Washington (TDI): Dick Cheney, former US vice president who played a pivotal role in the 2003 Iraq War, has died at the age of 84.
Cheney, considered one of the most powerful vice presidents in US history, passed away on Monday night due to complications from pneumonia and heart disease, his family confirmed in a statement.
Cheney, a seasoned political figure and a former Wyoming congressman and Secretary of Defense, had already established himself as a significant force in Washington when he was chosen by George W. Bush as his running mate in the 2000 presidential election, which Bush won. Serving as vice president from 2001 to 2009, Cheney was known for his push to expand presidential powers and his central role in shaping US foreign policy during the Bush administration.
Cheney was a leading advocate for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, famously championing the theory that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and had links to Al Qaeda, a claim that was later discredited. His aggressive stance on Iraq and national security set him apart within the Bush administration. Cheney and then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld were vocal proponents of the war, arguing that Iraq’s regime posed a grave threat to the US and its allies.
As vice president, Cheney was instrumental in promoting the war, despite the fact that no WMDs were found in Iraq. He continued to defend the invasion in the years following, maintaining that the decision was justified based on the intelligence available at the time.
He was also known for his unwavering support of controversial policies such as enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, which critics described as torture.
Read More: US CENTCOM pays tribute to Iraq War veterans on 20th anniversary
Cheney’s tenure as vice president was marked by controversy, particularly over his role in the Iraq War and his influence in the Bush White House. Known for his strong conservative views, Cheney’s aggressive foreign policy approach earned him the nickname “Darth Vader” in popular culture, with comedians often mocking his hardline stance on national security. Despite this, Cheney embraced the comparison, even joking that he was honored by it and later dressing as Darth Vader for a Tonight Show appearance.
His legacy, however, was also shaped by his personal and political contradictions. Cheney, a staunch conservative, supported same-sex marriage when it became a divisive issue among conservatives, despite his own party’s push for a constitutional amendment banning it.
Read More: What is AUKUS, the Defense Deal That Finally Got a Green Signal From White House
His support for his lesbian daughter Mary Cheney on this issue sparked a divide within the conservative community. In 2006, Cheney became involved in an infamous hunting accident where he accidentally shot his friend, Harry Wittington, a Texas lawyer, while hunting in Texas.
