Dick Cheneythe most powerful vice president in recent history USA and architect of the guerra of Irakdied Monday night at age 84. The prominent Republican politician, right-hand man of the former president George W. Bushapproved the use of the torture after the attacks 11-S and led the American invasion of Afghanistanas well as the overthrow of the regime Port Hussein.
Cheney died from complications of a pneumonia and cardiovascular problems, as confirmed by his family in a statement issued this Tuesday. Heart disease was a constant in his busy life. At the age of 37 he suffered his first heart attack and suffered up to eight heart diseases during his tenure as number two in the White House between 2000 and 2008.
Cheney amassed unparalleled political experience. During his 42-year career, he served as the former president’s chief of staff. Gerald FordSecretary of Defense of the former president George H. W. BushRepublican minority leader in the House of Representatives and was a congressman for more than a decade. During the Democrat’s term Bill Clinton He presided over the oil giant Halliburton.
The president of the United States, George W. Bush, with his vice president, Dick Cheney, in 2006. / Mathew Cavanaugh / EFE
The most powerful vice president
However, no position was more important than that of 46th vice president of USAwhen he assumed the role of chief strategist of the controversial military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. After the bloody terrorist attacks in Al-QaedaCheney secretly worked with his key allies to circumvent legal prohibitions against torture, imprisonment without charge, and espionage massive attack on its own citizens, draconian measures that had a profound impact on the human rights inside and outside US borders.
Next to the inexperienced Bush Jr., Cheney’s experience and reputation as a skilled and ruthless negotiator gave him power unprecedented in recent times for a vice president, a position usually assigned secondary representative duties. This was not the case with Cheney, who acted as an advisor and often set the presidential agenda. That was particularly true in foreign policyarea in which he served hawk to promote an aggressive position against countries such as Iran, North Korea, Syria o to Palestinian National Authority. His powers were so vast that former Vice President Dan Quayle said he served “a kind of co-presidency.”
Subscribe to continue reading
