U.S. Soldier Shoots Tiger at Baghdad Zoo

[Chewbacca]

WTF????? This is ridiculous
Story

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A U.S. soldier shot and killed a tiger at the Baghdad zoo after it bit another soldier who had reached through the bars of its cage to feed it, a zoo security guard said Saturday. The soldiers had been drinking beer when they entered the zoo Thursday night after it closed, said the guard, Zuhair Abdul-Majeed. "He was drunk," Abdul-Majeed said of the bitten soldier. After the man was bit, the other American shot the tiger three times in the head and killed it, Abdul-Majeed told The Associated Press. It was impossible to reach the U.S. military spokesman's office because the telephones have not worked for three days. The zoo reopened July 20, three months after Baghdad was captured by the Americans. It had 1.5 million visitors in 2001 but hit hard times more recently. Saddam Hussein closed it for renovation last year, and it was scheduled to reopen on April 7 with a $27 million facelift. Instead, on that day, American troops were on the outskirts of Baghdad, and Iraqi fighters had booted the zookeepers from the park, setting up defensive positions among the cages. When zoo workers returned a week later, some animals lay dead in their cages, others had escaped when mortar rounds blasted open the bars, and yet others had been looted. Some wild animals roamed the park freely, including a bear that mauled and partially ate three civilians, and three lions that were shot to death when they tried to pounce on a contingent of invading American soldiers. Since then, the surviving animals have been nursed back to health, and more animals have been brought in from a small private zoo across town and from the private zoos found in the palaces of Saddam's family.

[Djinn Raffo]

whoa your fast, i posted the same thing then deleted.. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I like the part about them showing up drinking beers. Still, imo, i guess if anyone is stupid enough to try and hand feed a tiger they must be stupid enough to shoot one, in a zoo.. Bastards.

I hope the shitiot that did this gets fired.

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Djinn Raffo: whoa your fast, i posted the same thing then deleted.. [img]smile.gif[/img] I like the part about them showing up drinking beers. Still, imo, i guess if anyone is stupid enough to try and hand feed a tiger they must be stupid enough to shoot one, in a zoo.. Bastards. I hope the shitiot that did this gets fired.

Fired is the most lenient punishment I can fathom. I wonder what they would get stateside for these antics? Probably jail and/or a dishonorable discharge.

On top of all the tragedy that occured at the zoo, now this. Makes me angry and makes me sad.

[Djinn Raffo]

It's a strange thing with troops dead, civilians dead, kids with legs blown off etc etc. It's the story about a few dicktrees killing a bloody tiger that really pisses me off.

[johnny]

Very stupid indeed. Do they still have lions in that zoo ? Perhaps they should feed that triggerhappy idiot to them.

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Djinn Raffo: It's a strange thing with troops dead, civilians dead, kids with legs blown off etc etc. It's the story about a few dicktrees killing a bloody tiger that really pisses me off.

I hear ya, It just so damn irresponible and unbecoming of a professional soldier. Freakin mess!

[Djinn Raffo]

How audacious. You're out there having a couple beers.. gettin hammered, that's great.. and then you decide to hand feed a tiger like a rabbit eating a carrot out of your hand. You stupid idiot. To have your friend bail you out by shooting this ultimate predator off of your arm with your hand in it's gaping sharp maw.. How stupid can you be.

[Djinn Raffo]

Originally posted by johnny: Very stupid indeed. Do they still have lions in that zoo ? Perhaps they should feed that triggerhappy idiot to them.

4 Lions were shot that had escaped from the Baghdad zoo. But that is a situation where these lethal hungry things have escaped and who knows what mayhem they could unleash. Dickhead wasn't trying to see if they could drink beer from a saucer.

edit> that episode was at an earlier time than the beach party Bhagdad zoo though.

[ 09-21-2003, 05:42 AM: Message edited by: Djinn Raffo ]

[Felix The Assassin]

Hmm, very interesting. There is nothing about this on the offical Army news site. I've never heard of this newsday, so I guess it falls in with "other" sources. A search only brings up news sources that I have never heard of, does not mean they are not credible, BUT, it seems to be the same story, and nothing else to back it.

Anyhow, General Order Number 1 over there is.
"There will be no alcoholic consumption of any type by any memeber of the Armed Forces of the United States of America."

So, for those of you who have possibly sent stuff to that region, this is a General Officer Order, which is punishable by General Officer Court Martial. Which means jail, dishonorable discharge, felony record, and the list goes on.

Did it happen? Don't know, there is nothing on the offical Army channels at the moment, nor on any major news link.

Could it happen? Yes, these are your sons and daughters over there, doing 12 month tours, most are active duty, a few are reserve and guard.

My question is, where did the alleged beer come from?

Felix

[Djinn Raffo]

yeah, 'other sources' full quote. (The Associated Press).