Dick Cheney Dies: Former VP & Architect of War on Terror

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Dick cheney, Architect of the Post-9/11 Era, Dies at 84

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a pivotal and often controversial figure in American politics, has died at the age of 84, his family announced Tuesday.Serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, Cheney was widely regarded as the driving force behind the U.S. response to the September 11th terrorist attacks and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Cheney passed away Monday night due to complications from pneumonia and cardiovascular issues, according to a family statement. His wife, Lynne, and daughters, Liz and Mary, were with him at the time of his death. “He was a good and great man who taught his children and grandchildren to love their country and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness and fishing,” the family noted.

Did you know?– Cheney served as Chief of Staff to President Gerald ford from 1975-1977, a period marked by economic challenges and the end of the Vietnam War. He was the youngest white House Chief of Staff in history.

Considered one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history,Cheney represented the hawkish wing of the Bush management. He was a staunch advocate for an expansive view of presidential power, notably in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.In a surprising turn,he later became a vocal critic of fellow Republican President Donald Trump,labeling him “a coward” and “the greatest threat to the republic” in recent years. During the 2020 presidential election, Cheney publicly stated his vote would go to the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris.

Pro tip:– The Vice President’s office does not have constitutionally defined powers. Cheney significantly expanded the role through a dedicated national security team.

The attacks of September 11, 2001, fundamentally reshaped American foreign policy, and with Cheney as Vice President, the United States launched military interventions in both Afghanistan, beginning October 7, 2001, and Iraq, on March 20, 2003. The invasion of Iraq, predicated on the ultimately false claim that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and had ties to al Qaeda, proved particularly divisive. Cheney’s past leadership role at Halliburton,a company that secured lucrative contracts in Iraq following the invasion,drew intense scrutiny and accusations of conflict of interest.

Reader question:– Why did Cheney defend “enhanced interrogation techniques”? He believed they were necessary to gather intelligence and prevent further attacks, despite widespread condemnation.

During this period,Cheney reportedly clashed with other top Bush advisors,including Secretaries of State Colin powell and Condoleezza Rice,over strategy and tactics.He also defended the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” – practices that critics, including the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a UN Special Rapporteur, condemned as torture, including waterboarding and sleep deprivation.

Cheney’s commitment to bolstering the executive branch stemmed from a belief that presidential authority had been eroded by the watergate scandal, wich lead to the resignation of Richard Nixon. He also significantly expanded the influence of the vice presidency by establishing a national security team that operated as a powerful, independent center within the government.

The Cheney family’s influence extended beyond the Vice Presidency. His daughter, Liz Cheney, rose to prominence as a Republican congresswoman, tho she ultimately lost her seat after opposing Trump and voting to impeach him following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His other daughter, Mary, a Republican fundraiser, is openly lesbian, and Cheney publicly supported same-sex relationships, putting him at odds with elements within the Bush administration pushing for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage – an amendment that ultimately failed.

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