First Puppy???

[Pirate Smile]

Photo: Goran Tomasevic/REUTERS

A puppy sleeps under a U.S soldier's hat and rifle in Baquba, in Diyala province, Baghdad.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081107.wwip1108/PhotoGallery01?slot=11

/


Ahhhhhh :loveya:

[Myrina]

1. OMG, that is heart-rending!!!

That poor little pup should have a big yard and chewy toys and other cute little pups to play & snuggle with, not an UZI !!!

[TahitiNut]

8. "UZI"??

:wow:

:rofl:

[Myrina]

10. Whatever --- I'm not a military connoisseur ...

Jeez. :eyes:

[TahitiNut]

14. Y'know ...

With the exception of a single outing to a pistol range years ago, it's been nearly four decades since I've even held a military weapon (rifle or pistol) let alone fired one. (A lot of us got our 'fill' in less than a year - enough for a lifetime.) The notion that some basic literacy in the individual (not crew-served) weapons that we, the tax-payers and voters, pay for and engage in dissent and petition to our elected representatives regarding their availability (e.g. Brady Bill, AWB) and proliferation (e.g. arms sales and military assistance) is the equivalent of being "military connoisseur" or "gun nut" or some other epithet is nonsense.

With all due respect (nothing personal), it seems to me that we each have some minimal obligation to ensure we're minimally familiar with the terms we use in political discourse. I know that I, as an independent liberal, tend to disqualify those politicians and pundits who, either directly or through their supporters, assume that I'm even more ignorant than them and use language (at a minimum) recklessly or absent integrity. Again, this isn't about you - it's about me and how I respond to epithets ... inherently propagandistic language.

FWIW, I'm not at all sure what the current designation is for the weapons depicted. (A younger vet than I might know.) I'd tend to regard them as close relatives of the M-16 adapted with a grenade launch tube. But "UZI" they're not ... which is a term (brand) applied loosely to fully automatic machine pistols (submachine guns) and originally meaning the weapons provided to the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) by Israeli Military Industries back in the early 50s. It's a weapon that has attained a cachet due to an increased focus (and design) on urban warfare and close-quarters killing power. (It's not accurate over longer ranges.) Indeed, current uses include Secret Service and SWAT (Special Weapons An Tactics) teams. It's NOT a typical infantry weapon.

But ... whatever. :shrug: (This is a wasted post ... and off-topic ayway. Love the puppy.)

[Myrina]

17. Ok, I'm not sure why you're on my jock but ...

... if that's what gets ya through the day, glad I could help.

:freak:

[happyslug]

11. Looks like the M4 Carbine version of the M16 with the magazine removed

The nearer M4 has a M-203 Grenade launcher under its Rifle barrel. On closer examination the further weapon may be a M16 with a 20 inch Barrel, but I can NOT exclude it being an M4, the easiest way to tell the difference is the stock, the M4 has a stock that can collapse, while the M16 stock is solid. You can see the collapsible stock of the front weapon but not the rear. Furthermore you can see the front weapon's bolt assistance device so this is an Army/Marine weapon not an air force weapon. The Air Force's M16 do not have the bolt assistance device. The difference goes back to before Vietnam with each service keeping its version of the M16

And it is a cute Puppy sleeping under both weapons and a Boonie cap.

[TahitiNut]

15. There ya go.

My experience was with M1's, M14's, M16's, and the M79 ... ending in 1969. I wasn't infantry (or any combat arms unit). (Thank God.) I did like my OD boonie cap, though ... more comfortable than the baseball cap.

[bdamomma]

2. awww, that poor little thing.

stay safe.

[SharonRB]

3. Awwwwww

How cute is that puppy! Doesn't look like it would meet the requirements to suit Malia's allergies, though.

[FSogol]

4. Great photo. n/t

[undeterred]

5. my favorite john kerry photo

[Peregrine Took]

6. I hope he can be adopted and brought back to the U.S. as some have done

in the past.

[malaise]

7. I love puppies and dogs as much as most of you but that

weapon kills Iraqis in their own country.

[bdamomma]

9. this has to come to an end. enough.

[lukasahero]

16. As far as I know, the puppy isn't the one using it

For christ sake, feeling sorry for a little puppy doesn't diminish one's capacity to feel for Iraqi's and their children. If you only have room to care for one at a time, don't worry, there are plenty of us with extra room in our hearts for everyone who suffers - human and animal alike.

[BonnieJW]

12. Allergies

My oldest daughter was always highly allergic of just about everything including cats and dogs. She now owns two dogs and a cat. Apparently, people with allergies become immune to their OWN dogs and cats, but remain allergic to all others. The Obama's should get the dog they prefer and allow Malia to gradually get used to it.

[Merlot]

13. True. Also, the food you feed the animals makes a differece in allergies

Try to avoid dry food and foods with less natural ingredients.

[Pirate Smile]

18. kick