Dick Cheney: Peacekeeper

Some years ago, still a college student, I was in the waiting hall of the American Enterprise Institute to meet a friend. Unbeknownst to me, a board meeting was happening behind the wall I was leaning against. A man walked out of the room and walked through the hall. I stared at him, frozen. One of my heroes, Dick Cheney, had locked eyes with me, as I was incapable of speaking. “Hello, sir!” said the former vice president and simply passed me. I was still paralyzed.

I met Mr. Cheney a few more times after that, including once when I distracted him from his dinner to get my copy of his memoirs signed. Like all Millennials, I had known him as the vice president of the Iraq War. Unlike for most of my peers, that was a positive impression. Much older — and slightly wiser — I have come to admire him even more, considering everything else that he did.

About the Author

Shay Khatiri

Shay Khatiri is a researcher at the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis.

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Dick Cheney

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Some years ago, still a college student, I was in the waiting hall of the American Enterprise Institute to meet a friend. Unbeknownst to me, a board meeting was happening behind the wall I was leaning against. A man walked out of the room and walked through the hall. I stared at him, frozen. One of my heroes, Dick Cheney, had locked eyes with me, as I was incapable of speaking. “Hello, sir!” said the former vice president and simply passed me. I was still paralyzed.

I met Mr. Cheney a few more times after that, including once when I distracted him from his dinner to get my copy of his memoirs signed. Like all Millennials, I had known him as the vice president of the Iraq War. Unlike for most of my peers, that was a positive impression. Much older — and slightly wiser — I have come to admire him even more, considering everything else that he did.