Iraqi Dogs, Baghdad Pups and the US Military

In the past few days, the news about the plight of Ratchet the dog who was befriended by Sgt. Gwen Beberg, has circulated in the internet and spawned 2 petitions, articles on Digg.com that went to the top of their frontpage article, bloggers picking up the story and well, yeah, public outrage. As of this moment, the news has already circulated in Chicago Tribune, Star Tribune in Minnesota, Twin Cities.com, Think Progress and even in the Daily Mail in UK (You can check the links of these agencies below).

There are many who decried, denounced and just expressed their views and comments on Digg. Some of those comments were defending Sgt. Beberg and condemning the military, while others are defending the military’s rule against befriending stray dogs in Iraq. The issue evolved from protesting against the supposedly “shoot-in-the-head” disposal of the military to the addressing the needs of the soldiers themselves, coping with the atrocities of war, PTSD and even suicides as well as the updating of the military’s rules.

Let’s look into the bottom of this issue. The central question here is what is the specific military rule against befriending animals in a foreign country and why it is needed. According to some comments that I’ve read in Digg.com, there is a particular order (correct me if I’m wrong) referring to a certain General Order 1 or Article 15. (Please comment here if you know the particular rule). From what I’ve known, the US military is not allowed to get girls or marry women from the battlefield. I mean prohibited to have sex with the local women or some stuff.

So ok, let’s say they DO have that kind of rule - the next question again is why? Based on the comments from Digg and the statements of some soldiers who have been there in Iraq, the main concerns of the military for implementing such rule are rabies and security reasons. Well, yeah sure, rabies is a problem. But I dont see that in Ratchet’s case. If Ratchet has ever had rabies, it should have shown the signs earlier or he could have mingled with the other stray dogs there. But I have checked his facebook page (yes, Ratchet has his own facebook page), it seems to me that he is with Sgt. Beberg all the time and the place or camp is quite remote - I mean in the middle of nowhere-Iraq. So what are the chances of Ratchet contracting rabies? In my opinion, it can be way below possible.

Next concern is the security reasons. I dont know how can the military explain what are the security threats a stray dog can bring to their camps. Are the insurgents using suicide-terrorist-dogs? That will be quite a pretty lame idea. But the military should explain what are the security threats of a stray dog in order to lighten this issue up.

I dont know what’s wrong with befriending animals. I dont know what’s wrong with protecting and preserving life (of any form, of course). I know the discipline and the rigid training in the military but soldiers are not meant to become terminators, heartless killers, violent animal killers, killing machines-ala-universal soldiers. Have they forgotten that soldiers are humans too? That as humans, they have emotions? they have hearts? As I have mentioned in my previous posts, the military should uphold the highest form of ethics and protect as well as preserve life. As soldiers, you are there to defend, not to kill.

You know what, in order to prevent this kind of disgusting thing from ever happening again, I have this suggestions:

1. The military should review their rules pertaining befriending animals

2. The military can support the Operation Baghdad Pups for vaccinating, clearing and treating stray dogs that are befriended by the soldiers

3. Dogs or other animals that serve as pets are one of the great ways to combat the incidence of suicides and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) experienced by the soldiers. The companionship that these pets bring can help a soldier cope up with psychological issues. Just like in the case of Ratchet, the dog saved the sanity of Sgt. Beberg - the dog has become her lifeline. Incorporating the companionship of pets is a cost effective way or form of therapy that the military can implement.

Here’s a video I found over YouTube that clearly depict the incident of a US soldier shooting a dog without any reason at all. A proof that the so-called rule about befriending animals can be used and abused this way:

I wonder what happened to that stupid and trigger happy soldier who loved the idea of shooting a hapless dog of an innocent Iraqi farmer. He’s a just as retarded as David Motari. The dog posed no threat to the group - a complete BS decision.

The issue is now turning not only covering the stray dogs in Iraq, but the other stray dogs in other countries. This issue should lighten, not only the plight of dogs in Iraq but in other countries as well. Some of the stray dogs are being shot like vermin, others are being served on a plate. Animal abuse is still a crime, which has the same gravity as with torture and murder of human beings.

I salute the soldiers who served their countries in the most bravest and patriotic way. I salute the soldiers like Sgt. Beberg who save the lives of stray dogs in Iraq, particularly in her case, Ratchet. These people, these soldiers made a difference in those dog’s lives. If you have stray dogs in your area, why not emulate these people, you can call your local SPCA to report the dogs and help those dogs get proper treatment.

