Ex- VP Dick Cheney: A Look Back on His Influential Government Service

The deceased US VP Dick Cheney, who died at age 84, was seen as arguably the most influential holders of that position in US history. Although countless vice-presidents were limited to minor or figurehead roles, Cheney wielded huge sway during the term of George W Bush, to the point that he was frequently referred to as the "true president".

Bush resented such a characterisation and stated the connection was more complex. He pointed out that Cheney was courteous, always referring to him in public settings as President, while he addressed him as Dick. Bush questioned even descriptions of their association as a partnership because it indicated that they were peers. Despite these objections, Cheney found the laidback president malleable on a wide array of administrative determinations.

A Post-9/11 Era

At the head of a faction of neo-conservatives that featured defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he pushed hard for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in answer to the terrorist strikes on New York and Washington. At the time of the 9/11 assault, Bush had been attending a session at a school in Florida. Whereas Bush traveled to a secret bunker in Nebraska, Cheney took charge, directing the downing of any non-communicating planes nearing the US Capitol.

Cheney said the attacks changed him, causing him to be intent on retribution. Along with other conservative figures, including Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, he campaigned for a takeover of Afghanistan in an effort to apprehend Osama bin Laden. Cheney then vigorously pushed for the military action of Iraq, even though there was no evidence of Saddam Hussein having involvement.

Debated Actions

He showed no remorse about the invasion, in which an estimated 100,000 Iraqis lost their lives, or about the harsh treatment of suspects apprehended after 9/11. He informed CNN in 2015 that the Iraq invasion, which was predicated on inaccurate reports repeated by Cheney, was the proper course of action. "It represented the correct action to do back then. I was convinced at the time and I hold that view presently."

Yet during that period, 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 retained from the role. "I witnessed, at a minimum," he wrote later "clear negligence, negligence, and recklessness: potentially, falsehoods, unfitness, and graft."

Broader Context

Cheney was not solely responsible for the Iraq invasion. Even before 9/11, Wolfowitz had called for similar measures. He had written a document setting out scenarios in which American interests might be threatened (featuring "obtaining essential resources, primarily Persian Gulf oil"). Wolfowitz had contended that "the United States should be postured to act independently when cooperative measures cannot be arranged," particularly mentioning armed actions against Iraq.

Bush too had arrived in the White House vaguely intent on executing what his father had specifically avoided to do in 1991; topple Saddam. Following he had been fired by the White House, the Treasury head Paul O'Neill disclosed how, at the opening session of the National Security Council in January 2001, Bush had stated his plan of lowering America's engagement in the Middle East dispute and proposed defense operations against Iraq.

Bush carried a individual resentment against Saddam, convinced he had been behind a conspiracy to kill his father, President George HW Bush, on a trip to Kuwait in 1993. He also resented that one of the most prominent hotels in Baghdad had a ground design with a likeness of his parent's face that everyone had to tread upon.

Investigation Approaches

Yet it was Cheney who was among the most vociferous behind invading Iraq, frequently referencing agency briefings that were whether insubstantial or entirely inaccurate. He backed what the Bush government politely called as "intensive questioning", the application of interrogation method and harsh treatment.

Responding to a Senate report in 2014 that determined that no actionable intelligence had resulted from the interrogation methods, Cheney dismissed the report as "riddled with crap". He told Fox News: "We requested [the CIA] to take steps and put in place procedures to apprehend the bastards who killed 3,000 of us on 9/11 and guarantee it was not repeated. That's exactly what they did and they earn a lot of recognition."

External Perception

Cheney enjoyed nicknames assigned to him by critics such as Darth Vader and the sinister presence, and by the concept that he was a dark force directing Bush. In the journalist's 2013 publication about the pair, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, Cheney is reported as stating: "Am I the malevolent mastermind in the shadows that operates invisibly emerge from his hole? That is a advantageous way to function, in fact."

Business Interests

Debate over his corporate affiliations followed him throughout his time as vice-president. Even though he had limited background in commerce but strong connections in military, particularly in Saudi Arabia, he was asked to become part of Halliburton, one of the world's biggest energy companies, in 1995 as chair and top executive.

In 2000 he became Bush's VP candidate for the executive branch. Controversially, during the conflict in Iraq, Halliburton was given US deals valued at substantial sums.

It greatly increased his wealth. His annual income during his time at the corporation grew from his previous salary when he was defence secretary to $4.4m. When he departed in 2000 he had a compensation package totaling in excess of $20m|twenty