New York Times in Iraq: "Blackwater shot our dog"

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Reuters

The U.S. embassy in Iraq is investigating another deadly shooting incident involving its Blackwater bodyguards -- this time of the New York Times's dog.

Staff at the newspaper's Baghdad bureau said Blackwater bodyguards shot Hentish dead last week before a visit by a U.S. diplomat to the Times compound.

Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said the dog had attacked one of Blackwater's bomb-sniffer dogs while a security team was sweeping the compound for explosives.

"The K-9 handler made several unsuccessful attempts to get the dog to retreat, including placing himself between the dogs. When those efforts failed, the K-9 handler unfortunately was forced to use a pistol to protect the company's K-9 and himself," she said in an e-mail to Reuters.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL18197552200...

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That does it! Friggin' dog killers!

[mod mom]

1. What is it with GOP types and animal abuse? SICK mfers!

[robinlynne]

2. I sure as hell wouldn't want a visit from as US diplomat, if it meant shooting everyone

in sight right before the visit. Why don't US diplomats just stay away from Iraq? Then we wouldn't need blackwater anymore. We could use that money to build some hospitals here in the US instead, or some homes in New orleans (for poor and working people, NOt for disneyland.) What is it 6 billion dollars per year?

[Robbien]

3. Not sure I believe the Blackwater merc's story

A dog got in his way or he just didn't like the looks of it so of course he resorted to popping a shot at it. SOP.

[balantz]

4. Bastards! Their simple solution to anything and everything

that stands in their way. Very Nazi-like behavior.

[peace13]

5. Dogs are very good judges of character.

Who knows what the poor dog might do to protect the innocents. Peace, Kim

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Sheesh. I first read the dog's name as

"Hashish."

[Tejas]

7. the NYT has their own compound?

[Robbien]

14. Interesting point. A compound for a newspaper

Not NYT offices. Not the NYT building. But an enclosed space occupied by the NYT, a compound.

[nachoproblem]

25. But in Iraq you need walls

Mostly to keep Blackwater out.

[scarface2004]

8. right after killing some iraqi babies for breakfast...

bloodthirsty nazi bastard!!!

[Quantess]

9. This would have been a good time to use a taser.

But apparently Blackwater shoots to kill in all situations.

[ManiacJoe]

10. If you do not control your pets,

eventually bad things will happen to them, especially in pseudo-combat zones.

[tabasco]

12. Pseudo-combat zone?

www.goarmy.com

Ask for eleven bravo.

Maybe you'll get a pseudo-Purple Heart.

Strange how you take the Blackwater spokesman's word for everything.

[ManiacJoe]

17. Not strange at all.

No one involved seems to be disputing the facts as presented, why should any of us do so without any hint of evidence to the contrary? I have no generic bias against Blackwater or any other security company, in or out of Iraq.

After non-lethal force did not work in getting the "compound" dog to leave, the handler did the expected thing to defend the working dog. Any cop would have done the same thing with his K9. The fact that the handler and dog in this case are Blackwater seems to be clouding the minds of many people.

[Quantess]

21. You seem to be knowledgeable.

However, it does not state in the article that non-lethal methods were attempted.
Do Blackwater officers have non lethal weapons such as tasers?

[DLnyc]

18. If you do not control your mercenaries, eventually they will come to your house

rape your wife and daughters and kill you and all your friends.

Plus kill the dog for kicks.

And then explain that they were just protecting themselves.

[Kool Kitty]

22. That sounds about right.

Why are these people still working there?

[Guaranteed]

23. Touche. nt

[katsy]

11. I thought blackwater was no longer licensed to operate in Iraq.

[happyslug]

13. Reminds me of when the North Koreans brought in female dogs in heat to the DMZ

Of course the American male security dogs jumped the fence permitting North Korea to claim even American dogs prefer North Korea (But that is another story). In this case what was Hentish (The dog name who was shot) doing ? Protecting the Compound? looking for a mate? Just being a Dog? Generally all you have to do is yell at the dog and he will back down, if he does not then physical punishment (i.e throw something at the dog). The dog will get the message sooner or later. What I think what happen is Hentish barked at the Sniffer dog and distracted the Sniffer dogs. No threat to the dog ot person, but an inconvenience. The sniffer dogs rather bark at Hentish then sniff for bombs (Dogs love barking at each other, means nothing in most cases). The sniffer dog handler found this a distraction and shot Hentish for being a dog.

[MetaTrope]

15. Well, at least we know what was on the dinner menu for the diplomat's visit

[mitchum]

16. Roid rage in action...these hired killers don't mind killing humans...

so they won't hesitate to kill a dog.
Motherfuckers

[devilgrrl]

19. Boo hoo... Perhaps if the NYT didn't sell the war the way they did, this wouldn't have happened.

Careful what you wish for assholes.

[RamboLiberal]

20. Exposed: The New York Times' Baghdad Attack Dogs

It was a stunning, painful sneak attack that landed me in the emergency room of the U.S . Army's hospital in Baghdad's Green Zone.

The attacker: Scratch, one of The New York Times' Baghdad bureau dogs, whose vicious bite opened three deep gashes in my right hand, sending blood spewing in all directions.

After being treated by medics at the New York Times bureau, I spent hours in the Combat Support Hospital's trauma center surrounded by mangled Iraqis, including a 10-year-old boy and a 50-ish man, both of whom were so badly burned and disfigured I doubt they survived.

In the midst of such misery and sadness, I defied U.S. Army doctors' orders to remain overnight in the hospital and, instead, fled after getting a tetanus shot and being x-rayed, cleaned up, and bandaged.

I downplayed it at the time, thinking it a freak, one-off nip in a country where there is genuinely horrific bloodshed every day.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eason-jordan/exposed-the-...

[nachoproblem]

27. ZOMG!

He got bit by a dog named "Scratch."

[Guaranteed]

24. That dog had better have been UNBELIEVABLY out of control.

Like- rabid.

[nachoproblem]

26. Thug-to-English translation:

"One of the crappy Blackwater animal handlers, after failing to separate the two dogs by standing between them and spluttering like a jackass, was unfortunately forced to shoot the other dog because it belonged to somebody else and he didn't care."

Anyone want to lay money that I'm wrong?

[electricmonk]

28. "Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell"

I wonder if she is a replicant?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrell_Corporation