Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a lifelong Republican who served under George W. Bush (2001-2009), endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for president, marking the first time he publicly supported a Democrat for the office. In his statement, Cheney declared that ‘In our nation’s …
Dick CheneyKamala HarrisDonald TrumpLiz Cheneyelection-2024never-trumpestablishment-gopjanuary-6constitutional-crisis+1 more
Halliburton announced the completion of its spin-off of KBR on April 5, 2007, separating the subsidiary that had generated most of its Iraq War controversies after 44 years of corporate integration. The separation followed KBR’s initial public offering on November 16, 2006, which raised $470 …
Halliburton announced on March 12, 2007, that it was relocating its corporate headquarters and CEO David Lesar from Houston, Texas, to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, citing business opportunities in the Middle East where 38% of its $13 billion in oil field services revenue originated and 16,000 …
Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, is convicted on 4 of 5 federal counts related to the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity: obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and one count of making false statements to federal …
Lewis 'Scooter' LibbyPatrick FitzgeraldDick CheneyGeorge W. BushValerie Plame+1 moreplame-affairobstruction-of-justiceperjurycheneyiraq-war+2 more
The American Bar Association Task Force condemned President Bush’s unprecedented use of signing statements to nullify congressional oversight, issuing more than 800 constitutional challenges by 2006 versus fewer than 600 by all previous presidents combined. Bush produced 150 signing statements …
George W. BushAmerican Bar AssociationDick CheneyDavid AddingtonJohn Yoosigning-statementsexecutive-powerconstitutional-crisisunitary-executiveaba
Documents revealed that Vice President Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force had met extensively with executives from major oil companies, though chief executives denied involvement when testifying before the Senate Energy and Commerce committees. The revelation exposed how the Energy and Commerce …
House Energy and Commerce CommitteeDick CheneyExxonMobilAmerican Petroleum Instituteregulatory-captureclimate-changeoil-industrylobbyingcongressional-corruption
Vice President Dick Cheney and CIA Director Porter Goss personally lobby Senator John McCain in an extraordinary attempt to exempt CIA officers from proposed legislation banning “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” of any detainee held by the U.S. government. Despite the Senate voting …
Dick CheneyJohn McCainPorter GossCIADavid Addingtontortureciacheneyenhanced-interrogationcongress+2 more
Hurricane Katrina became the largest implementation of ‘disaster capitalism’ in U.S. history, with corporate interests using the crisis to advance privatization agendas previously blocked. Within 10 days of the levees breaking, .4 billion in no-bid contracts were awarded to four major …
Dick CheneyHalliburtonBechtelShaw GroupFluor+1 morehurricane-katrinadisaster-capitalismno-bid-contractsprivatizationdisplacement
Vice President Cheney’s Energy Task Force recommendations were implemented as EPA environmental policy through executive orders, bypassing Congressional oversight and public comment periods required by the Administrative Procedure Act. Task force members from ExxonMobil, Chevron, and other oil …
Dick CheneyEPAExxonMobilChevronEnergy Task Force+2 moremedia-licensing-leveragecorporate-compliance-incentivesregulatory-propaganda-facilitationadministrative-procedure-actenergy-companies+4 more
The Justice Department’s torture authorization memo represents the institutional culmination of WHIG’s constitutional crisis precedent establishment, demonstrating how systematic executive deception creates legal frameworks enabling executive immunity from constitutional constraints and …
John YooJay BybeeAlberto GonzalesWhite House Iraq GroupDepartment of Justice+5 morewhigconstitutional-crisis-precedentsexecutive-immunity-precedenttorture-authorizationrule-of-law-suspension+4 more
In Cheney v. United States District Court, the Supreme Court rules 7-2 to protect the secrecy of Vice President Cheney’s Energy Task Force meetings with oil executives. The Court vacates a lower court order requiring disclosure of task force participants and documents, ruling that federal …
