This is very sad . Yet it is only one of 100's of 1000's of individual tragedies to have emanated from the cause of this particular Earth disease. The real 9/11 conspiracy is every bit an animal rights issue as it is a human rights issue and the sooner we all wake up the better.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7866929448192753501

keith, London, uk

the puppy was a islam0fascistb0mber ...

and he had a lot of old wet nast y burqas ewwww!

francis pickelswaith, fenway torte- under the hounds, mil

Whether human or animal, the cruelty portrayed here with the Marine and puppy, as well as innocent people dying in Iraq...it's all disgusting and wrong.

SHAME ON THE US!

John, Seattle, WA

David Motari makes me sick.......He should be punished for the cruelty in the video. He ashamed. He is the darkside of humanity.

Brendan, Zville,

Oh for the love of god, yes its a horrible video but I bet anything it was made minutes after a bomb killed many human lives. People need to re-think their perceptions and priorities before they make death threats to soldiers who are trained thorugh dehumanisation who kill a single dog.

Jonny Trick, norwich, United Kingdom

Motari is a disgusting human being and deserves to be punished...how can we excuse such an irrational and cruel behavior? I dont care if being at war changes someone...he still has NO RIGHT to murder an innocent creature.

Lucie Davidson, Montreal, Canada

It's sick world and its getting even sicker. This guy may have his reasons and excuses for doing what he did, but he has the gift of free will and for whatever justifications he can employ, they cannot out value the act. Man has been given power a can use it for good or evil.....

Mo Pimenta Hampshire, UK.

Mo Pimenta, New Milton, Hampshire, UK

War messes with peoples heads. I think that he was under some extreme violent exposures. And with violent exposures that extreme, I believe that he did it because the violence became almost like his nature. Like... serial killers kill because they wanted to know what it's like.. etc.; and yes, that is what you would say "sociopathic" . I believe it was the violence that he's been exposed to made him the sociopath. I don't have a doubt in my mind that if he were at home, or in the mountains somewhere in the U.S. and found a sick, lonely wolfpup. I doubt he would have the nerve to hurl the pup off of the mountain.

Steph, Texas,

Motari should not have the privilage to represent the US in the war. What person would want a puppy killer fighting for our country?

Lily, Eugene,

I have to question the mental state of the posters who are excusing the marine' s actions by saying that it's only a dog, I eat animals most days, so am hardly going to be outraged at the death of a puppy, Soliders are trained to kill and are the lives of humans worth less. It says alot about a person who dismisses hurling a defenseless animal to their death as not a big deal. There is absoltuely no excuse for that marine's actions, his job to help lives not act like the terriosts by taking a live even if it's a dog's for his own enjoyment. His actions only made America look like hypocritces.

Crystal, Kingston,

This attitude came from Bush & Cheney all the way down the line. If the US is doing it, it must be right!

It doesn't matter if a Republican or Democrat gets elected in Nov. Either way we'll still be stuck with this war WE allowed the president to start.

Bill Z, Topika, KS

Peter, if it were ANY animal, it would still be a despicable act. But you're right, as you stated yourself, if the animal was harmful to humans people would probably be more understanding. And as you yourself said, IT IS NOT HARMFUL TO HUMANS. IT was a PUPPY who had done NOTHING to deserve this treatment, whose teeth probably couldn't even break skin yet, much less that uniform! This man is DISGUSTING.

Liza, Perth,

I am sick and tired of reading stories about the mental defectives in our armed services. This coward makes me sick.

cindy schultz, mequon, wi

What if it were a snake, not so warm and fuzzy and making you feel bad right?

seriously, people are just mad because it was a puppy. If it were a goldfish/snake/weasel/anything that isn't a housepet or harmful to humans, there wouldn't be this big of an outcry.

Ask yourself if you'd really care so much if it were a snake being thrown.

Peter, Baltimore, MD

I am writing this from Sydney Australia in my lounge room so so far away from Iraq and America. Everything I read, and watch on TV or at the movies, we the world watch as you sing your songs about the land of the free and brave....always about America and how great you are how you are the mightiest power and strongest, proudest county and yet I see one of your "Brave" one of your "defenders" throw an innocent animal, a puppy from a cliff as it cries in fear. Disgusting,

Henrii, Sydney, Australia

Maybe one reason people have so much to say about this instead of the hundreds of thousands killed in the war is we can actually DO SOMETHING about this sick sociopath.

John Hoff, Minneapolis, USA/Minnesota

To be a marine means to protect and serve those that are unable to protect themselves. David Motari and the other people present in the video bring disgrace to the marines, to their families, to the US and to all of humanity. A great man once said that the actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts. If these men threw an innocent puppy off a cliff what other disgraceful and disgusting actions will they partake in next? These men are vial and loathsome beings and should be treated like criminals, for that is what they truly are. The one thing that really hits home to a person’s heart is David Motari’s response to his friends comment about how “mean” his actions were; he just smiles and shrugs his shoulders. Don't forget David Motari, death is only the beginning of another journey. And upon that future journey I wish that you will experience eternal pain and suffering.

Lindsay Futris, Knightdale, NC

It's pathetic how people have so much to say about a dog's life but what about all the thousends of innocent people being killed daily in the world. How many of the people that have so much to say beats their wives are racists or worse.......bunch of hippocrates!

