From my feline perspective, chickens and ChickenHawks are rather similar. Both are birds. Both have brains about the size of a pea. And both are best when smothered in BBQ sauce. So lets tuck our napkins under our chins and have a ChickenHawk BBQ.
As the GOP’s 2016 cast of men who would be president grows, so too do its ranks of chicken hawks—candidates who have never served in the military but are eager send American men and women into wars overseas. While it’s no surprise that these Republicans are feeding off each other in a feedback loop of one-upmanship, this latest round of boasting is not occurring in a vacuum. The U.S., as the world’s largest military force, faces many major challenges in the coming years —not just ISIS in the Middle East, but also China enlarging its maritime borders.
What follows are profiles of five candidates who are chicken hawks. None have served in the military but they all – unlike Obama – are willing to deploy ground troops overseas to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Other Republicans running similarly have puffed out their warmongering chests, such as Scott Walker saying that he would take on ISIS like he bullied Wisconsin’s public employee unions and Jeb Bush endorsing W’s invasion of Iraq. Lindsey Graham also is calling for 10,000 ground troops, but he served in the military. These five haven’t:
1. Mark Rubio
On CNN’s The Lead last September, Rubio made it clear ground troops would “likely be needed” to “finish the job” on ISIS. He said, "The chances of local forces alone being able to defeat ISIL, or any group for that matter on the ground is dubious at best… It’s important for the President to be honest with the American people that at some point in the future, this might require some element of U.S. ground power in order to finish the job."
The Florida Senator quickly earned the respect of the hawkish wing of the foreign policy establishment, especially the neocons that got us into Iraq for spouting the right bellicose talking points. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to know that Iran – despite being a favorite punching bag of this same neocon set – is a mortal enemy of ISIS, not in alliance with it. As Think Progress noted:
Speaking before the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland, Rubio told radio and TV host Sean Hannity that “if we wanted to defeat [ISIS] militarily,we could do it. [Obama] doesn’t want to upset Iran…”
There’s just one problem: Iran has been fighting ISIS just like the United States and has publicly urged America to take a larger role in the operation. Obama has even sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggesting anti-ISIS cooperation.
What’s scary is that for many foreign policy experts, he’s considered the intelligent one in Republican circles. Meanwhile, what he did during his Military age years (18-35)? Like the others on this list, Rubio spent his military-age years, well, running for President. He attended law school, interned for Florida U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, worked on the Dole-Kemp campaign and eventually got elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, and rose to become Speaker of the Florida House.
The wars Rubio decided not to fight in include: Gulf War, Bosnian War, Kosovo War, War in Afghanistan and Iraq War. The American troops killed in those conflicts totaled 7,041… [emphasis original]
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Now, I know you can’s have a real BBQ with just one chicken or just one ChickenHawk. So click through for the other four.
15 Responses to “A ChickenHawk BBQ”
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The Biggest Chicken Hawk around is Dick Cheney!
Aren't we all glad that he is not running for POTUS!
When you pick up the dictionary, and you see the word “chicken hawk,” there’s a photo of Dick Cheney right there.
Watch Jesse Ventura sound off on the Life & Crimes of Dick Cheney. Video:
http://www.ora.tv/offthegrid/article/dick-cheney-chicken-hawk
Thanks, Jim, I agree with Jesse. Fortunately, Cheney isn't running, unless one of the other chicken hawks asks him to be VP.
I love how Jesse called Dick Cheney just plain "dick" numerous times and with various level of derision and disdain. Had me laughing! Thanks Jim.
Edie is right. The list is for candidates only.
The article was specifically limited to chicken hawks who are running for president. Otherwise, you're right, Jim, the omission of Cheney would have been irresponsible to the max.
And I certainly understand anyone's concern that foord poisoning might be an issue. But what if WE do the barbecuing, and serve the results to REPUBLICANS? Sound any better?
You are right in that the article referred to the current GOP/TP/Koch Party hopefuls, as listed, who are currently running for POTUS. Just seeing the word "chicken hawk" and the name of dick cheney instantly and synonymously popped up. lol.
It is easy for the Chickenhawks to send others to war after they exempted themselves. They won't be hurt, neither will their children. They will probably make a profit. I shared this with my REd friends, they need to know about the people they are supporting.
I just commented on another article posted on C2NN about how the <a href="http://www.valuewalk.com/2015/06/us-nuclear-strikes-against-russia-report/">U.S. Considers Nuclear Strikes As An Option Against Russia</a> and now my comment is validated by this list of 5 Chickenhawks who wouldn't pauze for one second to think before they push the red button for a nuclear strike on Russia. I thought about going back to bed now, but it is a lovely sunny and mildly warm day for a change so I better enjoy that while it lasts. And that won't be very long if any one of these Republican hopefuls makes it to next president of America, I'm afraid.
o9rry about the mess with the link; this editor keeps surprising me and doing the opposite of what I expect it to do.
It has a tool for embedding links. Here's yours.
Excerpt from the article Lona submitted:
"Most serious of all, though, is a recent report published by the Associated Press which suggests that the head of the US military effort, the Pentagon, has been actively considering the use of nuclear missiles against military targets in Russia. This may seem like a dire prospect to anyone aware of the possible consequences of such an action, yet the United States administration apparently considers this a possible response to alleged violations of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty."
TY TC. Very good article.
Hugs to all. I'm hurrying.
At one time in history, leaders led soldiers into battle . . . think Richard III of England for one. Perhaps it is necessary to make all these "non potable" POTUS wannabes leaders on the front lines in an attempt to curb their appetites for war.
Chickenhawk behavior has always seemed to be the best justification for the draft IMO since they and/or their children and/or grandchildren would be at risk and suffer the consequences of such clouded judgement