And as for the soldiers and other people who happen to be trigger happy to shoot a poor animal, whether a dog or not - I will say, YOU ARE ONE ABSOLUTE HEARTLESS AND RETARDED KILLING MACHINE. Just like David Motari… (Good thing that he got dismissed, he has no place in the military since he’s not man enough)

Here is one video response (to the puppy throwing antics of David Motari) that was posted last May 15, 2008. The user who posted this explained well enough. The user (his name is Sirensgrotto) said:

This video was made for those who think all military act like David Motari. And it was made to show David Motari how compassionate people act. There are 1000s of good men and women in the military who would NEVER do what he did, no matter how much stress the war has placed on them.

To the men and women who spent even a few minutes with a stray dog, you made a difference in their lives. To know love, even for a few moments, means the world to them. To those soldiers and/or their families who got some of those dogs out of there, you are heroes to your dogs!

A crime is a crime no matter what. Animal abuse is a crime. If he murdered a civilian or fellow soldier for “fun” and because he was “bored”, he’d still likely be charged with a crime.
Let’s go into some deep psychology…

Violence IS a vicious cycle. I sincerely doubt this was his first time being a moron. Maybe he never killed a dog before, but he likely teased them. Or maybe this was his first time and it came out of the war itself. So should we excuse every other soldier for committing crimes just because of the stress of war? 1000s of men and women are seeing and experiencing the SAME things he does. Some come out ok, some bottle it up, some commit suicide, and some commit crimes. In all truth, the government should step up to give EVERY soldier counseling. At least an assessment on their mental condition during and after war, so a counselor or psychologist can determine if they need further help and curb this kind of behavior.

The key is stopping the cycle.

Look at child molesters. EVERY child molester had been abused as a child themselves. Be it mental, physical, sexual, emotional, whatever. They were all abused before. And they never got the help they needed. When they grow up, they abuse other kids. Now do we excuse them from that just because they had a childhood trauma and didn’t get the help they needed? No! We put their face, name, and address on a list for everyone to do a witch hunt the moment they get out of jail. Many never get out of jail.

The fact is, we live in a society where we punish criminals for crimes. If they didn’t get the help they needed, tough. They should have and should have made the right decisions. David Motari is no different.
Now mind you, I know and don’t deny soldiers kill dogs there. Often they are ordered to kill strays following them or hanging out around campsites. Other times, they are killed in mercy because they are sick, ill or starving.

Other times because they are feral and aggressive and a danger to all those around them. That’s fine. Put a bullet in its head and move on. I’ve seen videos of this. A majority of the time, you can tell the soldiers feel bad. That they are like the boy in Old Yeller, being forced to do what’s right for the dog. David Motari on the other hand took a helpless puppy by the scruff of the neck, teased it, threw it off a cliff, and laughed about it. It takes a seriously cold and disturbed person to do that. He needs mental help AND a criminal punishment.

Here is the video he posted:

To Sgt. Beberg and Ratchet,

I hope you both will be able to go home…

You can visit and support Operation Baghdad Pups in this URL:

http://www.baghdadpups.com/

Here is also the link for the 2 petition sites:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/clemency-for-ratchet

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/release-ratchet-from-iraq-now

On the other hand, here are the related articles about the plight of Ratchet and Sgt. Beberg:

http://www.spca.com/press/item/59

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5henDiaoHOYyVgjAJtSBg6-zzEjJAD93Q4CMO0

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-iraqipuppy,0,2464014.story

http://www.startribune.com/30891734.html?elr=KArksDyycyUtyycyUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/14/thinkfast-october-14-2008/

http://www.twincities.com/ci_10706469?source=most_emailed

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1072090/Soldier-saved-puppy-life-hardship-Iraq-dog-executed-U-S-superiors.html

http://www.onelocalnews.com/pioneertimesjournal/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=40983

Saving Ratchet

Ratchet the dog

This may sound kind’a like “Saving Private Ryan” theme but its quite different than the movie per se.

This morning, while having coffee in my office cubicle, I happened to come across a particular article on Digg about US military threatening to kill a dog that is befriended by a soldier while she is on duty on Iraq. At first, I thought the article was too dramatic to be true but when I googled it, it was in fact, turned out to be HORRIBLY real.

The article revolves around the story of Sgt. Gwen Beberg who befriended a pup orphan during her active duty in Iraq. She named the pup Ratchet. I know the hardships of being a military personnel, coming from the experiences of my father who happens to have an experience in the military too. The horrible atrocities of war, the violence, surviving against the vicious attacks from the enemy lines - all of these are faced by soldiers everyday of their active stay in one of the battle-devastated areas in the world - Iraq.

