Quick Heads Up: Did I Hear Right? Hackworth Called Cheney a Draft Dodger?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

My ears might have deceived me. Did I hear correctly on the Sean Hannity Show? Did Hackworth call Cheney a draft dodger?

[cyncooper]

Then that means Clinton was NOT a draft dodger as he was so often called by conservatives during his tenure as POTUS

That would be an incorrect deduction by you since clinton resorted to deception to avoid the draft to which he was in fact called.

[MineralMan]

And you have every right to feel as you do. Cheney expressed himself well. He said that he had "other priorities." Lots of folks had other priorities. I had my priorities as well, and followed through with them.

[anniegetyourgun]

I didn't serve (except as a dependent), so I can't really comment on the fact that Hack is turning Ritter.

[Nam68]

There are a number of countries as bad as Iraq. Since, most of the 9/11 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia, I'd like to see us do a regime change there. Hopefully, that is part of the plan.

[Republic of Texas]

Well put, RC.

[E=MC²]

I knew someone who "served" in Vietnam his full tour of duty in an air conditioned computer room drinking beer...I also knew someone who did not "serve" but was given a deferrment to work on state of the art telecommunications systems that were beneficial to the military. Now, which one of these REALLY served his country???

[NYC GOP Chick]

Buchanan's not a Republican.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

God bless you for what you did. I understand your set of standards now. They are very high. If more Americans were like you, we would have the world whipped in shape. Unfortunately, people generally aren't that way, which is why most people don't have such high standards. A parental deferment, for example, would sound very reasonable to a lot of people. I personally don't believe in any drafts. I believe in quality soldiers who volunteer, so that you can afford to equip, train, and pension them that much better with the same budget. IMHO, a draft should only be resorted to when we are under sheer desperation, such as the Civil War. Even then, it might be a mistake.

[AmusedBystander]

Another term for it is chickenhawk.

In my opinion, those who use the term chickenhawk are hiding behind their service so they can feel superior with their opinions.

It is derogatory in that this country has been under civilian control of the military since its founding. Serviceman or not makes no difference since it is assumed that when a man runs for elective office such as President or VP, it is the same as enlisting as an officer at that point. What difference does it make if he is ordering men to battle at age 21 or age 61, the responsibility is the same. Smearing a good man like Cheney is just nuts.

Cheney is SERVING his country as well as the other so-called "chickenhawks" and the civilians who control the military do not often abuse this power. He could comfortably retire any time he wants, but he chooses to put his life at risk while others take cheap shots.

[plain talk]

Just because he didn't serve doesn't make him a draft dodger. You should either back up your assertion or back off. Trashing Cheney with no facts is kinda low.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Some are rejected for physical reasons and that makes them not a patriot? Not hardly.

[Prince Hal]

A few months back another reader correctly commented we're not Prussians and the opinon of someone who didn't serve isn't automatically invalid by that fact. The "chickenhawk" argument seems to be a democratic slander that "overlooks" their own who didn't serve, have exemptions etc...

[Dante3]

I disagree that Hackworth is a "whack job".

Hackworth is absolutely correct to question the motives and tactics of war on Iraq. I think he is beginning to realize, as have many other patriotic Americans, that all may not be above board with attack on Iraq. Before we even consider it, we have to protect our borders.

The greatest threat to our nation comes from the illegal aliens invading our land. If there is an attack on the US, it will not come from Saddam's missles but from Jihad terrorists sneaking across our borders.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Hack is a IDIOT. I would like to see his military records.

[Republic of Texas]

You're the 3rd person to ask him that, he is not going to provide facts.

[Utah Girl]

Were you married when you volunteered? Did you have children?

[sinkspur]

I think he says crazy things just to get noticed.

It's dementia or substance abuse.

I've long thought that Hackworth drinks, and his performance last night on Hannity and Colmes was classic alcoholic behavior.

In any case, he obviously resents being out of the Pentagon loop, and he says things that have no relation to reality.

[cyncooper]

Well, this is interesting. OsricBoy posts an excerpt he attributes to the AP but look at the title of the page where his link takes you:

[CP-List] Cheney the Draft Dodger Jeffrey St. Clair

Post No. 52 has the full quote in context.

Here is the excerpt again, as posted here and at the page from whence it came:

"...One skeleton that could hurt a Bush-Cheney ticket is the ever-constant specter of the Vietnam War. Cheney received five student and marriage deferments of service during the war. He told The Washington Post in 1989, ``I had other priorities in the '60s than military service. ... I don't regret the decisions I made. I complied fully with all the requirements of the statutes, registered with the draft when I turned 18. Had I been drafted, I would have been happy to serve.''..."

See the little dots between the phrase "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service" and "I don't regret the decisions I made."?

That means this is not the full quote.

[CatoRenasci]

Not everyone who doesn't serve was a draft dodger. A draft dodger is someone who went out of their way to avoid serving, whether by going to Canada or Sweden, or getting a phony medical condition (there were lots of doctors who'd write you up), or using a sleazy deferment.

In WWII, my dad, who was a reserve Cavalry officer and a bacteriologist, was required to stay at his job rather than be mobilized with his unit. Go figure. In my book that doesn't make him a draft dodger.