Dick CheneySupreme CourtAnthony KennedyAntonin ScaliaRuth Bader Ginsburg+3 moresupreme-courtexecutive-privilegecheneyenergy-task-forcesecrecy+2 more
Conservative columnist Robert Novak published his ‘Mission to Niger’ column exposing Valerie Plame as a CIA operative, citing ’two senior administration officials’ later identified as Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and White House advisor Karl Rove. The leak was …
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awards Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), subsidiary of Halliburton, a $7 billion no-bid contract for Iraqi oil infrastructure restoration, demonstrating systematic corporate-state fusion beyond WHIG’s media coordination template. Internal Pentagon emails reveal …
Dick CheneyHalliburton CorporationKellogg Brown & Root (KBR)U.S. Army Corps of EngineersDouglas Feith+3 morecorporate-state-fusionno-bid-contractsrevolving-door-institutionalizationsystematic-institutional-capturecrisis-accelerated-corporate-integration+4 more
Halliburton subsidiary KBR received 9.5 billion in Iraq War contracts, including a billion no-bid ‘Restore Iraqi Oil’ contract awarded March 8, 2003. Vice President Dick Cheney, Halliburton’s former CEO (1995-2000), maintained financial ties through 98,548 in deferred compensation …
Dick CheneyHalliburtonKBRBunnatine GreenhouseArmy Corps of Engineers+1 moreiraq-warno-bid-contractswar-profiteeringcheneyhalliburton+2 more
Halliburton subsidiary KBR was secretly awarded a $7 billion no-bid contract to rebuild Iraq’s oil infrastructure, just days before the invasion began. The contract was awarded by the Army Corps of Engineers without competitive bidding, citing ’emergency circumstances.’ Vice …
Dick CheneyHalliburtonKBRArmy Corps of EngineersBunnatine Greenhouseiraq-warcheneyhalliburtonwar-profiteeringcorruption+4 more
Air Force Lt. Colonel and NSA intelligence officer Karen Kwiatkowski, assigned to the Pentagon’s Office of Special Plans, documents systematic intelligence corruption coordinated between OSP and the White House Iraq Group before retiring to become a whistleblower. Kwiatkowski testified to …
Karen KwiatkowskiOffice of Special PlansWhite House Iraq GroupDouglas FeithMichael Maloof+5 morewhistleblowerospwhigkwiatkowskiintelligence-corruption+3 more
Secretary of State Colin Powell delivered a 76-minute presentation to the UN Security Council presenting fabricated evidence to justify the Iraq War. Powell’s presentation included: mobile weapons labs based on testimony from ‘Curveball,’ a source who later admitted lying; aluminum …
Colin PowellGeorge W. BushDick CheneyCIACurveballiraq-warwmdunited-nationsintelligence-manipulationfalse-evidence
Following the successful manipulation of Congress into authorizing the Iraq War, the White House Iraq Group formalizes its systematic deception apparatus as standard executive branch infrastructure for crisis governance, establishing constitutional precedents that enable ongoing democratic erosion. …
White House Iraq GroupAndrew CardKarl RoveDick CheneyScooter Libby+5 morewhigconstitutional-crisis-precedentsexecutive-deception-infrastructurecrisis-governance-templateinstitutional-capture-framework+4 more
Pentagon’s Office of Special Plans under Douglas Feith institutionalizes the systematic bypassing of CIA intelligence vetting processes to provide fabricated intelligence directly to the White House Iraq Group for propaganda dissemination. The Pentagon Inspector General documented that OSP …
Office of Special PlansWhite House Iraq GroupDouglas FeithHarold RhodeKarl Rove+3 moreospwhigcia-bypassintelligence-manipulationfeith+3 more
The Office of Special Plans (OSP), under Douglas Feith’s leadership, systematically fabricated intelligence reports claiming non-existent operational connections between Iraq and Al-Qaeda. These fabricated assessments, contradicting CIA and FBI intelligence, were intentionally distributed to …
Douglas FeithPaul WolfowitzDonald RumsfeldDick CheneyKarl Rove+3 moreospwhigintelligence-fabricationiraq-alqaeda-connectionpropaganda-distribution+2 more
Following the successful Iraq authorization vote, WHIG coordinates a systematic campaign to suppress contradictory intelligence that might undermine the war narrative. This involves pressuring intelligence agencies to suppress dissenting analysis and intimidating potential whistleblowers.
