Ex- Second-in-Command Dick Cheney: A Look Back on His Powerful Time in Office

The late US vice-president Dick Cheney, who has died at the age of 84, was regarded as among the most influential holders of that position in US history. While numerous vice-presidents were confined to marginal or figurehead functions, Cheney wielded enormous sway during the presidency of George W Bush, to such an extent that he was often described as the "true president".

Bush resented such a characterisation and stated the dynamic was more nuanced. He noted that Cheney was deferential, invariably calling him in official appearances as Mr President, while he referred to him as Dick. Bush questioned even descriptions of their relationship as a team because it suggested that they were on equal footing. In spite of such protestations, Cheney viewed the laidback president malleable on a wide array of governmental choices.

The Period Following the Attacks

Leading of a contingent of neo-conservatives that encompassed Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld and Pentagon second-in-command Paul Wolfowitz, he pushed hard for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in answer to the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. When of the 9/11 assault, Bush had been participating in a session at a school in Florida. Whereas Bush made his way to a secret bunker in Nebraska, Cheney assumed control, ordering the downing of any non-communicating planes nearing the US Capitol.

Cheney stated the assaults transformed him, leading him to become determined on retaliation. Together with other conservative figures, such as Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he advocated for a occupation of Afghanistan in an attempt to seize Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the military action of Iraq, although there was insufficient indication of Saddam Hussein playing a role.

Disputed Decisions

He showed no remorse about the invasion, in which an approximated 100,000 Iraqis perished, nor about the enhanced interrogation of detainees captured after 9/11. He informed CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion, which was based on faulty reports circulated by Cheney, was the correct path to take. "It proved to be the right thing to do at that time. I was convinced at the time and I maintain that stance today."

However even at the time, there were contrary opinions at a senior level about the mishandling of Iraq. One of the administration's own representatives to the Middle East, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was not reappointed from the role. "I observed, as a baseline," he subsequently stated "obvious failure, carelessness, and unaccountability: potentially, falsehoods, ineptitude, and graft."

Broader Context

Cheney was not solely accountable for the Iraq invasion. Before 9/11, Wolfowitz had called for similar measures. He had composed a memorandum setting out circumstances in which American interests might be compromised (featuring "access to crucial commodities, mainly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had argued that "the US should be postured to operate alone when joint efforts cannot be arranged," particularly referencing armed actions against Iraq.

Bush additionally had assumed the White House somewhat determined on carrying out what his parent had specifically avoided to do in 1991; overthrow Saddam. Subsequent to he had been fired by the administration, the finance chief Paul O'Neill recounted how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had declared his intention of lowering America's engagement in the Middle East dispute and proposed armed intervention against Iraq.

Bush held a private grievance against Saddam, believing he had been involved in a scheme to murder his parent, President George HW Bush, on a visit to Kuwait in 1993. He additionally resented that one of the largest hotels in Baghdad had a surface artwork with a image of his father's face that everyone had to walk over.

Interrogation Methods

However it was Cheney who was one of the most vehement behind striking Iraq, repeatedly referencing information documents that were either insubstantial or completely deceptive. He supported what the Bush White House indirectly described as "enhanced interrogation", the use of waterboarding and torture.

Responding to a Senate report in 2014 that concluded that no useful information had been obtained through the harsh techniques, Cheney dismissed the findings as "full of crap". He informed Fox News: "We instructed [the CIA] to establish protocols and put in place initiatives to catch the perpetrators who took the lives of 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 recognition."

External Perception

Cheney reveled in nicknames imposed on him by detractors such as the dark character and the dark figure, and by the idea that he was a dark force controlling Bush. In the author's 2013 book about the duo, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is quoted as saying: "Am I the sinister strategist in the shadows that remains unseen emerge from his domain? That is a effective way to function, actually."

Business Interests

Dispute over his commercial relationships followed him throughout his time as vice-president. Even though he had little experience in business but established relationships in defence, especially in Saudi Arabia, he was invited to join Halliburton, one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies, in 1995 as chairman and chief executive.

In 2000 he became Bush's election partner for the executive branch. Contentiously, during the military campaign, Halliburton was given US deals valued at substantial sums.

It greatly increased his wealth. His yearly earnings during his period at the firm rose from his previous salary when he was Pentagon chief to over four million. When he resigned in 2000 he had a compensation package totaling over $20m|twenty