The deceased US second-in-command Dick Cheney, who passed away at the age of 84, was regarded as arguably the most influential holders of that position in American history. Although countless vice-presidents were confined to minor or figurehead positions, Cheney wielded huge influence during the term of George W Bush, so much so that he was frequently described as the "true president".
Bush resented that description and claimed the relationship was more nuanced. He noted that Cheney was deferential, invariably addressing him in public settings as the President, while he referred to him as Dick. Bush disputed even descriptions of their relationship as a team because it suggested that they were equals. Regardless of these denials, Cheney considered the easygoing president accommodating on a whole raft of policy decisions.
A Post-9/11 Era
At the head of a group of neo-conservatives that encompassed military head Donald Rumsfeld and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he vigorously promoted the armed incursion of Iraq in 2003 in answer to the terrorist strikes on New York and Washington. During of the 9/11 strike, Bush had been taking part in a meeting at a school in Florida. As Bush headed for a secure location in Nebraska, Cheney assumed control, commanding the destruction of any non-communicating planes nearing the Capitol building.
Cheney claimed the attacks altered his perspective, causing him to be focused on retribution. Together with other neo-cons, like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a invasion 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 playing a role.
Controversial Actions
He voiced no apologies about the invasion, in which an approximated 100,000 Iraqis died, and not about the harsh treatment of individuals captured after 9/11. He informed CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion effort, which was predicated on inaccurate intelligence repeated by Cheney, was the proper path to take. "It represented the right thing to do at that time. I had faith at the time and I maintain that stance presently."
However even then, there were dissenting voices at a high level about the poor management of Iraq. One of the administration's own representatives to the Middle East, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not retained from the role. "I observed, at the very least," he subsequently stated "clear negligence, inaction, and recklessness: potentially, falsehoods, incompetence, and dishonesty."
Wider Perspective
Cheney was not solely responsible for the Iraq invasion. Prior to 9/11, Wolfowitz had called for comparable steps. He had drafted a document outlining situations in which US concerns might be threatened (featuring "access to crucial commodities, primarily Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had contended that "the US should be prepared to act independently when cooperative measures prove impossible," particularly mentioning defense operations against Iraq.
Bush too had arrived in the White House somewhat determined on carrying out what his predecessor had specifically avoided to do in 1991; overthrow Saddam. After he had been fired by the administration, the treasury secretary Paul O'Neill recounted how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had declared his plan of reducing America's engagement in the regional tensions and proposed defense operations against Iraq.
Bush bore a individual resentment against Saddam, convinced he had been behind a scheme to assassinate his father, President George HW Bush, on a journey 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 visage that everyone had to tread upon.
Investigation Approaches
However it was Cheney who was part of the most vociferous advocating invading Iraq, consistently citing information documents that were both thin or completely deceptive. He backed what the Bush White House indirectly described as "advanced techniques", the employment of simulated drowning and harsh treatment.
Responding to a Senate report in 2014 that determined that no valuable data had been obtained through the interrogation methods, Cheney rejected the findings as "full of crap". He informed Fox News: "We instructed [the CIA] to take steps and establish procedures to catch the perpetrators who killed 3,000 of us on 9/11 and make sure it never happened again. That was specifically what they did and they merit a lot of praise."
Public Persona
Cheney enjoyed labels given to him by opponents such as Darth Vader and The Prince of Darkness, and by the notion that he was a shadow power controlling Bush. In Peter Baker's 2013 book about the duo, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is reported as stating: "Do I represent the malevolent mastermind in the corner that operates invisibly come out of his hole? It's a advantageous way to work, actually."
Commercial Ties
Debate over his commercial relationships pursued him through his period as second-in-command. Although he had limited background in commerce but established relationships in defence, particularly in Saudi Arabia, he was invited to join Halliburton, one of the world's largest oil and gas conglomerates, in 1995 as chair and CEO.
In 2000 he became Bush's running mate for the presidency. Debatably, during the Iraq war, Halliburton was granted US deals valued at multiple billions.
It made him rich. His yearly earnings during his period at the corporation grew from his previous salary during his time as Pentagon chief to millions. When he left in 2000 he had a severance arrangement valued at more than $20m|twenty