White House Iraq GroupDick CheneyKarl RoveCondoleezza RiceKaren Hughes+2 morewhigintelligence-suppressionpost-authorizationwhistleblower-intimidationnarrative-maintenance+3 more
President Bush signs the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, marking the successful culmination of WHIG’s systematic campaign to bypass constitutional separation of powers through coordinated congressional deception. The signed authorization represents not …
George W. BushWhite House Iraq GroupU.S. CongressConstitutional FrameworkAndrew Card+4 morewhigconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powersexecutive-powercongressional-manipulation+4 more
The Office of Special Plans (OSP), led by Douglas Feith, and the White House Iraq Group (WHIG) institutionalized daily coordination meetings to synchronize intelligence production with propaganda messaging. These meetings enabled the systematic manipulation of intelligence to support the Bush …
Douglas FeithPaul WolfowitzAndrew CardDick CheneyKarl Rove+2 moreintelligence-manipulationiraq-warospwhigpropaganda+1 more
Congress authorizes military force against Iraq through a vote systematically manipulated by the White House Iraq Group (WHIG), which deliberately distorted intelligence assessments. This vote represents a critical moment of democratic failure, where executive manipulation bypassed congressional …
White House Iraq GroupDick CheneyKarl RoveCondoleezza RiceKaren Hughes+2 moreiraq-authorizationcongressional-votewhig-deceptiondemocratic-failureunauthorized-war+2 more
In the critical lead-up to the Iraq authorization vote, the White House Iraq Group (WHIG) systematically withholds intelligence reports that contradict administration claims about Iraqi WMD programs and terrorist connections. Congressional intelligence committees receive only carefully cherry-picked …
White House Iraq GroupDick CheneyKarl RoveCondoleezza RiceKaren Hugheswhigintelligence-withholdingcongressional-deceptionwar-authorizationconstitutional-violation+2 more
The White House Iraq Group systematically targets congressional members expressing skepticism about Iraq War authorization through coordinated pressure campaigns combining media attacks, district-level political pressure, and access threats. WHIG coordinates with Republican leadership to isolate and …
Karl RoveAndrew CardMichael GersonDick CheneyCondoleezza Ricewhigcongressional-intimidationpolitical-pressurewar-authorizationlegislative-manipulation+2 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) systematically developed individualized disinformation strategies to manipulate congressional skeptics of the Iraq War authorization, using fabricated intelligence reports, coordinated media messaging, and targeted pressure tactics to secure legislative support.
Karl RoveAndrew CardCondoleezza RiceDick CheneyMichael Gerson+1 morewhigcongressional-manipulationtargeted-deceptionlegislative-corruptioniraq-war+1 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG), established in August 2002, coordinated a comprehensive campaign to present intelligence about Iraq to congressional leaders. A Senate Intelligence Committee investigation found that intelligence claims about Iraq’s weapons capabilities and potential threats …
Karl RoveDick CheneyCondoleezza RiceLewis 'Scooter' LibbyAndrew Card+1 morewhigcongressional-deceptionintelligence-manipulationseparation-of-powersiraq-war+1 more
News divisions at CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox News formally integrate WHIG messaging guidelines into their editorial processes. The guidelines dictate story framing, terminology usage, and expert selection criteria, ensuring consistent pro-administration coverage across all networks.
