I have a friend who was injured in Iraq and he told me long before I'd ever heard of this video about horrible things they did to animals. It's sad, but given my friends comments, and this story, I have to think it isn't an isolated incident.
I have a friend serving there too...he's older than you're avg. non-officer soldier(early 30s), he works in a prison there, and he's basically disgusted by a lot of people's behavior in general.
Man, that video broke my heart when I saw it. Animal abuse, hell, any abuse against something/someone that cannot defend themselves is disgusting.
Really I'm not surprised. In the Army your asked to kill another human being, killing a animal is a cake walk compared to that.
In the Armed Forces, you are asked to defend our country. If that requires killing a human being, to save your own life or the life of others, then so be it. Animals never bombed our buildings, hijacked our airplanes, etc...
Please I didn't mean to offend anyone. I got alot of respect for the men and women that defend our country but there are those that are in it that maybe shouldn't be.
i'm kind of miffed he didn't get time. all he got was kicked out of the marines? heck, most of the marines WANT to be done with their tours. for all we know the marines did him a favor. big thumb down.
You didn't offend me, no apologies necessary. You are absolutely right, though, that there are people that DO NOT BELONG in the military, such as the dipstick in the video.
His excuse was a valid one, but he and his comrades in that video are executors of poor judgment and stupidity. I have seen a lot of animal torture videos and this one pales in comparison. This kinda stuff happens every day in many Asian countries. I ask you all this one question though, what's the worst way to die? To suffer a slow and painful one. There first mistake was video taping this heartless act. There second mistake was to toss that helpless little creature off the cliff. Who knows if that dog died on impact or not. It could have still been there all broken in half struggling to breathe as painful as it is to imagine. What they should have done and what they have done in other wars before is to end it quickly by putting a bullet in it. Yes killing animals doesn't sound half as bad as killing other humans, but there is an emotional factor and a brainwashing (for a lack of a better word) factor involved in this as well. We build emotional bonds with animals at a young age and are taught that animals are special and that they share this earth just as we do. But on the other hand, while we also build bonds with our "human" family and friends, we are also taught at a young age about wars and about killing and how you can justify certain killings and whatnot. We accept it as part of life when trying to defend our freedoms or our religion or what have you. Hell, we even have government approved executions in our own country. Therefore, in a simple way of saying it, killing another human being under these reasons is acceptable in our human psyche. Whoever innocently falls along the way is just viewed as another casualty of the bigger issue whether it be from a global war or a war at home. We humans can be wretched things when you look at it.
And if he did, I can't imagine how he could validate it. It's not like the puppy was a threat to anyone, or had Al-Queda ties. Marines, IMO, represent the strongest, toughest and most honorable branch of our Military. That's not meant to take anything away from the other branches of servicemen, but I always looked at the Marines as elite. This guy doesn't deserve the honor of the title 'Marine'.
I totally agree. I think this was staged in that he WANTED to be kicked out. He got what he wanted....yay...
I think once the Marines discharged him ,they can no longer bring up charges.to be honest,I think the Iraqi Goverment would have to bring charges on him.
Let me preface my comments by saying that anyone who kills/tortures an animal (especially a puppy) for thier own personal amusement is the lowest form of scum.... But, isnt it a little ironic that killing innocent human beings is considered 'Collateral Damage' and no one even blinks, but kill a puppy and we start a 3 page thread? Just an observation...
I agree that some innocent human lives have been taken, but for the most part, the lives lost were those of terrorists, or people who intended to kill those fighting for their freedom. So while its tragic, given the circumstances, the life of the innocent puppy, in any country, is tragic, and worthy of a three page thread.
I hear ya, and yeah, when I find out some civilians got smoked due to friendly fire I could care less, but if I saw a kid get tossed off a cliff I think I'd be a little miffed.
i posed this very point on FH many months ago and was lambasted for mentioning that. but i'm with you C
There is irony no doubt, but I think it is less of a moral issue, even when it is wrong. The military are there to do a job, and whatever your opinion, they are in danger at all times when over there. They have a right to defend themselves and keep on guard, always conscious of the fact they could be attacked. Even when innocent civilians are killed (assuming it was not a deliberate disgusting immoral act), it often occurs when one is carrying out a task -- doing their job and being involved in a situation related to their line of duty, and it is often a case of defense, or at least the belief that they needed to defend/protect themselves in the situation. This is quite different when somebody throws a defenseless creature off a cliff seemingly as nothing more than an effort to entertain themselves. What's more, to film the event, so as to assume a level of sardonic self-gratification in one's act of disgust seems to give us as a general public a heightened involvement and disdain in and over the event itself. I have not served in the military or been in Iraq, so this is of course my own opinion only, but it is the way I believe it is. EDIT: More on, to say that "no one even blinks" as to when human beings are killed is a little brash and out of place. Thousands of people every day fight and protest against the justification of these killings, of the war in Iraq, of war in general, and of the general moral issue. Do you think "nobody" is even blinking in the Middle East? Contrary to popular belief, there is a world outside of middle America, and it has a voice (regardless of whether middle America chooses to listen to it or not).
The difference is that us Humans have interests, prejudices, ..we think for oursleves...we know why and when we want conflict and we know when we want to act in an aggressive way. Domesticated animals only wish to please us. They only want love and respect and sometimes they don't even demand either as they bend to our every wish. To betray that trust is less than human. there is a reason dogs are called "man's best friend". They sit at our feet, they go with us hunting, they lead the blind, they rescue us in rubble, they serve a law enforcement function and they used to serve alongside us in War from roman times till this latest conflict. They are selfless animals.
I was referring to your average American as one who "doesnt even blink". It pains me to hear what these punk asses did to this dog, and I refuse to watch the video, but I still cant and wont feel as bad for it as I would an Iraqi child caught up in cross fire...
He said he couldn't take it with him. It was against regulations and he's got a war to worry about instead of a dog. If they would've left the dog to wander around it probably would've died regardless of dehydration or whatnot. That was his explanation of things. I could see holding on to the thing until you got to the next village, but who knows what kinda mindset that guy was in.