Cheney: Iraq invasion was well worth the effort

US VICE President Dick Cheney yesterday declared the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq a “successful endeavour” in a visit to Iraq that was overshadowed by a suicide bombing that killed at least 32 people.

“If you look back on those five years it has been a difficult, challenging but nonetheless successful endeavour... and it has been well worth the effort,” Mr Cheney told a news conference in Baghdad after meeting Iraqi leaders.

The Iraq war is a big issue in the US presidential campaign. As it enters it sixth year, the war has cost the US economy $500 billion (€317bn) and seen nearly 4,000 US soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis killed.