Dick Cheney Dies at 84: Former US Vice President and Driving Force of 2003 Iraq War

Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in American politics, has died at 84. His family said he passed away Monday night due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.

Widely regarded as one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history, Cheney was a central force behind the 2003 Iraq invasion and a key architect of America's post-9/11 foreign policy.

A Dominant Force in the Bush Administration

Before becoming George W. Bush's running mate in 2000, Cheney built an impressive political résumé as a Wyoming congressman and secretary of defense under President George H.W. Bush.

As vice president from 2001 to 2009, he redefined the role, expanding its power and influence within the White House. Cheney's national security team often operated as a power center of its own.

He frequently clashed with Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, pushing aggressively for the Iraq invasion and for "enhanced interrogation techniques."

These included waterboarding and sleep deprivation-methods later condemned by the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the United Nations as "torture."

Driving the Iraq War

Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were key voices behind the March 2003 Iraq invasion. He argued that Saddam Hussein's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction and had links to al Qaeda.

A 9/11 commission later discredited those claims, finding no evidence of such connections. Still, Cheney predicted U.S. troops would be "greeted as liberators" and said the war would "go relatively quickly."

Despite the prolonged conflict and the absence of WMDs, Cheney defended the invasion for removing Saddam Hussein and said the decision was correct based on available intelligence.

His earlier role in the 1991 Gulf War under Bush senior had already cemented his reputation as a tough and strategic defense leader.

Family, Politics, and Legacy

Cheney's daughter, Liz Cheney, became an influential Republican leader, serving in Congress before losing her seat after voting to impeach Donald Trump following the January 6 Capitol riot.

Cheney supported her decision, saying, "In our nation's 248 year-history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump."

Throughout his life, Cheney battled serious heart problems, surviving multiple heart attacks and receiving a heart transplant in 2012.

Known for his stoic humor, Cheney embraced the "Darth Vader" nickname given by comedians, even wearing the costume on television to promote his memoir.

Love him or hate him, Dick Cheney's influence on American politics and foreign policy remains undeniable, his decisions shaping U.S. strategy for decades.