Post by shewolfe on Jul 19, 2008 4:09:01 GMT -5
US Army to Shoot Live Pigs for Medical Drill
Source: The Associated Press
Posted: 07/18/08 3:16PM
Filed Under: World
HONOLULU (July 18) -The Army says it's critical to saving the lives of wounded soldiers. Animal-rights activists call the training cruel and outdated.
NOTE: Poll results are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those users who chose to participate. Poll results are not reflected in real time.
Back to Poll Results
Should the U.S. Army be shooting live pigs for medical drills?
Yes 24%
No 72%
Not sure 4%
Total Votes: 205
Note on poll results
Despite opposition by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Army is moving forward with its plan to shoot live pigs and treat their gunshot wounds in a medical trauma exercise Friday at Schofield Barracks for soldiers headed to Iraq.
Maj. Derrick Cheng, spokesman for the 25th Infantry Division, said the training is being conducted under a U.S. Department of Agriculture license and the careful supervision of veterinarians and a military Animal Care and Use Committee.
"It's to teach Army personnel how to manage critically injured patients within the first few hours of their injury," Cheng said.
The soldiers are learning emergency lifesaving skills needed on the battlefield when there are no medics, doctors or facility nearby, he said.
PETA, however, said there are more advanced and humane options available, including high-tech human simulators. In a letter, PETA urged the Army to end all use of animals, "as the overwhelming majority of North American medical schools have already done."
"Shooting and maiming pigs is outdated as Civil War rifles," said Kathy Guillermo, director of PETA's Laboratory Investigations Department.
The Norfolk, Va.-based group demanded the exercise be halted after it was notified by a "distraught" soldier from the unit, who disclosed a plan to shoot the animals with M4 carbines and M16 rifles.
"There's absolutely no reason why they have to shoot live pigs," PETA spokeswoman Holly Beal said. The bloody exercise, she said, is difficult for soldiers because they sometimes associate the animals with their own pet dogs.
Cheng said the exercise is conducted in a controlled environment with the pigs anesthetized the entire time. He had "no doubt whatsoever" in the effectiveness of the instruction, which he called the best option available at the base.
"Those alternative methods just can't replicate what the troops are going to face when we use live-tissue training," he said. "What we're doing is unique to what the soldiers are going to actually experience."
Cheng didn't have details about the number of pigs, how they were acquired or the weapons involved in the training. The soldiers being trained are with the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, which is deploying to Iraq this year.
"We understand (PETA's) concerns and point of view. At the same, the Army is committed to providing the soldiers with the best training possible," Cheng said.
Disappointed at the Army's decision, PETA on Thursday instructed its 2 million members to inundate the Army with calls and e-mails.
"We're hoping at the 11th hour here that we can have this stopped. We have to hang on to hope," Beal said.
PETA believes the U.S. military has conducted similar training at other bases using pigs and goats.
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9 comments
lenorasherk
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TYPICAL.Some people make more of animals maybe like even pigs than human being.Smarten up.I dont favour a pig over people.
lilrosiek87
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first off, this is so nasty! I mean c'mon, how is this an actual learning drill? I mean, pigs ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than humans. Yes, they might have similar functioning but at the end of the days they are STILL pigs!!! LOL. Can the army get any dumber? I guess not. why don't they use robots/human simulators instead of animals? I guess the us army is so broke that it can't afford high tech anymore. What's next? Crippled ppl and crack babies?
Koebelkids
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What is more important the life of a human or life of a pig? If you have to think about that there is something wrong with you! PETA has good intentions,but are to extreme! "The bloody exercise, is difficult for soldiers because they sometimes [a**]ociate the animals with their own pet dogs." Come on these soldiers are going to be shooting and killing people!! How can any of you criticize the use of animals when you wear, drink(Guinness Beer and almost all real ales and some wine have fish bladders in it)and eat animal products! Would you criticize this training experience if you had a loved one in the war that could possible be saved through the teachings of this exercise??? If you want to talk about a sad life of an animal go to an animal shelter or the stockyards! I am a pig owner and a vegetarian!!!
micalen5@hotmail.com
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This total lack of regard for these sentient animals is heartless and unjustified. Humans are not the only species on this earth with a right to their lives.
Tutamax
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pass the ham sandwich you hypocrites.
Tutamax
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give your heads a shake idiots--to sacrifice a few pigs that you would normaly have for breakfest to save injured soldiers is a small price to pay--remember soldiers died to give you the right of free speech even if its retarted and cowardly.
GrTmt7
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If the Americans need injured & dead bodies to practice on while improving their medical skills why don't they do us all a favor & shoot/carve up each other that way they get a little target & torturing practise in at the same time. Now thats what I call live field training.
GillsNGrapes
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This war is wrong in the first place, makes you wonder who the pigs are?
missambermoo
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This is disgusting and barbaric. Why not just shoot people if you need it to be so realistic, I can think of many Americans that need not be on our planet anymore. We are trying to evolve as a race not regress and I am sure that with all of the technology that we have these days someone could come up with something better than shooting innocent pigs for field training.
