One-time Vice-President Dick Cheney: A Retrospective on the Powerful Government Service
The former US second-in-command Dick Cheney, who passed away at the age of 84, was regarded as one of the most influential occupants of that position in the nation's history. Whereas numerous second-in-commands had to settle for minor or symbolic functions, Cheney held enormous power during the administration of George W Bush, to such an extent that he was often referred to as the "true president".
Bush disliked that description and stated the connection was more nuanced. He observed that Cheney was respectful, always referring to him in public as Mr President, while he referred to him as Dick. Bush challenged even characterisations of their partnership as a collaboration because it indicated that they were equals. In spite of such protestations, Cheney found the relaxed president pliable on a wide array of policy decisions.
A Period Following the Attacks
Leading of a faction of neo-conservatives that encompassed military head Donald Rumsfeld and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he strongly advocated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in response to the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. When of the 9/11 assault, Bush had been participating in a gathering at a educational institution in Florida. Whereas Bush traveled to a secure location in Nebraska, Cheney assumed control, directing the destruction of any non-communicating planes approaching the government building.
Cheney claimed the assaults transformed him, making him become intent on revenge. Along with other neo-conservatives, like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a occupation of Afghanistan in an attempt to capture Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the armed intervention of Iraq, although there was little proof of Saddam Hussein having involvement.
Debated Actions
He expressed no regrets about the invasion, in which an approximated 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, or about the harsh treatment of detainees captured after 9/11. He stated to CNN in 2015 that the Iraq military action, which was predicated on misleading intelligence echoed by Cheney, was the correct course of action. "It represented the correct action to do at that time. I had faith then and I believe it today."
Yet even then, there were opposing views at a high level about the mishandling of Iraq. One of the government's own representatives to the Middle East, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not reappointed from the role. "I saw, at the very least," he later wrote "obvious failure, carelessness, and irresponsibility: in the worst case, falsehoods, incompetence, and corruption."
Wider Perspective
Cheney was not completely accountable for the Iraq campaign. Before 9/11, Wolfowitz had pushed for such action. He had written a memorandum detailing situations in which national priorities might be compromised (including "access to crucial commodities, primarily Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had contended that "America should be postured to act independently when cooperative measures cannot be arranged," particularly mentioning armed actions against Iraq.
Bush also had assumed the White House somewhat determined on carrying out what his parent had specifically avoided to do in 1991; topple Saddam. Following he had been sacked by the president, the Treasury head Paul O'Neill revealed how, at the first meeting of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had declared his plan of lowering America's engagement in the Middle East dispute and proposed military action against Iraq.
Bush bore a individual resentment against Saddam, thinking he had been involved in a conspiracy to kill his father, President George HW Bush, on a visit to Kuwait in 1993. He also disliked that one of the largest establishments in Baghdad had a ground design with a portrait of his father's face that everyone had to tread upon.
Interrogation Methods
But it was Cheney who was one of the most outspoken supporting striking Iraq, frequently quoting information documents that were both weak or totally deceptive. He backed what the Bush government politely called as "advanced techniques", the use of waterboarding and physical pressure.
Responding to a Senate report in 2014 that determined that no valuable data had resulted from the harsh techniques, Cheney rejected the conclusions as "full of crap". He told Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to take steps and create initiatives to capture the perpetrators who killed 3,000 of us on 9/11 and ensure it would not recur. That's exactly what they did and they earn a lot of credit."
Public Persona
Cheney enjoyed monikers imposed on him by opponents such as the dark character and the dark figure, and by the concept that he was a sinister influence manipulating Bush. In Peter Baker's 2013 book about the duo, 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 lair? It's a nice way to function, actually."
Business Interests
Debate over his corporate affiliations accompanied him throughout his time as second-in-command. Even though he had limited background in corporate affairs but strong connections in military, notably in Saudi Arabia, he was asked to become part of Halliburton, one of the world's biggest oil and gas conglomerates, in 1995 as leader and chief executive.
In 2000 he became Bush's election partner for the presidency. Contentiously, during the conflict in Iraq, Halliburton was granted US agreements totaling substantial sums.
It significantly boosted his finances. His yearly earnings during his period at the company grew from his $258,394 while military head to over four million. When he left in 2000 he had a package valued at over $20m|twenty
