US army to shoot live pigs for medical drill

Leave the pigs alone!

It sounds like a smoke screen to cover that that the army is taking target practice on live animals.

It may piss people off, but until another animal comes along that displays many of the same attributes across the two species as humans & pigs do, then these tests must continue...IT sucks that that people are distraught over this and upset as it reminds them of their own [dog] animals; but the fact remains that we can't test on humans (even convicted felons) due to protocol laws, and pigs are a dime a dozen. Stop Whining PETA,, you are never going to get your way by annoying people. I am not in complete agreement with this practice of substituting animals for humans, but if these 'tests' are designed to save humans lives in real-life battle situations, then I'm all for it - even if we may not agree with the battle situation in general.
These techniques may save lives in the long-run during the short-term assistance rendered by troops.

Plus, think of all the extra bacon the troops will have. Thats one delicious training session.

"...we can't test on humans (even convicted felons)..." What -- are you suggesting that shooting convicted felons is more palatable than shooting other humans, superfinet?? And pigs are a dime a dozen?????

Ugh. Hope they stop this before it's too late.

have they got bored of using Iraqi's as target practice?

Maybe they should arm the pigs to create a true combat simulation.

I think substituting people on death row would be acceptable. If they are lucky enough to be saved after taking a few bullets, consider it a second chance at life. Bet they wouldn't screw up again if given that opportunity.

Umm.... The very fact that we need live target practice to prepare young men for war is, in my opinion, a dark sign of how we have failed.

Someone sitting in a boardroom somewhere actually came up with this because they had to say to themselves, "Well, now, if we expect more of our fodder to survive these wars we keep getting into, we need to prepare them for emergency situations.."

War pigs anyone?

As far as cruelty to animals goes, I think the standard American CAFO is by far a worse fate, so if you really feel bad for the pig, stop eating pork.

No using people on death row would be incredibly cruel, not to mention you would turn our soldiers into executioners.

There are several pods on this site about how the army uses sophisticated manikins to simulate battle wounds.

How hard would it be to develop new technology to simulate this and leave the pigs alone?

What happened to respecting the rights and feelings of all living things, just because pigs can't speak English and protest doesn't make this ok

I'm shocked and apalled. With modern technology you would think that there would be other options than using live animals. Military technology is suppose to be so much more advanced. LOL!

A wise and funny man once said “if electrocuting a few monkeys for medical research would save the lives of thousands of people then I say the red is positive and the black is negative”

Nothing like wasting one's breath to tell the Army what to do.

Stating that it's "outdated" is outdated. There's got to be a better argument than that. People are claiming to be logical and all about logic can't come up with something logical enough to appease the Army? Instead they come up with emotional things as if that is going to reach the heart of a force that is in a war that has to shoot children would they be carrying weapons for attack.

Good call PeTA. I'm sure you'll fail.

As for the calling to hound them. That's not going to work. That is also riddle with emotional response that won't push nor pull the Army into agreeing with what PeTA wants. No compromise. PeTA is always about what they want and if they can't get it...then naughty on the person that won't give it to them. They hate animals.

I think PeTA is a waste of space as are most groups who claim to care about a certain topic.

I couldn't shoot a pig. They'd scream and it would show pain and the problem would be sever to those that care to hear such and like animals even though they'd eat them if they were served on a plate.

Again the Army. If someone can't shoot a pig then in the Army they shouldn't be. I don't care if they are comparing it to their pet doggy...if they can't do this then it's weeding out the weak.

And before emotional persons reply to me and bring up all this BS that I'm sure will surface I'd like to state that this is not my personal belief. I wouldn't shoot any animal for any exercise, but I'm not in the Army. I'm not part of the Army. And their job is to protect us in America and if they think it's a good idea for them to practice then it's a good idea...until someone uses logic and explains to them logically why they shouldn't and what they should do.

I'm not going to listen to a tearful, fake caring group named PeTA--who loves animals far more than they love humans.

---and by the way I voted it up.

SUICIDE PIG BOMBER RUNS!!!!

i don't care, neither should you. whens the bbq?

War
Yanks Dying
A-rabs Dying by the score
Unstability
Civil unrest.

Lets all talk about pigs?
WTF who cares, smoke screen anyone?

Warning: watch out for flying pig parts

You know what they say about people who kill and torture small animals right?

Well these psychopaths are even testing chemicals on their own troops. Ask a soldier if he knows anything about the "disco hut."

Hey, you know what animal displays similar attributes to humans? Humans!

So... this is gonna make me sound like an ass... but why not go grab some of those Death Row inmates and lifers... two problems solved. (I now see people have said this already... but I really don't care.)

It just makes too much sense... and hey, if they survive they get a full pardon, how about that!

I have a suggestion: Lottery amongst those who voted in favor of the war. Winners gets to be used as target practice instead of the pigs. It sure would make you think twice before approving an invasion. Do you really believe this was is the right thing? Would you stake your own life on it? It's too easy when only other people (and animals apparently) pay the price.

Get a playstation you stupid fucking jarheads...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IUSZyjiYuY

thats just wrong.
what the hell happend to peace justice? this isnt bringing the world peace. its just making more problems, anger, and sadness.
you know how true these words are?
From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight
Singing Amen, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I'm alive
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
And I'm singing
Amen I, I'm alive
Amen I, I'm alive
And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along
Singing Amen I'm alive
Singing Amen I'm alive
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day when nobody died

do you not see how true those words are?
if everyone followed that song, the world would be such a better place, i could go on all day about this. but no one would want me to

I think the time for action has come! All PETA members are hereby directed to report to the nearest military shooting range and throw yourselves in front of the pigs. Don't ask questions, don't think about it, JUST DO IT, NOW!

I think it's a great exercise, the closest thing you could get to performing on real humans.

Maybe our medics should practice on the million iraqi civilians we've killed.

Although this training is a touch on the distasteful side, it serves an invaluable purpose.

If I was a soldier with a fresh AK round in my chest, I wouldn't want it to be my medic's first time at the rodeo, so to speak.

well you dont have to use pigs that could live longer lives without us around

whatever.. i just got done eating a roast pig with the head still attached. delicious!

So, because a soldier has a conscience and refuses to shoot a helpless animal with no means of escape or protest, then he shouldn't be in the army?
Is that what we're teaching them out there? Not to empathize with anything or anyone?

why is it that we have to senselessly kill harmless animals it doesnt make sense.

They're just pigs. It's not like they're shooting children.

It's not even a question that the pigs might remind soldiers of their pet dogs. The point is that pigs are sentient beings who feel pain just as we do, and what right do these people have to deliberately injure them, to then practice sewing them up??? It's mind-boggling. I know people who have kept pigs as pets and say they are wonderful. Bad enough that they have to be killed for food, but here they will be abused three ways, first shot, then operated on, then no doubt killed. What a brainless idea. I thought the army would know better.

feral pigs are one of the greatest threats to Hawaii's ecosystem , and managing them has been a nightmare - having the military use feral pigs is good for the " environment" . what would PETA make of a partnership between the military and "environmentalists / conservationists " ? ( this isn't a new story )