Sgt. Beberg and Ratchet

I give credit to the heroism, bravery and patriotism of the soldiers out there in Iraq and in other battlefields today. They serve their country well and they deserve proper treatment when they return home - weary from the battle. However, in this case (and in so many others), most of the soldiers are not being treated very well by the government and main agency they serve - even resorting to the fact of killing a precious innocent life of a DOG.

Well, yeah. You read it right. A dog’s life. I know too, the importance of human life. But a dog’s life is also life. From my own perspective, the military - the soldiers are trained to protect and preserve life. But I dont know what kind of perspective did the military have in this case.

The article discusses the life of Sgt. Beberg in Iraq and how Ratchet, the dog, became her lifeline and provided a more sane side of her life during her stay. Unfortunately, because of the stop-loss, Sgt. Beberg was forced to stay longer than her agreed duration period over there. Ratchet provided something for Sgt. Beberg - that in life there is still hope. Ratchet was able to get accepted on Baghdad Pups, an organization that help in the transportation and logistics of befriended dogs of other soldiers. According to one article from getfreshminds.com, the dog will be shipped to Minnesotta to Sgt. Beberg’s family who will take care of Ratchet. Unfortunately, the dog’s journey was halted by Sgt. Beberg’s Commanding officers, confiscated the dog and sentenced it to face certain death. On the other hand, Sgt. Beberg is now under military investigation just for - befriending a dog in Iraq.

Ratchet - in his puppy days

According to the military, there is a regulation against soldiers befriending animals in enemy terrirtory or from battle lines and soldiers who happen to break this particular regulation will be court-martialed.

Honestly, I find it ridiculous. Why? The military does not refer to a particular section in the rules and regulations about this matter. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. I dont understand why they are more willing to punish a soldier (who want to keep her sanity during her hurrendous stay in Iraq) for JUST BEFRIENDING a dog than court martialling the rowdy soldiers who kill thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq, rape their women, destroying their cities etc. etc. There’s even a case of a soldier having fun while throwing an innocent pup over a cliff!

I am a dog owner too. And I empathized with Sgt. Beberg. I understand the atrocities all the soldier have gone through. All those atrocities are enough to make them insane, afflicted with war shock and even commit suicide when they gone home. Ratchet helped keep the sanity of Sgt. Beberg. So it is naturally devastating for her to see or hear if Ratchet got killed by the commanding officers she loyally served - not only the commanding officers but for the main agency, government and the COUNTRY she loyally served.

Jesus, I cant imagine why they would like to do atrocities even to their own soldiers. I thought the military is there to protect and preserve life. All forms of life, from what I understand. I dont want to see the military turning into heartless terminators - that they are trigger happy to kill any life - whether its human or canine.

I hope the military would do something about this. The military SHOULD uphold the highest ETHICAL behavior, the proper ways of engaging during a combat, to defend its country, to protect and preserve life. And that particular article on Digg is now at the top of the front page topics will almost 4,000 diggs and hundreds of comments. Man, are the military and its generals have GONE INSANE too? ARE THEY THAT TRIGGER HAPPY TO KILL EVEN A DOG?! The military should establish a program for this matter. They can set up clearing (screening), logistics and transporting stations for the befriended pets of the soldiers. In a psychological point of view, this will be REALLY helpful in keeping the sanity of the soldiers in the lines.

Right now, I am hoping that Ratchet would arrive safe and sound to Minnesota. I hope that Sgt. Beberg will be cleared from the investigation. I hope the military and its concerned authorities will get their sense of justice correct. If there is any particular regulation about befriending animals in the battlefield, they SHOULD explain what it is and why it is needed. I just hope that the soldiers like Sgt. Beberg would get the proper treatment they deserve.

The manner of treating even the simplest form of life reflects how you will treat the higher form of life - the way you treat a dog, a cat or any other animal life - domesticated or not - will surely reflect or give a psychological hint on the way you treat human life and handle interpersonal relationships.

I ask every reader of this blog to pass this to your senators, to everyone else. Let this be known to the rest of the world. The rowdy soldiers who killed innocent civilians, shot their dogs, raped their women, orphaned their children should be the ones COURT MARTIALLED rather than the ones like Sgt. Beberg who protected and preserved life in any form, and who duly served their country.

Here are the main articles that you can refer to: (PLEASE ALSO PASS THIS!)

http://www.getfreshminds.com/2008/10/baghdad-pups.html

http://www.spca.com/press/item/56

You can also go to Digg to digg this article: http://digg.com/political_opinion/US_Military_threatens_to_kill_pet_of_deployed_US_Soldier

You can also go to the Baghdad Pups website: http://www.baghdadpups.com/

To Sgt. Beberg,

I’m keeping up the best hopes for you and Ratchet. I hope you will overcome this dark episode of your life. I’ll pray for you both. God bless!