Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, fierce defender of American strength and Israel’s ally, dies at 84 after pneumonia complications.
Dick Cheney — the iron-willed strategist who reshaped America’s security doctrine and stood firmly with Israel against terrorism — has passed away at the age of 84. The family confirmed he died due to complications from pneumonia and long-standing cardiac and vascular disease.
Surrounded by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and grandchildren, Cheney’s final moments were peaceful — closing a chapter on one of Washington’s most formidable and controversial power brokers.
A towering conservative figure, Cheney’s career defined half a century of U.S. political and military resolve. As Vice President under President George W. Bush (2001–2009), he became the architect of the post-9/11 “War on Terror,” insisting that America must strike its enemies before they strike first.
When the Twin Towers fell, Cheney’s command decisions from a secure, undisclosed bunker set the tone for a relentless counter-terror strategy. He authorized military action to shoot down hijacked planes if necessary — a moment that underscored his belief in uncompromising national defense.
Under Cheney’s influence, the U.S. launched the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — actions that reshaped the Middle East and dismantled terror networks threatening both America and Israel. Though critics accused him of overreach and flawed intelligence, Cheney never wavered, declaring years later, “I’d do it again in a minute.”
His alliance with Israel was unshakeable. Cheney repeatedly emphasized the shared democratic values of the U.S. and Israel, insisting that the Jewish state’s right to self-defense was “non-negotiable.” Israeli leaders through the 2000s saw him as one of their staunchest defenders in Washington.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Casper, Wyoming, Cheney’s path to power began early. From the Nixon and Ford administrations to his tenure as Defense Secretary under George H. W. Bush, he displayed a mastery of both policy and power. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, he oversaw the coalition victory that liberated Kuwait — a triumph of military precision that cemented his legacy.
A survivor of five heart attacks and a 2012 heart transplant, Cheney often joked that his “battery-powered heart” was still beating strong for America’s future. Even in retirement, he was unflinchingly vocal — especially against President Donald Trump, whom he called “a coward” who “lied to his supporters.”
Cheney’s family released a statement filled with grace and pride: “We are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”
For America’s allies — and Israel especially — Dick Cheney’s death marks the loss of a man who believed that liberty is worth defending with absolute conviction.
