The former US second-in-command Dick Cheney, who died at age 84, was considered arguably the most influential holders of that office in the nation's history. Whereas numerous second-in-commands had to settle for minor or ceremonial roles, Cheney exercised substantial influence during the presidency of George W Bush, so much so that he was frequently referred to as the "true president".
Bush objected to that description and stated the relationship was more nuanced. He noted that Cheney was deferential, always addressing him in official appearances as President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush disputed even descriptions of their partnership as a collaboration because it suggested that they were peers. In spite of these objections, Cheney considered the relaxed president accommodating on a broad range of governmental choices.
The Aftermath of 9/11
Leading of a faction of neo-conservatives that encompassed defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he strongly advocated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in reaction to the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington. During of the 9/11 strike, Bush had been attending a meeting at a school in Florida. While Bush headed for a secret bunker in Nebraska, Cheney took command, ordering the shooting down of any unidentified aircraft nearing the government building.
Cheney stated the attacks transformed him, making him become intent on retribution. In conjunction with other neo-cons, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a takeover of Afghanistan in an attempt to capture Osama bin Laden. Cheney then vigorously pushed for the armed intervention of Iraq, although there was no evidence of Saddam Hussein playing a role.
Controversial Actions
He showed no remorse about the invasion, in which an estimated 100,000 Iraqis perished, nor about the waterboarding of individuals apprehended after 9/11. He informed CNN in 2015 that the Iraq military action, which was based on inaccurate reports echoed by Cheney, was the right decision. "It represented the proper decision to do back then. I was convinced back then and I maintain that stance today."
But even then, there were dissenting voices 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 dismissed from the post. "I saw, as a baseline," he subsequently stated "true dereliction, negligence, and irresponsibility: potentially, deception, incompetence, and graft."
Wider Perspective
Cheney was not solely accountable for the Iraq campaign. Even before 9/11, Wolfowitz had advocated for such action. He had drafted a memorandum setting out circumstances in which US concerns might be compromised (encompassing "access to essential resources, mostly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had contended that "the US should be prepared to act independently when collective action cannot be arranged," specifically mentioning armed actions against Iraq.
Bush also had arrived in the White House generally inclined on executing what his parent had famously refused to do in 1991; overthrow Saddam. Subsequent to he had been fired by the administration, the treasury secretary Paul O'Neill disclosed 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 suggested armed intervention against Iraq.
Bush bore a personal grudge against Saddam, thinking he had been responsible for a scheme to kill his father, President George HW Bush, on a trip to Kuwait in 1993. He also resented that one of the most prominent establishments in Baghdad had a floor mural with a likeness of his parent's countenance that everyone had to step on.
Investigation Approaches
However it was Cheney who was among the most vociferous advocating striking Iraq, repeatedly citing information documents that were whether thin or completely deceptive. He backed what the Bush government euphemistically referred to as "advanced techniques", the use of waterboarding and harsh treatment.
Responding to a Senate report in 2014 that determined that no actionable intelligence had come from the torture, Cheney disregarded the report as "loaded with crap". He told Fox News: "We instructed [the CIA] to implement measures and put in place procedures to catch the bastards who took the lives of 3,000 of us on 9/11 and guarantee it would not recur. That was specifically what they did and they merit a lot of recognition."
Public Persona
Cheney reveled in monikers imposed on him by critics such as the dark character and The Prince of Darkness, and by the concept that he was a shadow power controlling Bush. In the journalist'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 evil genius in the shadows that operates invisibly leave his hole? This represents a nice way to work, truthfully."
Commercial Ties
Controversy over his commercial relationships pursued him during his tenure as vice-president. While he had little experience in business but strong connections in security, notably in Saudi Arabia, he was offered a position at Halliburton, one of the world's largest energy corporations, in 1995 as chair and CEO.
In 2000 he became Bush's running mate for the presidency. Debatably, during the Iraq war, Halliburton was given US contracts totaling substantial sums.
It made him rich. His yearly compensation during his tenure at the corporation grew from his previous salary while Pentagon chief to $4.4m. When he departed in 2000 he had a compensation package valued at over $20m|twenty
