You don't know Dick Cheney very well, do you? (paraphrasing Bugs Bunny). I actually have the advantage of some personal knowledge and contact with the man. That clearly colors my views.
Cheney, like Bush, is misunderestimated a lot. Particularly by his enemies in the press. The problem is that we tend to accept their premise about our own issues and people. Cheney's the man for the job.