The late US vice-president Dick Cheney, who died at age 84, was regarded as among the most influential occupants of that position in the nation's history. Whereas countless second-in-commands had to settle for minor or symbolic positions, Cheney held huge power during the presidency of George W Bush, to the point that he was frequently referred to as the "real president".
Bush objected to such a characterisation and stated the relationship was more nuanced. He pointed out that Cheney was deferential, invariably referring to him in public as President, while he referred to him as Dick. Bush challenged even characterisations of their relationship as a partnership because it implied that they were peers. Despite these denials, Cheney found the laidback president accommodating on a broad range of policy decisions.
The Post-9/11 Era
Leading of a faction of neo-cons that encompassed defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he pushed hard for the invasion 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 taking part in a session at a elementary school in Florida. While Bush headed for a secure location in Nebraska, Cheney took command, commanding the destruction of any non-communicating planes approaching the US Capitol.
Cheney said the attacks altered his perspective, leading him to become intent on revenge. Together with other neo-conservatives, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he lobbied for a occupation of Afghanistan in an endeavor to seize Osama bin Laden. Cheney then pressed fiercely for the armed intervention of Iraq, even though there was little proof of Saddam Hussein playing a role.
Debated Policies
He showed no remorse about the invasion, in which an reckoned 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, or about the harsh treatment of suspects captured after 9/11. He told CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion, which was based on inaccurate intelligence circulated by Cheney, was the proper decision. "It was the correct action to do then. I was convinced at the time and I maintain that stance today."
Yet even then, there were dissenting voices at a high level about the botched execution of Iraq. One of the White House's own delegates to the area, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not reappointed from the post. "I observed, at a minimum," he wrote later "true dereliction, negligence, and recklessness: potentially, lying, incompetence, and corruption."
Wider Perspective
Cheney was not solely accountable for the Iraq campaign. Prior to 9/11, Wolfowitz had pushed for similar measures. He had written a memo detailing scenarios in which American interests might be endangered (including "obtaining crucial commodities, mostly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had argued that "the United States should be positioned to take unilateral action when cooperative measures prove impossible," particularly referencing defense operations against Iraq.
Bush also had entered the White House somewhat determined on carrying out what his father had specifically avoided to do in 1991; overthrow Saddam. Following he had been fired by the president, the Treasury head Paul O'Neill revealed how, at the initial gathering of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his intention of reducing America's participation in the Middle East dispute and proposed armed intervention against Iraq.
Bush bore a individual resentment against Saddam, believing he had been responsible for a scheme to kill his parent, President George HW Bush, on a trip to Kuwait in 1993. He additionally disliked that one of the most prominent accommodations in Baghdad had a ground design with a portrait of his parent's visage that each person had to walk over.
Interrogation Methods
Yet it was Cheney who was part of the most vehement behind striking Iraq, repeatedly quoting information documents that were whether insubstantial or entirely deceptive. He supported what the Bush government politely called as "enhanced interrogation", the use of waterboarding and torture.
Answering a Senate analysis in 2014 that found that no valuable data had been obtained through the harsh techniques, Cheney disregarded the conclusions as "loaded with crap". He stated to Fox News: "We asked [the CIA] to take steps and put in place procedures to capture the individuals who took the lives of 3,000 of us on 9/11 and make sure it would not recur. That is precisely what they did and they merit a lot of recognition."
Public Image
Cheney enjoyed nicknames given to him by critics such as Darth Vader and The Prince of Darkness, and by the concept that he was a sinister influence manipulating 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 malevolent mastermind in the shadows that operates invisibly emerge from his domain? That is a advantageous way to work, truthfully."
Business Interests
Debate over his business interests pursued him throughout his time as vice-president. Although he had limited background in corporate affairs but strong connections in security, especially in Saudi Arabia, he was offered a position at Halliburton, one of the world's largest energy corporations, in 1995 as leader and CEO.
In 2000 he became Bush's running mate for the executive branch. Controversially, during the military campaign, Halliburton was granted US deals totaling multiple billions.
It made him rich. His yearly earnings during his tenure at the firm grew from his previous salary while defence secretary to over four million. When he left in 2000 he had a compensation package valued at in excess of $20m|twenty
