The late US VP Dick Cheney, who has died at age 84, was considered among the most powerful incumbents of the vice-presidency in the nation's history. Whereas many vice-presidents were limited to marginal or ceremonial positions, Cheney exercised substantial sway during the presidency of George W Bush, to such an extent that he was commonly referred to as the "actual president".
Bush disliked that description and claimed the dynamic was more nuanced. He observed that Cheney was deferential, consistently referring to him in public settings as President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush disputed even characterisations of their association as a collaboration because it suggested that they were on equal footing. In spite of these objections, Cheney considered the relaxed president malleable on a wide array of administrative determinations.
The Period Following the Attacks
In charge of a contingent of neo-conservatives that included Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he strongly advocated the armed incursion of Iraq in 2003 in reaction to the terrorist strikes on New York and Washington. When of the 9/11 assault, Bush had been taking part in a session at a educational institution in Florida. As Bush traveled to a secure location in Nebraska, Cheney took charge, directing the downing of any unresponsive aircraft nearing the Capitol building.
Cheney said the strikes transformed him, causing him to be focused on revenge. In conjunction with other conservative figures, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a occupation of Afghanistan in an effort to seize Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the military action of Iraq, even though there was insufficient indication of Saddam Hussein having involvement.
Disputed Actions
He expressed no regrets about the invasion, in which an estimated 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, and not about the harsh treatment of suspects captured after 9/11. He stated to CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion, which was based on faulty reports repeated by Cheney, was the proper path to take. "It was the right thing to do back then. I was convinced back then and I maintain that stance today."
Yet during that period, there were contrary opinions at a top tier about the botched execution of Iraq. One of the government's own delegates to the Middle East, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not reappointed from the role. "I observed, as a baseline," he subsequently stated "obvious failure, negligence, and recklessness: in the worst case, lying, incompetence, and corruption."
Wider Perspective
Cheney was not solely to blame for the Iraq invasion. Even before 9/11, Wolfowitz had advocated for such action. He had composed a document setting out scenarios in which national priorities might be threatened (featuring "availability of essential resources, mostly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had argued that "the US should be positioned to act independently when cooperative measures cannot be orchestrated," specifically mentioning armed actions against Iraq.
Bush too had entered the Oval Office somewhat determined on executing what his predecessor had famously refused to do in 1991; remove Saddam. Following he had been dismissed by the administration, the Treasury head Paul O'Neill revealed how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his plan of lowering America's participation in the regional tensions and suggested armed intervention against Iraq.
Bush carried a personal grudge against Saddam, thinking he had been behind a scheme to assassinate his parent, President George HW Bush, on a visit to Kuwait in 1993. He also objected to that one of the most prominent hotels in Baghdad had a ground design with a image of his father's visage that all visitors had to walk over.
Investigation Approaches
However it was Cheney who was among the most outspoken advocating attacking Iraq, frequently quoting intelligence reports that were both weak or totally deceptive. He supported what the Bush White House politely called as "advanced techniques", the application of interrogation method and harsh treatment.
Answering a Senate report in 2014 that determined that no useful information had resulted from the torture, Cheney dismissed the report as "full of crap". He told Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to establish protocols and create initiatives to catch the bastards who murdered 3,000 of us on 9/11 and guarantee it never happened again. That's exactly what they did and they deserve a lot of credit."
External Perception
Cheney took pleasure in nicknames imposed on him by critics such as Darth Vader and the dark figure, and by the idea that he was a sinister influence controlling Bush. In the journalist's 2013 book about the two, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is reported as stating: "Am I the sinister strategist in the corner that nobody ever sees come out of his domain? This represents a effective way to operate, actually."
Corporate Connections
Dispute over his corporate affiliations followed him through his period as VP. Although he had limited background in commerce but strong connections in military, particularly in Saudi Arabia, he was invited to join Halliburton, one of the world's most substantial oil and gas corporations, in 1995 as chair and chief executive.
In 2000 he became Bush's running mate for the executive branch. Controversially, during the military campaign, Halliburton was given US contracts worth billions.
It greatly increased his wealth. His yearly compensation during his period at the corporation rose from his previous salary during his time as military head to millions. When he left in 2000 he had a compensation package worth over $20m|twenty