Raka, Johannesburg, South Africa

In response to Chris, Bradford.
Im sure you can't pick and choose a soldiers mentalities, but I am sure you can choose not to film such acts of cruelty and release it onto the internet.
Instead of generalizing and focusing outside the issue and justifying the video. Look at it this way, he has now put a lot of negativity and deterred focus on all the positive things hard-working soldiers are doing over-seas, the reaction he has caused worse than the actual event.
Im sure worse and more shocking things have happened in the war-zone but for it to be spread on youtube seems to promote it, and deters focus from more important issues. Why should the news be filled with story's of a soldier throwing a puppy over a cliff when another has saved a mans life.

jade, leeds,

Good thing Congress is investigating Major League Baseball and illegal growth hormone use among its players instead of this corrupt war which enlists thugs and half-wits to fight an endless stream newly converted terrorists....

Luke McCullough, New York, NY

Agree with Chris. You can't have it both ways. Invade a foreign nation and take over their oil so that you can drive your SUVs cheap, and complain if there is an incident like this. War is legalized killing of fellow man. What do you expect? Perhaps there should be a "health warning" on all wars warning that people will get killed and quite possible animals in addition to all the other knock on benefits such as torture, rendition, rape, assassination, control of press, violations of privacy, and of course rise in your taxes. But then you won't go to war which defeats the whole exercise. Hmmm.

Kev, London, UK

Not sure about anyone else, but I worry about putting people who would throw a little puppy off a cliff for jokes and laughs in charge of a gun. Doesn't exactly fill me with confidence about what is happening during this war.

Laurie, St Andrews, Scotland

Just to clarify - how many of the outraged people commenting here have actually gone through military training in the US? Im aware one or two people mentioned they were part of the UK armed forces, but the vast majority are simply normal people who, understandably, are appalled by this because they wouldnt do it themselves.

But these people need to wake the hell up and realise that this is a WAR, not a garden party. yeah the puppy has nothing to do with the war, but you cant pick and choose soldier's mentalities. What the hell right do any of you have to judge these people who have gone over to do this and the mental harm they are clearly suffering?

I defy any of you to go out there and do their job, without getting screwed up in the head - the guy needs therapy perhaps, but he does NOT deserve your petty hatred. The West might, in the end, fall flat because we all live in our little glass bubbles with puppies, rainbows and a handful of dreams, devoid of any grip on reality!

Chris, Bradford,

Hi David,
many wonderful people from ASPCA and other Organisations work hard every day to save poor animals-You kill a little dog for fun.You disgrace their work and you disgrace your Land.Some people say the video is a fake to protect you or to silence the concience.The one and only Fake is you-a fake of a Marine!I hope you have many trouble with the real Marines and i hope you never find your personal peace!

Wolf,Germany

wolf, germany,

I'm just hoping it's not real. I remember a pair of comedians on British TV pretended to microwave a cat. That caused uproar at the time, with people suggesting it would provoke copy cat reactions.

Amanda, London,

What a big tough man.

figaro, Leeds,

This is what war teaches you, to be aggressive and show no compassion for other living beings. What else could you expect?

Sophia Lopez, Cambridge, UK

True, in the grand scheme of things it is 'just a puppy' and there are thousands of human victims in this war. But I think part of what makes this obscene act of heartless cruelty so shocking is that, for all its hypocrisy, the West would like to believe and have people believe that they are the 'good guys' in all of this. That they are there in Iraq to restore order and humanity.
The reason why people get more upset seeing a puppy murdered than a human is because puppies (or for the purpose of this debate, THIS puppy) are completely and utterly innocent! You can't get much more innocent than a defenceless baby animal!
For us to see an American soldier - soldiers that we've all been told over and over again are in Iraq to make a difference for the BETTER, hurl an completely innocent, uninvolved life into a gully LAUGHING... It really brings it home to us. It's not just the fact its a puppy - it's what this puppy REPRESENTS! How clearly it shows the hypocrisy of the West!

Darcy, South England, UK

The act of throwing a puppy off a cliff is horrible and an insight into the sick minds of some ignorant and damaged young men who kill for a living.

However, far more cruel acts have been perpatrated against human beings by soldiers and marines in that region of the planet and I didn't notice notice any hate campaign against such people. Maybe there was...if so , my mistake.

Threatening someones family who are innocent of such an act is stupid and wrong. You target the innocent in the defence of the innocent?

It seems this idiot in the video is being made a scapegoat for all the horror and pain people feel about this war but can't express more directly.
I sympathise-but please, do something constructive.

Moi, UK,

This is a new international war on terrier! Dogs watch out!!

Kev, London, UK

even if the puyppy is dead and the yelping faked, it's still the product of a sick mind.

however, for dr matt mickas to say it is one of the worst acts of cruelty he's ever seen suggests he has led a very sheltered life. sick people abuse animals all the time in far more horrible ways. and people who abuse animals abuse people.

the fact that there is outrage about this puppy should not be taken to mean no one cares about the women and children dying in iraq. it's all bad.

even for soldiers, who we expect to kill on our behalf, there is a way to behave and a way not to behave. I have no doubt those involved understand that what they did was wrong.

jem, london, uk

That video is real. You can tell that nothing is faked on it because it is not spliced in anyway. Puppies go slack when they are held by the neck because that is the way their mothers carry them with their mouths. This Motari guy is a sociopath and he deserves what is coming to him. Maybe someone should toss him into a gully and see if he yelps or not. That would not be mean. It would just be fair. I'm sure if there were no laws, someone would have already done that to him.

