This week Vice-President Dick Cheney announced that he and his office were not part of the executive branch of our government and were not subject to laws governing it. Cheney’s argument is that since the Vice-President has legislative duties, ie. he presides as the president of the Senate, that he’s cannot be subject to executive branch influences. As he performs executive branch functions, he, therefore, cannot be part of the legislative branch of our government. He seems to be outside of the judicial branch of government as well. Thus, we are left with a single conclusion: Dick Cheney is his own government — perhaps his own country: Cheneystan.
Unfortunately, Cheneystan has showed itself to be a hostile and rogue regime. One which not only flouts international law and treaties, but regularly calls for the destabilization of other nation states. Make no mistake, Cheneystan is a threat to world order and stability. There are well founded allegations that Cheneystan is presently attempting to foment war with Iran and is providing political support for arming Sunni militants in the Middle East.
Cheneystan’s leader is a maniacal and apparently charismatic man. His follows abandon the law and communities to serve his need for power. All evidence suggestes that this man, and his followers, have access to the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction — thermonuclear weapons — and has made it clear that his is not opposed to using them as a first strike option.
America cannot allow such a rogue nation state to hold the rest of the world hostage. We must remove Cheneystan from the international stage. There are those who suggest that diplomacy is the answer. However, diplomatic negotiations may only be conducted among civilized countries which recognize the rule of law and the general authority of such international bodies such as the United Nations. Cheneystan has worked to oppose UN peace efforts throughout the world, and was deeply involved in the Iraq Oil for Food scandal. One cannot negotiate with a madman bent on world chaos.
Others have suggested that Cheneystan’s leader is old and has only a limited time left to control of his nation. While this may be true, this simply makes immediate action more imperative. This unstable leader is more likely to pursue his most unbalanced and radical policies at the end of his term, for the lack even the slightest checks and balances in the Cheneystan regime will embolden him. If the world is not willing to stand up against a nation which foments wars and even calls for the torture of prisoners then what credibility can it have to influence future totalitarian states? No, America has no choice, we must bring Cheneystan back into the international community of law abiding states. We must — using whatever force is necessary — bring its leader to justice under both international and US laws. We cannot peacefully await regime change, we must act today to ensure a more peaceful and stable future for our children.
