The deceased US vice-president Dick Cheney, who passed away at the age of 84, was seen as arguably the most significant occupants of that position in the nation's history. Although numerous VPs had to settle for peripheral or ceremonial positions, Cheney wielded substantial influence during the presidency of George W Bush, so much so that he was often referred to as the "true president".
Bush objected to this portrayal and said the relationship was more complex. He observed that Cheney was deferential, always calling him in public as Mr President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush disputed even portrayals of their relationship as a partnership because it suggested that they were equals. In spite of these objections, Cheney considered the relaxed president accommodating on a wide array of administrative determinations.
The Aftermath of 9/11
Leading of a group of neo-cons that encompassed 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 attack, Bush had been participating in a session at a educational institution in Florida. While Bush headed for a secret bunker in Nebraska, Cheney took charge, directing the shooting down of any unidentified aircraft heading toward the Capitol building.
Cheney stated the assaults altered his perspective, making him become determined on retribution. Along with other neo-cons, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he campaigned for a invasion of Afghanistan in an effort to seize Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the invasion of Iraq, though there was little proof of Saddam Hussein playing a role.
Controversial Actions
He showed no remorse about the armed intervention, in which an approximated 100,000 Iraqis died, and not about the harsh treatment of suspects rounded up after 9/11. He stated to CNN in 2015 that the Iraq military action, which was predicated on misleading information circulated by Cheney, was the correct path to take. "It proved to be the proper decision to do at that time. I was convinced at the time and I maintain that stance now."
Yet even at the time, there were contrary opinions at a senior level about the poor management of Iraq. One of the administration's own special envoys to the area, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not reappointed from the position. "I witnessed, at the very least," he subsequently stated "true dereliction, inaction, and recklessness: potentially, lying, unfitness, and graft."
Broader Context
Cheney was not solely responsible for the Iraq invasion. Prior to 9/11, Wolfowitz had pushed for similar measures. He had drafted a memorandum detailing circumstances in which American interests might be endangered (featuring "access to essential resources, mainly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had contended that "the United States should be postured to operate alone when collective action cannot be orchestrated," explicitly mentioning armed actions against Iraq.
Bush too had entered the White House generally inclined on executing what his father had specifically avoided to do in 1991; remove Saddam. Following he had been dismissed by the administration, the finance chief Paul O'Neill disclosed how, at the first meeting of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his objective of diminishing America's participation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and suggested military action against Iraq.
Bush carried a personal grudge against Saddam, believing he had been involved in a plot to kill his predecessor, President George HW Bush, on a visit to Kuwait in 1993. He furthermore disliked that one of the largest establishments in Baghdad had a floor mural with a portrait of his parent's face that each person had to walk over.
Investigation Approaches
However it was Cheney who was one of the most vociferous behind attacking Iraq, consistently quoting intelligence reports that were either insubstantial or entirely deceptive. He supported what the Bush government politely called as "enhanced interrogation", the use of simulated drowning and harsh treatment.
Responding to a Senate analysis in 2014 that found that no actionable intelligence had resulted from the torture, Cheney dismissed the conclusions as "loaded with crap". He told Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to take steps and create procedures to catch the bastards who killed 3,000 of us on 9/11 and guarantee it never happened again. That's exactly what they did and they merit a lot of praise."
Public Persona
Cheney enjoyed labels assigned to him by opponents such as Darth Vader and The Prince of Darkness, and by the concept that he was a shadow power controlling Bush. In the author's 2013 volume about the pair, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is cited as commenting: "Do I represent the sinister strategist in the shadows that remains unseen leave his domain? That is a advantageous way to work, truthfully."
Business Interests
Dispute over his corporate affiliations accompanied him throughout his time as VP. Even though he had limited background in corporate affairs but established relationships in military, particularly in Saudi Arabia, he was asked to become part of Halliburton, one of the world's most substantial energy companies, in 1995 as leader and top executive.
In 2000 he became Bush's VP candidate for the presidency. Debatably, during the military campaign, Halliburton was awarded US agreements worth billions.
It greatly increased his wealth. His annual income during his period at the firm rose from his previous salary during his time as defence secretary to $4.4m. When he resigned in 2000 he had a package totaling over $20m|twenty