Lily, Springfield, USA

Anyone who would threaten the family of this man needs to examine their own psyche. The Marines actions are inexcusable, but his family does not deserve to threatened, harassed, and hounded. The people who send hate receive nothing positive in return. Hypocrisy is alive and well in all the hatemongers hassling this family.

Matt, Monroe, Wa

The Marines are defending themselves from a people who do NOT wage war by Geneva Conventions. The way they fight is to "take out as many Coalition troops as possible by ANY means" - IED's - suicide bombers (children, women, men) their "soldiers" wear no uniforms, and when they kill - they don't give a damn WHO they kill - just KILL, the more, the better. Our troops allow their women to wear their traditional garb - under which they carry bombs, rifles and other items that are used to kill out troops. Yet I don't hear any outrage about the way we are being attacked. I DO NOT condone the actions of the soldiers in regards to the puppy in the video - alive or not - and the yelp is so real that my dog came running when it heard the sound and she was whining - so the sound is REAL. The job they have to do is one I wouldn't want - but at the same time, what they did is WRONG - no respect for life - just as bad as the people they are fighting.

Mike Jr., Cleveland, Ohio / USA

This is truly horrific but I am more horrified about how deluded people can be. War is killing. Period. People should be concerned about their sanitized view of warfare and how soldiers are affected by their work. The worry is how ill disciplined these soldiers are, and explains the why the abduction and rape of adolescent local girls around military bases in the far east has become almost a seasonal affair.

Kev, London, UK

I didn't know a U.S. Marine could be so cowardly.
Ray Noble, Florida

Ray Noble, Deland, Florida

If you've been to Iraq, or Afghanistan, you would know that Rin Tin Tin, and Lassie are not the dogs in those areas role models. They are feral, nasty, even sick, while Mr Motari's actions were shocking, heartbreaking, and ill advised.

It may have been for the best. I've seen dogs there, missing limbs and no hope of care, eating the dead, and even to the point of attacking children in desperation because they are starving, because they are held in such low standards in a country that is already poor.
There are no veterinarians, except for the one's that US Army has there for K9, and from my experience, they are either shot of put to sleep, because their futures are so dreary.

Chris , Long Beach, MS, USA

I think this is absolutely horrendous! Those, who try to gloss over this heinous act by saying that a human life is important and a puppy's life doesn't matter are missing the point entirely. This little puppy was entirely innocent. It had done nothing to deserve such cruel treatment and its life was just as important to it as that Marine's life is to him How would he like to have someone toss him over a cliff? He has no business representing America in Iraq or anywhere because his action was completely opposite to everything America stands for!

Terri , Houston, TX.,

I find this marine's behaviour to be disgusting and an insult to all the soldiers from around the world who take their mission seriously of trying to enhance the security and rebuild for the people in Afghanistan, not to mention those who lost their lives. They don't go for the thrill of hurting, and/or killing the innocent (people/animals)

I hope this David Motari gets what he deserves and more, but I don't hold alot of hope.

Ms. D. Cleveland, Toronto, Canada

The puppy was obviously alive. After reading about this guy, he has a cocky attitude and he obviously has the mentality of a rock. Being in the miltary has given this kid a real mind trip. He thinks he's above the laws of society. Even IF the clip was staged, and I doubt this guy had the intelligence to put that together, he should be discharged. He has embarrased his family and all the rest of us as well.

Bill, Chicago, IL

Saying someone is a solider is no excuse for sociopathic behavior. Our soldiers should be the most empathetic, compassionate people- even if they are involved in war. They should understand the burden they took on by volunteering for service and the principals they should hold dear and do anything to uphold. Being a soldier should never be an excuse for horrendous behavior- there is nothing honorable about his actions.
It is ridiculous and idiotic to try and say the puppy is dead. Good try.

Maria, Denver, Colorado

I think this is one of the most appalling things I have seen in a long time. And quite frankly, all of you that are saying things like "Soldiers are trained to kill" and "Are humans worth less" aren't getting THE point! That is that this behaviour should NOT be tolerated and it has nothing to do with whether humans are worth less or more. This act, in itself, is disgusting and it does NOT reflect anything about what we feel about human rights at all!!!!! I think it's the people on here that keep banging on about other issues other than the one that should be being discussed that need to get a grip!!!!! BTW I hope this soldier gets fired, he is a disgrace!

Lucy, Nottingham, UK

Latest: "Michelle Malkin Insanely Denies Reality Of Puppy Video"

Its not a puppy, its a dog and its not a live dog, its dead dog, and its not a dog but a stuffed toy That was the Official Puppy Conspiracy Theory - now for that video of WTC7, let me see now...

jayil, london, uk

Oh for heaven's sake. This man has been trained to kill and then people moan when he kills? OK, so puppy murder is not exactly what he gets paid for, but part of learning to be a soldier must surely be developing an acceptance that it is ok to kill (you know, people as long as they are not American, small animals etc etc).
And it is only a dog. I eat animals most days, so am hardly going to be outraged at the death of a puppy.

