The Verdict:: D. Cheney v. George W. Bush
By Netsbridge
@Netsbridge (3253)
United States
August 30, 2011 6:22pm CST
I made the decision to shoot down the plane, says W. Bush in his memoir.
I told the president to shoot down the plane, says D. Cheney in his memoir.
“I turned to the team gathered in the Oval Office and said ‘let’s go’,” says W. Bush on decision for unjust 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“The president cleared out the office, looked at me and said ‘what do you think we ought to do?’” says Cheney about decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
“After firing (my buddy) Donald Rumsfeld without informing me, he came and informed me and then quickly walked out,” reports Cheney.
Cheney during interview with Dateline on August 29, 2011:
Dateline: It’s a very different picture.
Cheney: That’s the way I recall it. I was giving advice; I wasn’t making the decision. He was making the decision.
Dateline: Don’t you think it will embarrass him that you point out the difference?
Cheney: I didn’t set out to embarrass the president or not embarrass the president.
Dateline: You make it sound like the president was afraid of you when you say “he came and informed me (about firing Rumsfeld) and then quickly walked out.”
Cheney: There had been growth.
2 responses
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
31 Aug 11
I heard that Mr Cheney was chosen to be VP because of his experience in dealing with Washington DC, for his Foreign Relations Background and because he would please the Conservatives. His role was to help and advise George W. Bush. It seems that from both books he did that. Also considering the fact that to reach that level you have to be an aggressive self promoting person (people with Big Ego's, which almost all leaders have) you would write things to reflect your importance in different situations.
I don't think either one is out to get the other one. Remember in most cases it is the publisher that chooses the title of the book and how to promote it and controversy sells books.
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
31 Aug 11
I am aware of these facts regarding publisher's wishes. However, I heard Cheney during the interview with Dateline and heard his responses and tone to questions as stated above. I thought it was interesting how he was determined to let everyone know what he did, especially since most (like you) know he had been selected for his experience.
Cheney was selected for his experience in politics and knowledge of Washington activities and was supposed to assist the president. Why then so determined on pointing the fact and in turn making W. Bush (whon I am no fan of) look like an imbecile? It suggests some kind of tension - just my guess.
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
2 Sep 11
If you heard Cheney on Dateline on August 29, 2011, and could not hear him literally saying:
I was the brain in the White;
I was the boss in the White House;
Without me, Cheney, George W. Bush could not have figured a thing, then I do not know what to say to you. Of course, I am mindful that there are some of us who are capable of reading between lines and connecting dots unaided.
@andy77e (5156)
• United States
31 Aug 11
Well I normally look at situation like this and think of what I would do if I were in them.
If I were president, I would want a VP that I could trust, and could gather advice from. So assuming I had such a VP, I would have no problem asking that person for advice.
I do not see any problem, nor contradiction from the statements given. If I asked my VP what he thought I should do about that plane, and he said "shoot down the plane", that wouldn't mean I didn't ultimately make the decision.
I also also take exception with the unjustified claim that the invasion of Iraq was unjust. Far from it.
In short, there's nothing here to even really debate. Cheney gave advice to Bush. A wise leader asks for advice. Asking for advice doesn't mean you are not making the choices yourself, anymore than asking the waiter at a restaurant advice on a meal, means you are puppet of the server.
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
31 Aug 11
That was also my original view until I heard Cheney yesterday: The vice president is supposed to be assistant to the president; working alongside the president, but without overshadowing the president. Cheney seem to be bent on crediting himself for decisions made by president he gave advice to and of telling everyone he, Cheney, was in charge. While this may or may not be completely true, it does not paint a good picture of said relationship.
@andy77e (5156)
• United States
31 Aug 11
I guess that isn't how it appeared to me in the interview, or in the book. Of course Cheney is going to paint himself in the best light, as anyone writing a book about themselves is going to do. I do not assume to interpret that as him suggesting he was in charge.
In either case, Bush was in fact in charge, regardless. So the point is rather mute to me.
