U.S. Soldiers Taunt Crippled Dog In Iraq VIDEO.
- Target: U.S. Army/U.S. Public Affairs Office
- Sponsored by: Sylva Penkov
FEBRUARY 1, 2007 UPDATE:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Sylva:
My deepest apologies for our slow response. I appreciate you making us aware of the video, and my staff and I have been working over the past several days to get the best answer we can for you and all the fine people like you who have expressed concern over this disturbing video.
I will try to have something for you tomorrow (Wednesday). Thank you for your patience, and again, I apologize for not contacting you immediately with at least an acknowledgement of your note, your petition and your very valid concerns. Sincerely, Tony Cucolo Brigadier General, US Army Chief, Public Affairs
-----Original Message-----
From: SylvaSent: Monday, January 29, 2007 6:58 PM
To: anthony.cucolo@hqda.army.mil; stephanie.hoehne@hqda.army.mil; mari.eder@hqda.army.mil
Subject: US SOLDIERS TAUNT AND ABUSE CRIPPLED DOG IN IRAQ (U.S. Defense Attaché Office, London)
Dear sirs and madam:
I am gravely disappointed that I have yet to receive a response from any member of the United States Military regarding this heinous, barbaric display by soldiers that are representing the United States.
I created a petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/824381310
that has now reached nearly 11,000 signatures world wide and going strong. Many signatures are from retired and active military men and women expressing their disgust and demanding that action be taken against these 3 men and others like them.
Below you will read a response that was provided by Anna M. Wereszczynska, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Defense Attaché Office, London. I am very relieved that Ms. Wereszczynska found this disturbing and can only wonder why none of you do so and choose to take the path of silence on this issue. It certainly does not look good to the world that the United States Public Affairs Office is doing absolutely nothing with respect to this and like incidents.
Ms. Wereszczynska states that the unit has been identified, so why is nothing being done?
I have viewed the video clip and I have to say that it made me feel sick to my
stomach. There is no possible excuse for this disgraceful, wanton cruelty and
I personally totally support your opinion.
I forwarded your email to the U.S. Army Attaché and have discussed this with him. He believes that he has been able to identify the unit. The video has now been witnessed by staff here and forwarded to the appropriate military organization within Iraq. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for bringing the matter to our attention and to assure you that it will be treated extremely seriously, as indeed it should be.
Sincerely,
Anna M. Wereszczynska
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Defense Attaché Office, London
Tel: +44 (0)20-7894-0745
Fax: +44 (0)20-7894-0726
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Letter from Brigadier General Cuculo.
Sylva: I promised I would write to you again with the best explanation I could offer as soon as I could offer it. Bottom line, finding the Soldiers involved in the four year old video is still a work in progress - I explain this further in my letter below. The letter below will be posted on liveleak.com, youtube, and the petition site you started in the hope, for now, all involved might achieve some level of understanding that we - the Army - are just as bothered and concerned about this as the rest of the fine folks who expressed outrage and disappointment. Thank you very much for your personal correspondence. Letter to be posted follows: To All Concerned: My sincere thanks to all who brought to the Army's attention a personal and unsanctioned video showing three Soldiers behaving in an appalling and unacceptable manner toward an injured dog in Iraq. I've read many of your comments on the internet and received letters and e-mails concerning this tape and am grateful, too, that many of you recognized the actions of these three Soldiers are not representative of the US Army. We continue to carefully examine the video footage. We know from the uniforms and the unit patches the video was shot in the late 2003 to late 2004 timeframe. Again, we know the unit, but have yet to identify the individuals who were present three years ago. We consulted the appropriate experts, who are making inquiries into the matter, along with the unit's present-day leadership. We are trying to determine who is responsible as well as what appropriate actions can and should be taken. Cruelty to animals is not in keeping with our values-based organization. I ask to you understand this is not at all representative of our Soldiers. In fact, it has been my personal experience in 27 years of service, and in deploying to difficult and challenging environments such as the Balkans in the mid-1990's, and both Afghanistan and Iraq, that American Soldiers - the overwhelming majority of all American Soldiers - are kind to animals, in particular dogs, because they remind us of home. On a personal note, there has always been a canine companion in the Cucolo family. Like the vast majority of my fellow Soldiers, I have soft spot in my heart for all animals. The airing of this video has had other effects, too. Part of my duties includes training critical communication skills to our senior officers and non-commissioned officers (sergeants) who are headed to key command positions. I now use this video in that training as a tool to show Army leaders the far-reaching impact of the negative acts of a misguided few. The American Armed Forces remains one the most respected institutions in the United States today. But all of us in uniform know how perishable such a position is: the images of a few undisciplined individuals, the images of heartless acts perpetrated against fellow human beings or helpless animals, can destroy support for our institution and all that we stand for. Every day my fellow Soldiers and their teammates conduct themselves in a manner of which you could be proud. They commit many acts of personal bravery and great sacrifice - sometimes resulting in their wounding or death. I ask all those reading this not to assume those in the video in question are typical of this wonderful group of men and women. We will continue to pursue this issue and strive to see that this does not happen again. Proudly serving you, Tony CucoloBrigadier General, US ArmyChief, Public Affairs
My last response from Brigadier General Cucolo.
