With apologies to Noam Chomsky
Keith Olberman was close when he described the office of the vice president as rogue nation. He was basing it upon the refusal of Cheney to allow an inspection of his office by the Information Security Oversight Office. Although ISOO was following an executive order from President Bush Cheney argued that he wasn't required to submit to the order as his office was neither a legislative office nor an executive office and as such the order didn't apply to him.
Since Cheney does not follow any rule of law be it judicial, legislative, nor executive, he is not just a rogue nation unto himself. No, Dick Cheney is a Failed State.
The office of the vice presidency displays all the classic characteristics of a failed state: a callous disregard for the rule of law, indifference to the suffering of others, displaying a democratic deficit, an extremely aggressive disposition toward his neighbors, prone to acts of violence and vengeance, with an inability to accept responsibility for his actions.
Like a failed state the vice president functions mainly as a vehicle of oppression to his enemies and Santa Claus with a big bag of cash to his friends and a manifest indifference to everyone else. His self exemption from the rule of law can be extended to his friends like Scooter Libby while his enemies like Ambassador Wilson can feel the immediate lash of revenge no matter whom else is forced to suffer. With free access to classified information which Cheney can declassify at a whim and can access any private information of any person in the United States as well as much of the world. But the government of the United States is not entitled to information that the office of the vice presidency possesses.
The time has come to bring this failed state to account. If we allow rogue elements like Vice President Dick Cheney to roam freely within our society then open terrorism will inevitably follow. Unfortunately to combat outlaw states like Cheney we may be required to take extreme measures. Although our patience is great it is at an end. Mr. Cheney, Tear down that wall!