I looked up "chicken hawk" on dictionary.com and learned that it can mean "A man who seeks out boys or young men as his sexual partners." That really seems like more of a liberal thing, you know?

The chickenhawk thing is dumb as hell. I interpret it as "Well, I can't defeat your arguments to invade Iraq on any serious points, so I'll try to disqualify your arguments by saying you have no right to support war if you've never served."

Which is of course bullshit. I can have opinions on the Renaissance without having lived through it or created a masterpiece. I can support hiring more policeman even if I've never been a victim of a crime or served as a cop. But this public policy I have no right to opine on, because I've never been in the military? Makes no sense.

FDR stridently advocated for war against Germany in secret, which promising Americans peace and non-intervention in the war. I believe the polio stricken FDR never served in the military, but mysteriously escapes the "chickenhawk" slur.

As long as we're talking about chickenhawks, let's not leave O-Dub out of the conversation.

As you know, Mr. Willis is not above tarring his opponents with the c-word:

Here's the point, and it doesn't take a brain surgeon to get it: the people who are supporting and encouraging a war of first-strike aggression are the same people who didn't/aren't serving. Do you have to have been in the military to support or oppose war? No. But the usual way things go in America is that we don't attack and invade others. The desk jockey warrior class thinks its okay to upend this - and why not? It's not like they have to go fight it. That one or two or five of the warbloggers actually serve or have friends/family that serve does not change the thrust of this concept. (Oliver Willis.com)

But what did Oliver write back in September 2001 -- when clearly he was scared?

Going on emotion here, so bear with me.

I truly believe these assholes felt America would retreat and waver after this attack. But I think, now more than ever we are united. Today there are no Republicans or Democrats, just citizens of a nation. And we will bury our dead and nurse our injured. And then we will make those responsible pay the ultimate price.

Do. Not. Mess. With. America.
(Oliver Willis.com)

...and...

It is good to see England, Germany, France and the rest of Europe stand with us, as well as NATO's willingness to treat this as an attack on all the member nations. But, this is not the time to build international coalitions like we did in the Gulf War. America fights now. If those other countries want to help, more power to them - but this is our battle.

(Oliver Willis.com)

...and...

Hawks & Doves I am traditionaly a "dove". I believe in peace and goodwill. And that is the position of most people, especially those who identify themselves as "liberal". I most often sympathize with that position, but there are some issues where I differ from the "liberal" line. One is punishment for transgressions against human lives. Most of the time this manifests in the argument over the death penalty issue. I have the strong belief that someone who would murder outside of self-defense or mental deficiency has so violated the rules of mankind, the only response can be death. "Rehabilitation" will not bring back the lives of the dead, but execution after a fair trial brings justice.

After this act of war, many (especially on the liberal side) are chastising America for policies we had and have. Let me make this clear: America is no angel. That said, we have also answered the call of the opressed when they requested it, we have brokered peace with the ones who asked. Even in Desert Storm - a war I did not support - America made the best effort to limit attacks to military targets, and not civilians. These cowards did no such thing, and to even suggest we sit at a table and talk to them shows a stunning lack of understanding of the evil we face.

The enemy must be eradicated. Not attacked, or bombed, but eradicated. One by one we must expunge the world of these terrorists. When that is accomplished, we will work with the countries of the world to set things right - as we did after World War II.

So for now, I am a hawk. But a temporary hawk, in search of becoming a dove again.
(Oliver Willis.com)

Question: Given that Mr. Willis did not serve, what distinguishes a temporary hawk from a chicken hawk?

I'm really tired of this chickenhawk crap. I even read somewhere that even though I'm a veteran, I'm still a chickenhawk because I didn't see any combat (sorry, I tried to get my Coast Guard unit sent to Panama so I could shoot some little brown children, but you can't win them all).

So, how 'bout this, let's quit calling people "doves" and call them chickenshit. And as for the people who would like to see us defeated and support, whether openly or not, the terrorists who are killing our soldiers, we call them armchair guerillas. What, you won't pick up an AK and fight the imperialist infidels? well then you're just an armchair guerilla.

This argument is similar to the one put forth by the NOW posse that men shouldn't be able to have any say on abortion policy (although when they say "men," I'm assuming that they mean everyone OTHER than the Supreme Court justices who so wrongly decided Roe v Wade). If you don't have a uterus, you shouldn't be able to join the discussion of whether or not it's wrong to dismember helpless babies. If you're not in the armed forces (or have lost a loved one in an attack), you shouldn't be able to express your opinion on whether we should take out the terrorists who are targeting us.

Dont forget about our intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo and all those who supported it when precious Europe snapped her fingers.
In 1969, Bill Clinton wrote to Col. Holmes, "Because of my opposition to the draft and the war, I am in great sympathy with those who are not willing to fight, kill, and maybe die for their country (I.e. the particular policy of a particular government) right or wrong."
And yet, 20 some odd years later, that same "man of conscience" would be responsible for the deaths of 18 troops in Somalia and send soldiers to a European backwater with absolutely no US strategic interest. Chickenhawk, anyone?

Mr. Bowen's Corollary to Godwin's Law: Anyone using the chickenhawk slur has automatically lost the argument, and is in danger of being banned from Mr. Bowen's comment section.

"Is 'chickenhawk' status determined by which wars liberals like?"

Oh yes, yes it is. You see, if you personally differ with the aims and ideology of your government, you can abandon your duty as a citizen to observe the laws of the state which houses and protects you. In fact, you also have a moral obligation to side with the Enemy.

Therefore, everybody in the armed forces who personally disagrees with the rationale behind the war they are engaged in can go back home, or even aid enemy forces if they choose. It's all about choice, you know. Free Will.

Unless of course a Democrat is president. In that case, suck it up and die for your country, military scum!

/Sarcasm off