Dick Cheney (AP file photo)

Former US vice president and businessman Dick Cheney on Tuesday died at the age of 84. He was a key advocate for the invasion of Iraq and a major force behind America’s “war on terror.”Cheney served under two US presidents, first as defence secretary during the Persian Gulf War under George H W Bush, and later as vice president under his son, George W Bush, from 2001 to 2009.For decades, Cheney was a dominant figure in Washington, known for his strong views on national security and his behind-the-scenes influence. In his later years, however, he distanced himself from his own party, sharply criticising current President Donald Trump, whom he once called a “coward” and the greatest threat ever faced by the American republic.