Cheney Legacy: How the 'War on Terror' Became an Endless Profit Engine
The New Arab rightly points out that Dick Cheney’s 'destructive policies' continue to devastate the Middle East. What frequently gets overlooked in such retrospectives is the direct pipeline from those policies to the perpetually engorged coffers of the military-industrial complex. During his tenure, Halliburton, Cheney's former company, received over $39.5 billion in federal contracts between
2003 and 2006 alone, largely no-bid deals for the Iraq War. Remember, Cheney himself collected deferred compensation from Halliburton even while Vice President. That's a 'legacy' of destruction paid for by American taxpayers, transferred to corporate shareholders. So, yes, Cheney’s destructive policies 'still shape the Middle East.' They also still shape the profit margins of defense contractors
and the political donations that keep the war machine grinding. One might wonder how much genuine 'reflection' can occur when the architects of these endless wars are then rewarded with lucrative board seats and speaking fees, ensuring the 'legacy' continues to pay dividends for the very few. The 'war on terror' appears to be an eternal investment opportunity, especially for those who began it.