Former Second-in-Command Dick Cheney: A Look Back on His Impactful Government Service

The deceased US VP Dick Cheney, who has died at age 84, was seen as one of the most powerful incumbents of the vice-presidency in the nation's history. Whereas numerous second-in-commands were limited to minor or ceremonial roles, Cheney exercised huge power during the administration of George W Bush, so much so that he was commonly described as the "true president".

Bush objected to this portrayal and claimed the connection was more complicated. He pointed out that Cheney was deferential, always addressing him in public settings as President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush challenged even portrayals of their partnership as a team because it implied that they were on equal footing. Regardless of such protestations, Cheney considered the laidback president accommodating on a whole raft of administrative determinations.

The Aftermath of 9/11

Leading of a faction of conservative hawks that featured military head Donald Rumsfeld and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he vigorously promoted the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in response to the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington. During of the 9/11 attack, Bush had been taking part in a meeting at a elementary school in Florida. As Bush made his way to a underground facility in Nebraska, Cheney assumed control, ordering the downing of any unresponsive airplanes heading toward the US Capitol.

Cheney stated the assaults changed him, leading him to become intent on retribution. Along with other neo-conservatives, like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he lobbied for a occupation of Afghanistan in an effort to capture Osama bin Laden. Cheney then strongly advocated for the invasion of Iraq, even though there was insufficient indication of Saddam Hussein being involved.

Controversial Actions

He showed no remorse about the armed intervention, in which an estimated 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, nor about the enhanced interrogation of individuals apprehended after 9/11. He informed CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion, which was predicated on faulty intelligence echoed by Cheney, was the right path to take. "It was the right thing to do then. I was convinced back then and I hold that view now."

Yet during that period, there were opposing views at a top tier about the mishandling of Iraq. One of the administration's own special envoys to the Middle East, General Anthony Zinni (2001-03), was dismissed from the post. "I witnessed, at the very least," he subsequently stated "obvious failure, carelessness, and unaccountability: in the worst case, falsehoods, incompetence, and graft."

Wider Perspective

Cheney was not solely to blame for the Iraq invasion. Even before 9/11, Wolfowitz had advocated for similar measures. He had drafted a memorandum setting out situations in which American interests might be endangered (including "availability of vital raw materials, mostly Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had asserted that "the United States should be positioned to act independently when collective action cannot be orchestrated," particularly citing military moves against Iraq.

Bush also had entered the White House generally inclined on carrying out what his parent had specifically avoided to do in 1991; topple Saddam. After he had been fired by the administration, the treasury secretary Paul O'Neill disclosed how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his plan of diminishing America's involvement in the Middle East dispute and mooted defense operations against Iraq.

Bush bore a personal grudge against Saddam, convinced he had been responsible for a scheme to murder his father, President George HW Bush, on a visit to Kuwait in 1993. He furthermore resented that one of the largest hotels in Baghdad had a ground design with a likeness of his parent's face that all visitors had to tread upon.

Investigation Approaches

But it was Cheney who was one of the most vociferous advocating striking Iraq, frequently citing intelligence reports that were either weak or entirely deceptive. He supported what the Bush government politely called as "advanced techniques", the employment of interrogation method and harsh treatment.

Addressing a Senate document in 2014 that determined that no valuable data had been obtained through the interrogation methods, Cheney disregarded the findings as "riddled with crap". He informed Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to establish protocols and put in place procedures to apprehend the bastards who killed 3,000 of us on 9/11 and make sure it would not recur. That was specifically what they did and they earn a lot of recognition."

Public Persona

Cheney enjoyed labels given to him by critics such as the dark character and the sinister presence, and by the notion that he was a sinister influence controlling Bush. In the author's 2013 book about the pair, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is reported as stating: "Is it me who is the evil genius in the shadows that operates invisibly come out of his hole? This represents a advantageous way to work, truthfully."

Corporate Connections

Controversy over his business interests pursued him throughout his time as vice-president. Even though he had little experience in business but good contacts in military, particularly in Saudi Arabia, he was invited to join Halliburton, one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies, in 1995 as leader and chief executive.

In 2000 he was selected as Bush's running mate for the presidency. Contentiously, during the Iraq war, Halliburton was granted US agreements valued at substantial sums.

It significantly boosted his finances. His yearly compensation during his tenure at the corporation increased from his quarter-million dollars while defence secretary to $4.4m. When he resigned in 2000 he had a severance arrangement totaling in excess of $20m|twenty