White House Iraq GroupDick CheneyKarl RoveCondoleezza RiceKaren Hugheswhignetwork-captureeditorial-controlmessaging-guidelinesinstitutional-coordination
The White House Iraq Group executes a coordinated propaganda campaign featuring the ‘smoking gun/mushroom cloud’ metaphor crafted by chief speechwriter Michael Gerson. On September 7-8, 2002, President Bush and top advisers appeared on multiple networks delivering identical nuclear fear …
White House Iraq GroupCondoleezza RiceDick CheneyGeorge W. BushMichael Gerson+1 morewhigmushroom-cloudpropagandairaq-warnuclear-fear+2 more
WHIG launches systematic media campaign with Bush administration officials appearing across all major networks in coordinated messaging offensive. Condoleezza Rice delivers “smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud” message on CNN while Cheney appears on Meet the Press and Bush makes CBS …
Dick CheneyCondoleezza RiceGeorge W. BushAndrew H. Card Jr.Colin Powellwhigiraq-warmedia-manipulationpowell-memobush-administration+2 more
The White House Iraq Group executes an unprecedented coordination of television booking schedules for September 8, 2002, orchestrating simultaneous appearances by senior Bush administration officials across major networks. Communications strategists Karen Hughes and Mary Matalin, both WHIG …
White House Iraq GroupKaren HughesMary MatalinGeorge W. BushDick Cheney+5 morewhigmedia-coordinationbooking-manipulationsunday-showssynchronized-messaging+3 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) coordinated an unprecedented media manipulation campaign in September 2002 to build public support for the Iraq War. On September 7-8, 2002, top administration officials including Cheney, Rice, and Rumsfeld appeared on all five major Sunday news programs, delivering …
Dick CheneyCondoleezza RiceDonald RumsfeldRichard MyersRichard Armitage+5 morepropagandawhigcorporate-contractor-relationshipspermanent-capture-infrastructurerevolving-door-institutionalization+11 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) coordinated an unprecedented media manipulation campaign in September 2002, controlling news coverage about potential Iraqi threats through strategic messaging, synchronized interviews, and carefully curated expert narratives.
White House Iraq GroupDick CheneyKarl RoveCondoleezza RiceAndrew Card+1 morewhigmedia-controlpropagandairaq-warinterview-coordination+2 more
White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card told The New York Times that “From a marketing point of view, you don’t introduce new products in August,” openly framing the potential Iraq War as a calculated marketing campaign. This statement exposed the White House Iraq Group’s …
Andrew CardElisabeth BumillerDick CheneyCondoleezza RiceDonald Rumsfeld+3 morewhigmarketing-democracypowell-memo-accelerationcrisis-timingmedia-manipulation+1 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) finalized its systematic media coordination strategy, creating an unprecedented infrastructure for synchronized propaganda dissemination. Led by Karl Rove and including key administration officials like Condoleezza Rice and I. Lewis Libby, the group developed a …
Karl RoveAndrew CardDick CheneyCondoleezza RiceKaren Hughes+1 morewhigtalking-points-distributionsystematic-messagingmedia-coordinationpropaganda-infrastructure+1 more
American Enterprise Institute leads coordinated think tank support for Iraq invasion, with over 20 AEI staff serving in Bush administration posts. Demonstrates systematic implementation of Powell Memo institutional capture strategy, using crisis to accelerate think tank influence over policy through …
American Enterprise InstituteHeritage FoundationDick CheneyPaul WolfowitzRichard Perlethink-tank-coordinationpowell-memo-implementationinstitutional-capturepersonnel-embeddingiraq-war+1 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) successfully coordinated a sophisticated media strategy targeting Sunday morning news shows, systematically deploying key administration officials like Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, and Karl Rove to present a unified narrative about the alleged threat posed by …
White House Iraq GroupDick CheneyKarl RoveCondoleezza RiceKaren Hughes+1 morewhigmedia-coordinationsunday-showssynchronized-messagingnetwork-executives+1 more
CIA Director George Tenet establishes the Iraqi Operations Group within the Counterterrorism Center, bypassing traditional intelligence analysis chains. The group was created under intense White House pressure to find intelligence supporting predetermined policy conclusions about Iraqi WMD and …
George TenetDick CheneyScooter LibbyIraqi Operations GroupCIA Counterterrorism Centerintelligence-politicizationcia-corruptioniraq-war-deceptioninstitutional-capturewmd-fabrication
White House Iraq Group systematically coordinates with network news executive producers across CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox News to create direct communication channels for messaging priorities and narrative synchronization, effectively bypassing traditional journalist-source relationships.