Anna, London,

Don’t justify this soldiers actions, whether the puppy is alive or not, I think it was, the thought and intention of this action and making this film is bad enough. You know the saying “by their fruits you shall know them?” We humans are good at justifying wrong behaviour and there is enough of that in these comments over this soldier. Two wrongs don’t make a right my friends. Its as bad as these film producers justifying their wicked portrayal of violence in their movies while they gross vast amounts of money. It is not so justifying when one has the real thing to deal with in life. What a warped society and what a shame that bullies who don’t always bully people but carry out the same mental actions against the nature which has been given to us as in this case a defenceless animal.

Mr Walmsley, Manchester, England

You can see the puppy's tongue flicking out at the very beginning, so I doubt very strongly it's dead. These soldiers surely needs a mental evaluation and discharge from the armed forces, preferably prison.

Lise Eriksen, Oslo, Norway

Well, finally even the Marines can be humbled. The recruits are going to have a tough month ahead after this bad PR. Even if the video is fake or not it shows just how much class these guys have....none. The head honchos of the Marines need to show some class and throw the book at these guys. You'd never see this kind of "joke" coming from the Army. Not sure about Hawaii, but cruelty to animals in Georgia can add up to some real prison time...just ask Justin and Joshua Moulder who each got 10 years for cooking a puppy after dousing it with paint. The MSPCA states that 70% of Animal Abusers commit at least 1 other crime. 40 % commit violence on other humans. 55% are involved in domestic violence including child abuse. I mean if you can throw a puppy off the cliff and joke about it (even a dead one) ....who's to say you aren't capable of throwing a baby (even a dead one) off the cliff and joke about it.

Catherine Lindquist, Fort Benning, Georgia

The comment from someone 'it's only a dog' is sickening and offensive and symptomatic of why the world is in the mess it is in today. 'Humans are more important' is another way of putting it and, quite frankly, that attitude stinks and is typical of those with low morals.
Whether it's a human being or an animal, actions such as that by that gutless individual calling himself a US Marine are deplorable and this 'man' (I use the term 'man very loosely here to describe this coward) should be dismissed from the service.
Even if the video is not genuine and the dog was already dead, as has been suggested - and I sincerely hope that this is the case - then that Marine has at the very least brought the US Military into disrepute and, as such, should be harshly punished for it.

FJ, Sandown,

I think you should wait until it's confirmed to be a live puppy before you lot mark this man for death. There are many doubts, especially from me:

1) The puppy in question shows signs of having rigor mortis; the stiffening of a dead body.

2)The sound the puppy supposidly makes sounds fake. And most damning of all it is available on many SFX cd's (I actually have one of these). All someone had to do was take the sound, edit it so it's volume tailed off at the end (2 seconds work) and then splice it in using Windows Movie Maker, which comes free with windows.

This man is stupid, no doubt, because he's made the Marines look bad. But all you internet warriors that are so quick to judge him can be just as dumb at times. Also how many of you have actually been in war? Been shot at? Killed people?

Exactly

If anything, these marines found the dead puppy on patrol, and being desensitized obviously thought "Hey this will be a funny joke"

Danny, Bournemouth, UK

We find headless bodies in alleyways every morning in Iraq. I think perhaps we ought to be concerned more about that than some animal abuse, nasty as it is.
At any rate, I'm not entirely convinced that the dog was alive to begin with (I mean in the video), Feral dogs are all over the place there; Soldiers and Marines often wind up shooting them just because they're dangerous. Finding a dead puppy wouldn't be hard. If that's the case and the dog was already dead this wouldn't be that strange. I know of some guys who made a game out of disposing of dead cattle at roadsides by trying to light them on fire with a flare pistol.
People don't seem to get that one's perception of behaviors acceptable and unacceptable is altered in a combat zone. Things that would normally be horrifying somehow become hilarious when compared to the surroundings. If LCpl Motari killed the dog he should be disciplined by his Company CO or platoon leader, not attacked by people who have nothing better to do.

Matt, Chicago, IL

For one, there are several videos that depict cruelty towards animals with our military. It has been going on for a while, so how is it that nothing has been done yet?? What are they waiting for??? Oh, that 's right, it's just a dog. Get rid of this animal murderer~animal abuse always lead to other abuse. Maybe he'll rape and murder a child. Not good for America, right??

Jayci, USA,

As a retired Police officer and Army Reserve Major, I am appalled at what this Marine has done. The videographer is just as guilty and should be equally ostricized. With this war being so unpopular, these two individuals have brought shame and discrace to our men and women in uniform. It was obvious in the video that this was not a lifeless animal. As a retired soldier, Thanks for the great public relations message that you are sending to our young people.

