Gulf War to War on Terror: Cheney’s grip on US national security policy

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Transcript

00:00This week we remember Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial vice presidents in U.S. history.

00:06Cheney, who passed away at 84, wasn't just VP under George W. Bush.

00:10He was a driving force behind major post-9-11 policies.

00:14Think warrantless surveillance, CIA interrogations, and the 2003 Iraq invasion.

00:19After 9-11, Cheney helped build secret legal frameworks that expanded executive power,

00:23arguing that they were essential to prevent future attacks.

00:26His office became so powerful that some called him the White House's chief operating officer.

00:31However, his influence began much earlier.

00:33He served as defense secretary during the 1991 Gulf War,

00:37which led to the expulsion of Iraqi forces from Kuwait and significantly boosted his reputation.

00:42Fast forward to 2002, Cheney was a key voice linking Iraq to terrorism and warning about weapons of mass destruction,

00:49which, spoiler alert, were never found.

00:51His power faded in Bush's second term as courts pushed back and public opinion shifted.

00:56Still, Cheney backed the 2007 troop surge and stayed active in debates.

01:00By 2008, he called himself just an advisor.

01:03But behind the scenes, he helped redefine the role of vice president and how America wages war.

01:07So, if you learned something about Dick Cheney today, give us a like, share with your friends,

01:11and follow us here for more historical deep dives that shed a little light on today's news.