khaosworks | Four more years, from an undisclosed location...

Cheney to be Bush running mate

US Vice President Dick Cheney has agreed to be President George W Bush's running mate in the 2004 elections, despite a history of heart trouble.

"The president has asked me if I would serve again as his running mate. I've agreed to do that," he told The Dallas Morning News.

Mr Cheney has been a leading hawk on Iraq and is one of Mr Bush's closest advisers.

He has had four heart attacks - the most recent in 2000 - but he insisted that past health problems would not deter him from running for re-election.

"Everything is fine," he said. "If I ran into problems where I felt I couldn't serve, I'd be the first to say so and step down."

Mr Cheney, 61, underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 1988.

"I've got a doc with me 24 hours a day, who watches me very carefully," he said.

He said he did not know when Mr Bush would officially announce his bid for re-election.

Mr Cheney's business connections are under scrutiny as the Securities and Exchange Commission investigates accounting practices at the oil services firm Halliburton, where he was formerly chief executive officer.

Halliburton's role in post-war Iraq has now been expanded to include operating Iraqi oilfields.

Previously, the US Army Corps of Engineers had described the contract given to Halliburton - run by Mr Cheney between 1995 and 2000 - as putting out fires at oil wells during the conflict.

Analysts say that in foreign affairs, Mr Cheney has been the main White House bridge between the Pentagon and the State Department - although he is thought to lean more towards the Pentagon.

Actually, to be honest, I'm kind of relieved that Cheney is going to go for the Vice-Presidency again, because as long as he survives, that keeps Wolfowitz out of that particular chair - don't laugh, there was some speculation about that which nearly gave me cause for a bypass. Between Dubya's screwing up the economy and his Haliburton connections, maybe the progressives have a shot at convincing people that big business controlling government isn't really good for it.

As for Haliburton's contract being expanded, despite the earlier statement by the USACE... really, is anyone really surprised? I mean, they're hardly going to let Iraqi oilfields be operated by the Iraqis, are they, when that can be used to pump up good ole American SUVs and corporate bank accounts? Perish the thought.

Iraq is going to be the subject of another shock and awe campaign, and it's already begun, except this time the assault is on its economy - or what's left of it - as the corporations come in and start picking over the bones of a devastated infrastructure going for fire sale prices. Keep watching. American companies running water, electricity, telecommunications. Who's up for the Babylon World Theme Park, built on the ruins of that once great city? I'm sure someone's working up the proposal right now. Come experience the fabulous Hanging Gardens Thrill Ride!

To paraphrase a great Toon, soon, where Baghdad once stood will be a string of gas stations, inexpensive motels, restaurants that serve rapidly prepared food. Tire salons, automobile dealerships and wonderful, wonderful billboards reaching as far as the eye can see. My God... it'll be beautiful.