,394 when he was defence secretary to $4.4m. When he departed in 2000 he had a package valued at over $20m|twenty
