Lately, the 101st Fighting Keyboarders and College Republicans everywhere are raising straw man hackles at being labeled "chickenhawks." So here's a brief and simple explanation for them as to why they so deserve the appellation.
Why you are a
hawk:
- You avidly support the
War in Iraq, a war of
choice, not necessity, which entailed the invasion of a sovereign country that did not attack America, and which is costing American lives every day.
Note: We are talking about the War in
Iraq. No amount of conflating the terror attacks of 9/11 and the debacle in Iraq will distract from this.
Why you are a chicken:
- You are able-bodied, within the acceptable age range for service in the Armed Forces, and yet you choose NOT to fight in the war you support so vociferously, and refuse to serve in the Armed Forces at all.
Why you are a chickenhawk:
- You encourage your government to send others to risk their lives and limbs fighting the war you promote, without lifting more than a typing finger to actually participate in the cause.
- You are unwilling to sacrifice so much as a tax cut to contribute to the physical and economic cost of the war, and have indebted countless present and future Americans with the expense of your war.
- You accuse your fellow Americans, even Gold Star Mothers, of being traitors for not supporting the war you choose not to fight.
- You claim other priorities keep you from joining the fight, such as working to protect Republican policies on the home front.
- You uphold an administration that has proven utterly incompetent in prosecuting the very war you champion, has abused the commitments of Americans in the Reserves, has wasted the lives of thousands of Americans who, unlike you, were willing to take such risks for your war, has placed these men and women in harm's way without proper defense, and has attempted to cut the benefits due them upon their return.
Now, you will feebly assert that those calling you a chickenhawk are saying that you are not entitled to your opinions on foreign policy, or that one must serve in the military in order to support a war.
Nonsense. These are obvious straw man arguments. Despite this administration's best efforts, it's still a free country, and you can have all the opinions you want, about anything. You're entitled to screech about war, call Americans who disagree with you traitors, whatever you want. You can have your opinions AND your other priorities.
But if you support the War in Iraq without any willingness to participate in it in any way other than shrill declamations of how patriotic you are, then you will be labeled a chickenhawk.
Get it? It's simply the small price you pay for being one.