White House Iraq GroupDick CheneyKarl RoveCondoleezza RiceKaren Hughes+2 morewhigmedia-manipulationpropagandaexecutive-coordinationnetwork-news+2 more
Vice President Dick Cheney systematically orchestrated the creation and authorization of the CIA’s ’enhanced interrogation’ torture program through National Security Council Principals Committee meetings and legal manipulation. Working closely with legal counsel David Addington and …
Dick CheneyGeorge W. BushDavid AddingtonJohn YooCIA+3 moretorturewar-crimesciaenhanced-interrogationblack-sites+5 more
Enron filed for bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, marking the largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history at the time, with $63.4 billion in assets. The collapse revealed extensive corporate fraud orchestrated by CEO Kenneth Lay and President Jeffrey Skilling, who manipulated financial statements and …
EnronKenneth LayJeffrey SkillingDick CheneyGeorge W. Bushenronbankruptcycorporate-fraudcorruptionfinancial-crime+2 more
Enron filed for bankruptcy after a series of meetings between its executives, Vice President Dick Cheney, and the National Energy Policy Development Group. The bankruptcy exposed massive corporate fraud, with the company having claimed $101 billion in revenues but ultimately collapsing due to …
Dick CheneyKenneth LayJeffrey SkillingAndrew Fastowcorporate-fraudenergy-policybankruptcyregulatory-capturewhite-collar-crime
The NSA began operating MAINWAY, a massive database system built to support the STELLARWIND surveillance program, collecting telephone metadata from major U.S. carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Built in urgent haste after September 11, MAINWAY became what sources described as …
NSAAT&TVerizonT-MobileFBI+2 moremainwaymetadata-collectionmass-surveillancestellarwindtelecommunications+2 more
President Bush signed presidential authorization for warrantless surveillance program bypassing FISA courts on October 4, 2001. Created by Dick Cheney, the NSA STELLARWIND program was classified as ’exceptionally controlled information’ and collected phone and internet metadata on …
George W. BushDick CheneyNSAMichael Haydennsa-surveillancewarrantless-wiretappingstellarwindfourth-amendmentfisa
President George W. Bush authorized the NSA’s Stellar Wind warrantless domestic surveillance program, completely bypassing FISA court oversight in a fundamental alteration of constitutional checks and balances. The program allowed the NSA to collect phone metadata and internet communications …
George W. BushMichael HaydenNSADick CheneyDavid Addington+3 moresurveillancensastellar-windfisa-bypassconstitutional-crisis+3 more
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy, revealing extensive incorporation of Enron’s recommendations. Analysis shows the task force adopted “all or significant portions” of Enron’s recommendations in seven of eight policy areas, with at least 17 policies …
Dick CheneyGeorge W. BushEnronKenneth LayNational Energy Policy Development Group+1 moreenronenergy-policycorporate-captureregulatory-capturecorruption+1 more
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy report developed by Cheney’s Energy Task Force, containing 105 recommendations that overwhelmingly favor fossil fuel industries while giving minimal attention to renewable energy. The report recommends opening the Arctic National …
George W. BushDick CheneyNational Energy Policy Development GroupExxonMobilShell Oil+6 moreenergy-policycorporate-captureoil-industrycheney-task-forceregulatory-capture+3 more
Enron CEO Kenneth Lay met privately with Vice President Dick Cheney during a pivotal Energy Task Force meeting, presenting corporate recommendations that would significantly shape U.S. energy policy. Out of eight policy areas, seventeen Enron-favorable policies were adopted, including federal …
Kenneth LayDick CheneyGeorge W. BushEnron Corporationenronenergy-policycorporate-influencedick-cheneyregulatory-capture+1 more
On April 17, 2001, Enron CEO Kenneth Lay met with Vice President Dick Cheney and his National Energy Policy Development Group (Energy Task Force), presenting a three-page “wish list” of corporate energy policy recommendations. This meeting was one of at least six interactions between …
Kenneth LayDick CheneyEnronNational Energy Policy Development GroupGeorge W. Bush+1 moreenroncheneyenergy-task-forcecorporate-capturecorruption+2 more