Michele Malkin has weighed into the controversy over the puppy thrown off a cliff by a Marine in Iraq. Malkin insists that the puppy was either dead or stuffed and that the puppy cries are dubbed.
Malkin has analyzed the tape and notes the following: “The puppy doesn’t move. It’s clear to me that it’s either dead or a stuffed toy. The sound effects of a dog yapping seem to have been dubbed in.” Click here
I believe that this misses the obvious counter theory to animal abuse: self-defense. If you watch the video, here the Marine is clearly in full battle gear and the puppy has its paws up in a threatening posture .
Alternatively, neo-cons could argue that the puppy was a suspected IED. There is still obvious work to be done on the spin, but you can be the judge.
By the way, using a dead puppy to stage this scene may be little better in term of the military code. It remains an act of cruelty and is inimical to good order in the service and brings discredit upon the Corp. If Malkin is correct, the Marines woud have to had staged the event, dubbed in a crying pup, and then release the video. That would be like staging a torture scene for giggles. Of course, Malkin’s theory is likely to be explored by any defense attorney. It is doubtful that the puppy will be found and we will have to rely on the accounts of Marines at the scene.