The late US vice-president Dick Cheney, who passed away at the age of 84, was seen as one of the most influential incumbents of that office in American history. While many second-in-commands had to settle for minor or symbolic functions, Cheney held enormous sway during the presidency of George W Bush, so much so that he was frequently referred to as the "real president".
Bush resented that description and stated the dynamic was more complex. He noted that Cheney was respectful, consistently referring to him in official appearances as the President, while he called him as Dick. Bush disputed even characterisations of their relationship as a partnership because it indicated that they were peers. Despite such protestations, Cheney considered the laidback president pliable on a whole raft of governmental choices.
A Period Following the Attacks
Leading of a faction of conservative hawks that included military head Donald Rumsfeld and assistant defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he pushed hard for the military intervention of Iraq in 2003 in reaction to the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington. During of the 9/11 assault, Bush had been taking part in a gathering at a school in Florida. While Bush made his way to a underground facility in Nebraska, Cheney took command, commanding the destruction of any non-communicating planes nearing the government building.
Cheney claimed the attacks changed him, making him become focused on retribution. Together with other conservative figures, like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he lobbied for a occupation of Afghanistan in an attempt to apprehend Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the armed intervention of Iraq, even though there was little proof of Saddam Hussein being involved.
Debated Policies
He voiced no apologies about the invasion, in which an reckoned 100,000 Iraqis died, and not about the waterboarding of suspects rounded up after 9/11. He informed CNN in 2015 that the Iraq military action, which was based on faulty information repeated by Cheney, was the correct decision. "It was the proper decision to do at that time. I had faith then and I maintain that stance now."
Yet even then, there were contrary opinions at a senior level about the mishandling of Iraq. One of the White House's own representatives to the area, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not reappointed from the role. "I observed, at the very least," he subsequently stated "clear negligence, inaction, and unaccountability: in the worst case, falsehoods, ineptitude, and corruption."
Wider Perspective
Cheney was not completely responsible for the Iraq invasion. Prior to 9/11, Wolfowitz had called for similar measures. He had composed a document detailing circumstances in which American interests might be threatened (including "obtaining crucial commodities, primarily Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had asserted that "the United States should be postured to act independently when collective action prove impossible," particularly referencing military moves against Iraq.
Bush additionally had entered the Oval Office vaguely intent on executing what his predecessor had specifically avoided to do in 1991; remove Saddam. Subsequent to he had been sacked by the White House, the treasury secretary Paul O'Neill recounted how, at the first meeting of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his objective of lowering America's engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and suggested armed intervention against Iraq.
Bush carried a personal grudge against Saddam, convinced he had been involved in a conspiracy to kill his parent, President George HW Bush, on a trip to Kuwait in 1993. He additionally resented that one of the biggest accommodations in Baghdad had a floor mural with a portrait of his father's face that all visitors had to walk over.
Interrogation Methods
Yet it was Cheney who was part of the most vehement supporting attacking Iraq, consistently citing intelligence reports that were either insubstantial or completely deceptive. He backed what the Bush government politely called as "advanced techniques", the application of interrogation method and harsh treatment.
Responding to a Senate report in 2014 that found that no useful information had been obtained through the torture, Cheney disregarded the report as "riddled with crap". He informed Fox News: "We instructed [the CIA] to implement measures and put in place initiatives to catch the individuals who murdered 3,000 of us on 9/11 and make sure it never happened again. That's exactly what they did and they earn a lot of praise."
Public Persona
Cheney reveled in monikers imposed on him by detractors such as Darth Vader and the dark figure, and by the concept that he was a dark force manipulating Bush. In the author's 2013 book about the pair, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is cited as commenting: "Am I the evil genius in the background that operates invisibly emerge from his hole? That is a advantageous way to operate, in fact."
Commercial Ties
Debate over his corporate affiliations accompanied him throughout his time as second-in-command. Although he had little experience in corporate affairs but strong connections in military, notably in Saudi Arabia, he was invited to join Halliburton, one of the world's most substantial energy conglomerates, in 1995 as chair and CEO.
In 2000 he was selected as Bush's running mate for the executive branch. Contentiously, during the Iraq war, Halliburton was awarded US deals totaling substantial sums.
It significantly boosted his finances. His annual income during his tenure at the corporation grew from his $258,394 when he was defence secretary to over four million. When he departed in 2000 he had a package worth in excess of $20m|twenty