Greg Kimbro, Charlotte, NC USA

Americans are taking delight in savagery. It is most didicative of the whole Iraq fiascos. I am deeply ashamed of what America has become under the George Bush aministrations. Please accept my apologies to the whole world.

tarquinis, Seattle, USA

From the bible stems the teaching that a person's suitability
to be a leader, for example, is judged by his attitude to animals. For if one cannot treat dumb animals well, defensless creatures, usually dependent on the will of humans, how could such a person be entrusted with any position entailing responsibility for the well being of humans.
This Marine must be removed from service. By making a video boasting his cruelty, he is obviously wanting to spread a message of unbelievable cruelty to animals. Who would envisage such a person serving in the forces, where a low ranking individual may find himself in a position where his decisions will directly affect the lives and well being not only of other military personnel but also civilian populations and enemy combattants. In the context of war, the good character of low ranking individuals is just as vital as the honorable
character of military leaders. This marine could repent & become a better person but in the meantime: OUT.

Joan Moira Peters , Whg. (UK citizen , temp. overseas)

No-one actually believes the Americans will do anything about it, do they? This is exactly the kind of attitude they are trying to engender in their troops -- and just think, if they are doing this to puppies, what are they doing to humans? Sounds like a candidate for Chief of Staff in the Bush administration to me.

Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Today puppy tomorrow Iraqi child...?

Winning the hearts and minds i guess.

Mohammed, London, UK

This man needs to be removed asap from the Marines. It is quite obvious that he kills for joy. He would happily kill the innocent. He is disgusting! And to those people who have been complaining on various sites about the uproar caused by viewing the death of a puppy vs. the fact that many human beings die in war...NOBODY is overlooking that or minimizing that. That comparison, in fact, minimizes the life of our lower animals and needlessly compares it to the life of a "human being." No comparison needs to be made! Death is death and SEEING it is unbearable. If this man were shown throwing a baby, a woman, or a man over a cliff, the replies would be just as intense if not that much more. It's all about what people SEE. The media edits war coverage. Generally, we do not see war victims being murdered. And when we do see violent coverage, we SHUDDER. Freaking out over this poor puppy does not IMPLY we don't care about humans dying! Get a grip. Nobody took 911 lightly.

Isabella Fonte, New York, New York

500,000 deaths from sanctions - "The price is worth it" (Madeleine Albright)

200,000 deaths from current hostilities - Not and issue.

1 dead puppy dog - National outrage

How does that work???

Jonathan, Auckland, New Zealand

The more I see of the human race, the more I pray for it's extinction. Soon.

Ryan, Glasgow,

I believe it is very obvious that it is a stuffed dog toy, not a real dog. It would be a toy with the dog "sitting up" in the "begging" position. Not a real dog.

George, San Jose, California, USA

This is not about whether he should be punished or not. This is more about how messed up Americans soldiers are mentally after 3 unecessary and unprepared years in combat, period.

Jini ''Twahi'' Sebakunzi`, St Louis, missouri

This is one of the most pathetic, cruel things I've ever seen. What's he going to do for his next trick? Run down an old lady or a child with a tank? If he's patient enough, he'll wait until someone in a wheel chair crosses his path. Did you know that a lot of serial killers start out torturing defenseless animals? Get some help - lots of it - and then get yourself a Life. And good luck finding date without having to pay for it. What a Loser.

Tiffany, St. Louis, USA

Face it, they aren't police, no matter how many times they're sent on police missions by politicians. They're soldiers trained to kill and break things.

Why is it expected that they be nice people?

Pat, Portland, OR

We (USA) pay this man to kill. He killed something. If we don't like that, perhaps we should rethink why we trained and deployed this man and people like him.

Chris R, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Greg Lorriman,

"If your 14 year old does something nasty to a rabbit, don't panic: it doesn't mean that he's a psycho".

In fact there is a large body of evidence from psychological studies based on the childhood behaviour of serial killers that the vast majority of them started by torturing animals (often with no parental intervention to stop the behaviour) and graduated to humans.

Quite where you learnt that it is 'normal behaviour' (and therefore presumably acceptable) for children to torture animals I shudder to think.

David C, Brussels, Belgium

Whether the puppy is dead or not the public perception of the USMC will be coloured by this incident. As a former British serviceman myself I often wonder what the US do to their soldiers that lead to these terrible things occurring in their name. Alas the US seem to spend an excess of time indoctrinating their soldiers to be homicidal maniacs so that they forget to be human. I have worked alongside the US services and always found them a little "gung-ho" but this is a new low.
As for the hate mail this chap is getting, well I'm a dog owner and if someone did that to a puppy of mine I'd do something horrible to him!

Mark, Pecs, Hungary

"American soldiers are shooting innocent civilians every day."

Did you get that from Apocalypse Now too?

If this video is real, the guy should be investigated and, if warranted, punished. But let's try to base our outrage on reality, not Martin Sheen movies.

Jim Treacher, Springfield, USA

Its more than just being a dead puppy. Its the mental wellness when military personal are prettending to throw puppies off to their death. Dead or alive this is the entertainment value in war.

Get your wallets out, 2 trillion is going to cost someone.

andy, fishersville, usa

Are Iraqi civilians treated any better by the American military? Makes one wonder.

Dalton, Toronto, Canada

This man should be dishonorably discharged from the service and never allowed around animals at all. If he would treat a defenseless animal in this inhumane way; how does he treat his fellow humans? His behavior is beyond horrific. I have a dog and if this willful child because that is how he is acting is allowed to go unpunished then our country is in real trouble and I don't wonder why we are where we are as a country and a people. I don't know about anyone else but I for one don't wish to have people who exhibit this type of behavior represent me or my country. I'm 53 and it is his kind who give the United States of America and Americans a bad name.

