The author's statement about the source of the order to disband the Iraqi Army being the vice president since no one else has talked about it and the vice president's staff is most secretive is begging the question. This fallacy doesn't mean the author's statement is false just not soundly reasoned.

That said, we cannot legally blame the vice president because he does not have the authority to give any order. The Constitution only grants the vice president the authority to preside over the Senate and cast a vote. The president may appoint advisers and counselors and presumably the vice president can also serve as an adviser or counselor. I don't believe the advisers have real authority either and thus cannot give orders.

If the vice president gave the order we have no one to blame but ourselves. No one tried to stop the vice president from exercising power he didn't possess. I don't recall hearing about any politicians trying to curtail the vice president.

If he had any informal authority it came from the president. This of course makes his statement that he is not part of the Executive Branch all the more ludicrous. If as President Pro Tem of the Senate he is part of the Legislative Branch (this was his claim as I recall) he che doesn't have any authority either--senators can't issue orders.