British Expatriate Network

off a cliff. That's brave. roll

Though in their defense I'm sure the puppy had been naughty and as we know, Americans are quick to punish.

So for all you dog lovers out there what do you think?

Yes I saw it and yes it was a reprehensible act.

However, I think it's a one off and I don't think all US marines are evil.

Moo, can I ask...do you dislike all Americans? You seem to paint them all with the same brush. It's not just this post but many of yours. How are Americans quick to punish?
I would assume that 99% of Americans would probably be thinking the same as you...that video, is disgusting and sick and the men involved should be investigated and punished appropriately.

No comment thats what you would expect from jarheads .

No, its not. They have a heart, a brain and a conscience. You're quick to label people as 'troop haters' and then say you would expect then to do things like THAT. :roll:

You know I get fed up with people taring all soldiers with the same brush. Their are horrible people in all walks of life, so why would there not be some in an the armed forces.

As of October 2007, there were almost 1.5 million active service personnel in the US armed forces and almost the same amount of reserves. So, almost 3 million which represents 3% of the people aged between 17 - 45 in the US (The Active Miliatary Age range). Now add to that the additional pressures and stresses that they are under and the things some of them have seen, is it not possible that some of those on the edge may snap.

I am not condoning what they did, I think it is disgusting and those responsible should be punnished. But, is it not fair to assume that they are going to get there share of a-holes, murderers, rapists, theives, etc? Just as any line of employment does.

So many active personnel find this action reprehensible, even the Marine Corp in a statement said it was "shocking and deplorable".

I know so many US Armed Services personnel, especially US Marines (both my sons infact), and they are the most honest, stable, supportive, intelligent and driven people I know and comments like some of those made on here by people who have no clue infuriate the hell out of me.

Exactly, and comments like 'what you would expect from jarheads' like it was the par for the course for marines to throw a puppy off a cliff infuriate me too. :x

To be honest, I think people just like to take a pop at the easy targets. These folks are out there giving their lives for the freedom of us all. Do they think that there were no a-holes in the armed services during WWI or WWII? If they do, they are bigger fools than I give them credit. What about the soldiers that fought to get the US its independence or during the civil war? Yet, if it was not for those soldiers we would not have the freedoms we have today.

The have no choice regarding the battles they are sent to fight and I am sure the vast majority would rather be home tucked up in their nice comfy beds than over their being shot at. The soldiers deserve our support and thanks..the politicians (on both sides of the political spectrum), however, are a completely different matter.

I think it is wrong to try to paint all military with the same brush. As stated already, there are good and bad apples in any group.

However, I also don't buy into this current pseudo-hero worship of armed forces members. I know the varying motivations of why people join/serve. It is a career, they do it for pay and conditions that obviously hold appeal at that point in their life and it was a choice and not forced upon them, unlike draftees in previous conflicts. A few join for patriotic reasons but having served alongside some of them, I realised it was actually more that they wanted to gain instant respect, as opposed to potentially sacrifice themselves for their country or its ideals.

Going back to the original point - there have been documented episodes of cruelty from all sides in most conflicts in the past. It's tied in to the fact that the first casualty of war is innocence and even the vanquishers at the end of World War II had quite a bit of blood on their hands.

I haven't met them all so its difficult to say.

But you have to admit there is strong streak of puritan self-righteousness that runs through the veins of the American culture so they do tend to be a bit 1st. Testament.

Of course innocent people suffer in war, but this was little puppy, this really tugs at the heart-strings. It was post-modern cruelty of the finest order.

You all are right .
what i said was in contradition to postings I made earlier.
an apology is in order to any who felt offended .


just goes to show that all of us as fair as we think we are , make unthinking and foolish statements sometimes .
being the animal lover that i am ,the subject took me out of reasoned and culculated thinking .

Yes, we all do it. And kudos for getting off your high horse. :)

John_A - what a man, good for you from coming on and admiting a off the cuff comment. You are right, when it is something that touches out hearts so closely commonsense thinking is the first thing to go out of the window.

Pligrim, I agree we should not worhsip them...that is not right either. So many people think that they can do nothing wrong and we have to support them no matter what. I am against picking out individuals for their actions and making blanket statements regarding the military, because these individuals would have done the same thing before they went in the military...they are just bad people.

However, I will be the first person to stand up and condem any Military group for the things being ordered by their superiors. Such things as the goings on at Gitmo, the Iraq prison tortures and sub human treatment. Never mind the times when they have killed innocent civillians.

Very nice to hear you admit your mistake.

Didn't stop me rooting for Barnsley today though.....what a game.... :twisted:

Eh by gum, how a bout them Tykes.