VinJan Novacek, Tampa, USA/FL

People are missing the point. Yes, he is a Marine sent there to keep the peace, kill terrorists, etc. Of course, people are wrongfully killed over there, but the intention is to make the country safer and have a return to normalcy.

[Assuming the video is real] what outrages people, myself included, is it is completely barbaric, cruel and unnecessary to do this to a defenseless creature. That is the problem.

A mistake he has made at 22 will follow him and his family for some time.

MY, Los Angeles, USA

"You can judge a nation and it’s people by the way they treat their animals”

M. Gandhi.

Ironic, seeing as we've used that quote on a certain country in the far east quite a few times.

Howard, Manchester,

I cannot beleive there are people that condone this kind of behaviour. The worst thing about this is the soldier who should be punished for his actions will most probably get a slap on the wrist.

Going out there to defend your country is honourable but it is not a free pass to throw a puppy off a cliff. He has destroyed any integrety we saw in the troops at war.

There has to be something wrong in this world to allow this to happen

Verone Chandler, UK,

If this is real, then, after giving him a trial he should be court-martialed or jailed for a very very very long time.as should anyone who abuses animals or humans.

however...
marcos, you realise you based your assumption that all troops are killers based on a fictional movie, and what one man did. If american soldiers were killing civilians every day, the entire country of Iraq would be killing american soldires by the thousands daily.there would be outcry by more then just terrorists for us to leave iraq.I have many friends who are serving, or served in Iraq, I have seen the gifts, and letters of appreciation of those who they protected.Our troops are risking their lives daily to protect a nation that most americans cant point out on a map.A nation that most beleive should be left to fend for itself. They truly deserve better then the greif they are given when they return, they deserve better then the name that this juvinile punk gave to all the good marines there are out there.

Nick, Harrisburg, PA

I doubt it was even a real puppy at all. I would bet money that in a few days, this will all be revealed as a big hoax. It's just too obvious. This is performance art to illistrate how easily manipulated viral video fame really is, I predict.

Mojo Wilkins, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Circumstances here are irrelevant and, incidentally, I support the US troops. But if that video shows what it appears to show, then it is sickening, and that man should be ashamed of himself. When is it ever OK to injure or kill the defenseless and innocent? Never, that's when. A tiny puppy is no threat to anyone, and I question the heart and masculinity of a man who enjoyed torturing this helpless creature. Truly disgusting.

Mia, Montreal, Canada

I remember watching Apocalypse Now at school. The swift boat crew butchers a family of innocent Vietnamese - not a murmer from the class. One of the G.I.s finds a puppy in the Vietnamese boat - cue shouts from the girls in the class: 'don't hurt the puppy!'

American soldiers are shooting innocent civilians every day. People in the English-speaking world really need to get their priorities in order.

Marcos, London, UK

The video doesn't say alot for the character of U.S. Marines. I know what i would do with him.

Jonathan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

You people are delusioned; and so gullible

Frank, Phila, USA

I'm going to have to echo the idea that it's just a dog - people die there all the time and we all turn a blind eye - why the hell is our retarded society more obsessed with cruelty to animals than it is with cruelty to people?? It's like this chicken business all over again. People are dying in the Sudan, but no, we in England are more concerned about freaking birds.

Soldiers are trained to kill, as many more informed people have said - if they weren't the next time anyone tried to invade us we'd collapse instantly. It's not like the guy just breached the Geneva Convention here is it? Whether dead or alive, it was just a puppy. Who knows what horrors those guys have seen out there after all.

Chris, Bradford,

Dear God! I cannot believe the sheer lack of perspective of people who get worked up over the 'death' of a 'puppy' when these men are putting their lives at risk. If the US marines have a sense of humour akin to the average British soldier then I suspect that this is just an excellent, if cynical, piss-take of the attitudes of the pampered people back home.

BTW - Neil from Waterford. I worked with one of the survivors about 15 years later. A great bloke and a fabulous character - even though half his skull was held together with a steel plate.

Hamish, Glasgow, UK

today I am ashamed of my country. That Marine represents Americans and Americans do not kill defenseless puppies with their bare hands. That Marine should be dishonorably discharged immediately. That video made me sick and will never leave me reminding me of the cruelty of moraly retarded.

Ricardo Colon, Camden, NJ. USA

I, too, believe the puppy is already dead. Even so, Albert in Vaxjo, Sweden, has said it all. Thank you, Albert.

Rachel B, West Midlands, England

Lucky it was not an iraqi child. Apart of me thinks if it was an Iraqi child they would not have recorded it on video. Plus if got caught they would get little punishment.