Source: The Associated Press
Posted: 07/18/08 3:16PM
Filed Under: World
HONOLULU (July 18) -The Army says it's critical to saving the lives of wounded soldiers. Animal-rights activists call the training cruel and outdated.
NOTE: Poll results are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those users who chose to participate. Poll results are not reflected in real time.
Back to Poll Results
Should the U.S. Army be shooting live pigs for medical drills?
Yes 24%
No 72%
Not sure 4%
Total Votes: 205
Note on poll results
Despite opposition by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Army is moving forward with its plan to shoot live pigs and treat their gunshot wounds in a medical trauma exercise Friday at Schofield Barracks for soldiers headed to Iraq.
Maj. Derrick Cheng, spokesman for the 25th Infantry Division, said the training is being conducted under a U.S. Department of Agriculture license and the careful supervision of veterinarians and a military Animal Care and Use Committee.
"It's to teach Army personnel how to manage critically injured patients within the first few hours of their injury," Cheng said.
The soldiers are learning emergency lifesaving skills needed on the battlefield when there are no medics, doctors or facility nearby, he said.
PETA, however, said there are more advanced and humane options available, including high-tech human simulators. In a letter, PETA urged the Army to end all use of animals, "as the overwhelming majority of North American medical schools have already done."
"Shooting and maiming pigs is outdated as Civil War rifles," said Kathy Guillermo, director of PETA's Laboratory Investigations Department.
The Norfolk, Va.-based group demanded the exercise be halted after it was notified by a "distraught" soldier from the unit, who disclosed a plan to shoot the animals with M4 carbines and M16 rifles.
"There's absolutely no reason why they have to shoot live pigs," PETA spokeswoman Holly Beal said. The bloody exercise, she said, is difficult for soldiers because they sometimes associate the animals with their own pet dogs.
Cheng said the exercise is conducted in a controlled environment with the pigs anesthetized the entire time. He had "no doubt whatsoever" in the effectiveness of the instruction, which he called the best option available at the base.
"Those alternative methods just can't replicate what the troops are going to face when we use live-tissue training," he said. "What we're doing is unique to what the soldiers are going to actually experience."
Cheng didn't have details about the number of pigs, how they were acquired or the weapons involved in the training. The soldiers being trained are with the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, which is deploying to Iraq this year.
"We understand (PETA's) concerns and point of view. At the same, the Army is committed to providing the soldiers with the best training possible," Cheng said.
Disappointed at the Army's decision, PETA on Thursday instructed its 2 million members to inundate the Army with calls and e-mails.
"We're hoping at the 11th hour here that we can have this stopped. We have to hang on to hope," Beal said.
PETA believes the U.S. military has conducted similar training at other bases using pigs and goats.
Must Read?
Thumbs Up100 %
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17 VOTES
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Recent Comments
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1 - 9 of 9
9 comments
lenorasherk
Report This!
TYPICAL.Some people make more of animals maybe like even pigs than human being.Smarten up.I dont favour a pig over people.
lilrosiek87
Report This!
first off, this is so nasty! I mean c'mon, how is this an actual learning drill? I mean, pigs ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than humans. Yes, they might have similar functioning but at the end of the days they are STILL pigs!!! LOL. Can the army get any dumber? I guess not. why don't they use robots/human simulators instead of animals? I guess the us army is so broke that it can't afford high tech anymore. What's next? Crippled ppl and crack babies?
Koebelkids
Report This!
What is more important the life of a human or life of a pig? If you have to think about that there is something wrong with you! PETA has good intentions,but are to extreme! "The bloody exercise, is difficult for soldiers because they sometimes [a**]ociate the animals with their own pet dogs." Come on these soldiers are going to be shooting and killing people!! How can any of you criticize the use of animals when you wear, drink(Guinness Beer and almost all real ales and some wine have fish bladders in it)and eat animal products! Would you criticize this training experience if you had a loved one in the war that could possible be saved through the teachings of this exercise??? If you want to talk about a sad life of an animal go to an animal shelter or the stockyards! I am a pig owner and a vegetarian!!!
micalen5@hotmail.com
Report This!
This total lack of regard for these sentient animals is heartless and unjustified. Humans are not the only species on this earth with a right to their lives.
Tutamax
Report This!
pass the ham sandwich you hypocrites.
Tutamax
Report This!
give your heads a shake idiots--to sacrifice a few pigs that you would normaly have for breakfest to save injured soldiers is a small price to pay--remember soldiers died to give you the right of free speech even if its retarted and cowardly.
GrTmt7
Report This!
If the Americans need injured & dead bodies to practice on while improving their medical skills why don't they do us all a favor & shoot/carve up each other that way they get a little target & torturing practise in at the same time. Now thats what I call live field training.
GillsNGrapes
Report This!
This war is wrong in the first place, makes you wonder who the pigs are?
missambermoo
Report This!
This is disgusting and barbaric. Why not just shoot people if you need it to be so realistic, I can think of many Americans that need not be on our planet anymore. We are trying to evolve as a race not regress and I am sure that with all of the technology that we have these days someone could come up with something better than shooting innocent pigs for field training.