Sylva:
Of course -- please post my response as you wish. I want to re-emphasize we are definitely pursuing the matter; that behavior is quite unacceptable.
Please feel free to contact me for further questions or clarification of anything you read or hear.
And thanks you again for your understanding and patience! Sincerely, Tony Cucolo BG, US Army
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR SIGNING AND BELIEVING IN THIS PETITION. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU THAT I RECEIEVED THE ABOVE RESPONSES.
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL!
PLEASE WRITE TO
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
AND DEMAND THAT THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES BE APPLIED TO THESE MONSTERS THAT REPRESENT THE U.S.
Article 134-1 Abusing Public Animals, wild and strays.
Article 116 Breach of the Peace
Article 80 Attempts
ALTHOUGH SIGNATURES ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED WRITING A LETTER TO THE SECT. OF DEFENSE IS KINDLY REQUESTED.
Email addresses for the United States Public Affairs Office provided below the 3 names listed.
PLEASE WRITE TO THEM.
1. CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
BRIGIDIER GENERAL ANTHONY A. CUCOLO III
2. PRINCIPAL DEPUTY CHIEF
STEPHANIE HOENE
3. DEPUTY CHIEF
BRIDGIDIER GENERAL
MARI KAYE EDEN
anthony.cucolo@hqda.army.mil stephanie.hoehne@hqda.army.mil mari.eder@hqda.army.mil
I HAVE RESEARCHED SNOPES, AND LOGGED ONTO MILITARY PHOTOS.NET BLOG SITE WHERE SOLDIERS ARE VOICING THEIR ANGER AT THE INHUMANE AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE VIDEO.
WARNING VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6445f9fdd7
THIS IS A DEFENSLESS, CRIPPLED DOG THAT TRIED TO RUN AWAY AND ESCAPE (ON TWO LEGS) WHILE THESE MEN THREW ROCKS AT HIM/HER. THIS CANNOT BE MISCONSTRUED AS A VICIOUS ANIMAL WHICH THE ARMY HAS ORDERS TO SHOOT. THESE MEN TAUNTED AN EMACIATED DISABLED ANIMAL WITHOUT PROVOCATION.
THERE ARE FOUR NAMES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PETITION TO ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS PROTESTING THIS SORT OF BEHAVIOR. THESE FOUR
PEOPLE ARE THE HEADS OF THE ARMY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE.
PLEASE NO PROFANITY, I WILL HAVE TO DELETE COMMENTS WITH SUCH.
PLEASE WRITE TO:
CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
BRIGIDIER GENERAL ANTHONY A. CUCOLO III
PRINCIPAL DEPUTY CHIEF
STEPHANIE HOENE
DEPUTY CHIEF
BRIDGIDIER GENERAL
MARI KAYE EDEN
SERGEANT MAJOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SEARGEANT MAJOR PHILLIP R. PRATER
AT: 1500 ARMY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC
PLEASE ADVISE THE ABOVE PARTIES THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND THAT THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH FLAGGRENT DISCARD FOR ANIMAL LIFE. THIS DOG DID NOTHING TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF SUCH A BARBARIC ACT.
THERE ARE NO EMAIL ADDRESSES AVAILABLE FOR THE ABOVE. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND WRITE A LETTER PROTESTING AND FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN TO PUNISH THESE MEN!
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