Ali, stockport,

this is the caliber of service people in our armed forces today sadly. the ranks are so depleted that they will take junkies, skinheads, gang bangers, crips, bloods, latin kings, neo nazis and the like. guess what is going to happen if and when they come home? time to invest in shelters for abused wives/families unfortunately.

albert ross, Hillsdale, USA/NJ

What a plonker this soldier is to allow himself to be put in this position. Doesn't say much for the calibre of the recruits does it.

gil, bristol, england

It is true, the disussion should not be about whether the dog was alive or not. SOMETHING LIKE THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN! However, some people use the possible argument of the puppy having been 'fake' as an easy way out of this horrible scene.
I worked with all kinds of animals and despite the postings here about the Doppler and other related acousical effects trying to proove that the whole scene was staged I am 85% sure that what we see here is - or rather was - a real baby dog, still alive when being thrown to death.
Aside from this, I think we should live in an era where soldiers should not be simple killing machines - what about the peace keeping missions they are send to? Establishing peace with guns? Yes, that works. I grew up in Europe and I learned my history lessons! War is the answer of people who are unable to use diplomacy.

Ursula, Toronto, Canada

What is at stake here is what is morally and ethically correct. Killing, is morally wrong regardless of who you are. However, if in an attempt to protect others from suffering one needs to kill an individual, then with great remorse, and awareness of the act that is be carried out, one with regret could commit such an act. Deriving no pleasure for ones actions. Soldiers are contracted to make such judgments while explicitly applying what is morally and ethically correct.

One who does undertakes such responsibilities with the purpose of deriving pleasure from their ability to kill obviously need to examine their purpose and motives. In this case the soldiers in question has no right to dawn a uniform and abuse the power that he has been granted.

Whether it is a human being or a dog, both are living beings and have just as much of a right to live as the soldier who felt it was within his power to take away life, any life.

His punishment will be living with his actions.

Gregory , Pasadena , CA

It's a fake puppy. Google "Realistic Looking Puppy" in quotes. The yipe was added in post editing and the puppy's yipe does not fade away as the buy is thrown. The sound is constant relative to the camera.

Egfrow, Philadelphia,

It gets hard to back the troops and segragate those doing the fighting from those making the political decisions when they're doing things like that.

The discussions of whether, the puppy was dead, it's only a puppy etc are without merit - it's about behaving in a difficult situation with respect and dignity and by this one action, this marine has brought shame and judgement on a lot of young men who are trying to do the right thing.

Andy Coxon, New York, USA

It is never normal to WANT to inflict pain! This isn't a case of "boys will be boys" and this is not ok. My fiance is in the army and he doesn't want to kill innocent puppies. In fact I am sure what he would do to this man would cripple him for life for doing this to a puppy.

Jessica, washington,

Our infantrymen are killing dozens of Iraqi nationalists every day whose only crime is not wanting to be tread upon. Yet, everyone is up in arms over a puppy. Apparently, it is true what they say about our country and hyper-reality.

Roy, San Diego, CA

The marine or rather the creature, as he does not even deserve to be called an animal, who did this should be brought to justice. What a shame to further taint what is left of the reputation of Marines. This really is an atrocity.

S, st.julians,

It looks so strange to me... This guy was sent to distant land to kill human beings, and people believe, that it was good and right thing to do. But when he killed puppy, the same people were outraged...

sergey, Moscow,

I make mine the words of Natalie Bussey of London.
This is a despicable act and even if the dog was not
alive anymore , what kind of human being finds it
funny to throw it down a cliff.
Despicable actions which poorly represent the
U S A. Shame on this heartless creature !

Ana , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil

As a former Marine (1985-1991) it is absolutely DISGUSTING to see what George Bush and his pre-emptive war of aggression in Iraq has done to my beloved Marine Corps, and to my nation.

God Bless our Troops - and God DAMN the Republican Party.

Please visit my anti-war website, www.shockedandawful.com

Del Wasso, Freeport, IL, USA

A high proportion of the men I know took pleasure in killing beasts in their early teens, and sometimes even later than that.

It's normal for males to kill and inflict pain. Why do you think so many of them are addicted to video games acting out such activities. If your 14 year old does something nasty to a rabbit, don't panic: it doesn't mean that he's a psycho.

At the same time we are talking about a beast that is almost certainly unable to suffer as it is not self-aware. It doesn't even know that it exists. Pain: yes, suffering: no!

The only issue here is that Disney has humanized the inhuman, and so now we have stricter laws protecting animals than unborn human beings.

That soldier committed no crime other than being juvenile.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Ok, yes ppl die overseas in a WAR. the mere conotation of that word brings to mind that ppl on both sides will die horribly. I do not support this war - never have. i was outraged by the crimes our soldiers commited to prisoners and i felt and still do that they should pay highly for their crimes.

i feel personally that the puppy was alive and not fake. Puppies don't move when you hold them by their scruff - it's instinct and it's how the mothers carry them about. now, about the movement when thrown, i can't say since i've never personally chucked a puppy into a ravine, so i have nothing to compare against. if it was fake, why take it down? why try to hide and CYA?

the reason ppl are upset about it, is b/c it was a PUPPY. It'd be as if the soldier took a baby, dead OR alive, and chucked it off the cliff. it was innocent and had no means of defending itself against this adult human. it was cruel and demented and his actions merrit repercussions.

Alix, Austin, TX

Has any one of you actually held a puppy by the scruff of the neck? That puppy wasn't rigid (as a dead puppy would be) - he's in the exact subservient pose that nature ingrained into many baby animals.

If the thing was dead, it had been killed within minutes of that video being made - and was killed in some method that left no marks. Then amazingly, it formed itself into the exact pose that baby animals take when grabbed by the scruff of their neck. Unlikely.

Kent, CDA,

Even it was dead its still a despicable act, alive and its simply gut wrenching.
Courts Martial and Dishonourable discharge, nothing more nothing less.

Dave, Gibraltar,

We should not have a volunteer army. While I'm sure most marines are honorable, there are a lot of lower class people (such as this, and can you imagine what his family must be like?) that are involved with the military as well.

Heather, Boise,

Yes indeed. So many people remember Sefton the horse wounded in the Hyde Park bomb. Even me. What about the poor blokes? Never heard of them again.

neil, waterford, ireland

Why do people question the murderous nature of ours or any armed forces. This is what we train them to be. These individuals are brutalized, trained to kill without question. If they did question or reason they probably would become a liability not only to themselves but to their comrades. Shame on the ignorant who think differently as it is they who have sent these lads to War without the true knowledge of their purpose.
Hypocrisy and ignorance has caused this war by individuals that know that they will never have to engage in it apart from their insignificant words.

Mark, Gateshead, UK

If this Soldier had worked for me when I was still on active duty, I would have brought him up on charges and had him brought before a Court of Officers for punishment.

If this is true, than it would only be a matter of time until his actions were turned on human beings

This truely is a case of brutal actions by an individual who was not properly trained and is without a doubt, conduct unbecoming a United States Marine.

Robert
Master Sergeant U.S. Army Retired

Robert Wentz, Saint Peters , USA/Missouri

Not really that surprising, Albert. It is normal for people react to animals commonly viewed as pets with parental instincts. Moreover, an animal has no country, no religion, no nothing that could somehow affiliate it to the "enemy". Those points are moot, though. It is not the act that is enraging people. It is the sick attitude of not only doing it, but gloating about it. Or do you often see combatants posting war crimes against noncombatants (which do happen, of course) on the Tube as a cool joke?

Joona, Helsinki, Finland

True, but the difference here is this puppy was completely innocent. It held absolutely no threat to this man, and most likely trusted him up until the time it was thrown over the cliff. At least a human has the capacity to understand what might be coming, not to mention the ability to defend themself. Anyone who is capable of doing this to a defenseless animal shows a tendency towards sociopathy, in my opinion.

I don't think this puppy knew where Osama is, or had buried any IEDs. It wasn't planning on performing a suicide bombing. It wasn't a member of any rebel groups. It was a puppy, and it was the ideal symbol of trust betrayed.I think that is what upsets people more than anything.

Dan, Ottawa, Canada

its only a dog. There are people being murdered, bombed and shot out there and no one mentions a thing. Can someone explain to me how throwing a dead dog off a cliff is worse than acidently bombing some ones house? ? ?

Andrew, Cave,

David Motari might not like to be taken by the scruff of his neck and thrown into a gully - dead or alive. With such men in the U.S.Army, no wonder the diabolic happenings at Abu Garaib took place.

San Ying, Montreal, Canada QC

The notion that the Marines are in any way honourable should have been completely debunked already by their conduct throughout the Iraq campaign - atrocious. .

Phil, Hong Kong,

Oh dear America, we expected better.

Actually, no we didn't.

Howard, Manchester,

"Are the lives of humans worth less?"


Not humans, just terrorists.

John Wayne, New York, NY

Albert of Vaxjo, Sweden, sums it up pretty well. Nevertheless, for your consideration:

1) The puppy does not move once, not even a slight twitch, throughout the duration the video.

2) The puppy appears to have closed eyes, and does not open them once.

3) When thrown into the gully, the puppy moves end over end with no lateral motion, no flailing of limbs, no motion of its jaw, no motion of its tail, etc, as so to suggest it was already dead and stricken with rigor-mortis.

4) We can hear faint barks and other ambient noises which seem to be legitimate background noises as they follow the rules of the Doppler effect. However, when the loud yipping heard after the dog is thrown, there is no Doppler effect, as the volume remains the same for the duration of the yipping... Meaning that the sound is fake. A noise emitted by the dog would actually become faint with distance and that does not happen in this video. The yipping is fake.

Based on this, I think they simply threw a dead dog.

J. Jaeger, Ann Arbor, MI

There should be an investigation by the RSPCA or the American equivilant and if this man did commit this dispicable, cruel callous act then he should be punished. If found guilty the press should print clearer pictures of this man so that the world can see his face. He should be ashamed of himself.

Natalie Bussey, London, England

It's what they are doing to Iraqi humans which will condemn these boneheads in the eyes of history.

Tony, Glasgow, UK

This is appauling!!! At the very least, this man should be discharged immediately from the marine corp! He is a disgrace to all who have and who are currently serving in the US military!

Elisha, Memphis,

"A US Marine has become the target of a massive internet hate campaign."

I didn't hear or read about any hate campaigns against soldiers when they were killing humans (Haditha killings?). Are the lives of humans worth less?

Soldiers are trained to kill.

Mohammed, London, UK

You believe what you want to believe. I bet my last dollar that the puppies already dead. But the interesting part is that people are more outraged by this than by any other alleged atrocity. I wonder what that says about modern day people?

Albert , Vaxjo, Sweden