|
|
With the United States ready to bomb Baghdad into oblivion, has Washington made any provision to protect innocent Iraqi pets?
If there is a plan regarding this problem, I have not heard it. Before we start dropping bombs, however, I think this matter should be addressed.
Like other red, white and blue Americans, I have no problem with U.S. forces possibly annihilating thousands of Iraqi men, women and children. But I draw the line at killing animals.
I am not sure what the Geneva Convention has to say about making war on pets, but American animal activists should be up in arms about the possibility of our killing Iraqi cats and dogs. How can anyone be so merciless as to bomb an innocent little puppy?
Dogs and cats are precious and must be saved at all cost. American animal lovers, however, should also be aware that parakeets, guinea pigs, hamsters and, yes, even camels are likely to perish if we bomb Iraq.
Now, I know camels are ugly and often arrogant beasts, but God loves them, too. And we, as citizens of world, should do everything in our power to protect even these humpbacked creatures.
We should not be guided by the fact that these dogs, cats and camels are of a different faith or that their hair, scorched by the desert sun, is darker than that of their American counterparts.
We must remember too that dogs, cats and camels have no political orientation and do not bow to any human leader. These are just helpless animals in search of an old bone, a juicy mouse or a drink of water.
If we do attack Iraq, America must make every effort to save that country's pets. Before we go into Baghdad, some plan should be formulated to make sure that not one innocent dog, cat or camel is destroyed.
We must also consider what will happen to these pets if our bombs blow their masters to bits. Who will take care of these precious creatures? Shouldn't provisions have already been made to bring orphaned Iraqi dogs, cats and camels to America to be cared for and adopted out to caring new masters?
Suppose some pets do end up as collateral damage and suffer serious injuries. Does Washington have any veterinarians aboard its hospital ships to deal with such emergencies? If there are vets en route to the Persian Gulf region I haven't heard about it.
And what about this rumor out of Washington that Saddam Hussein has threatened to set Iraqi dogs and cats on fire if the United States attacks? Shouldn't we be prepared for eventualities such as this?
Before we bomb Baghdad, I believe it is our sacred duty to first send in a humanitarian task force whose job it should be to remove every dog, cat and camel--and pets of any other sort--from either U.S. bombs or Saddam's torches.
Anything less would be un-American and inhuman. After all, we don't want to be known as a country that makes war on defenseless animals. Our world image would be tarnished forever. Even Attila the Hun didn't do that.
Animal activists should take a stand while there is still time. We cannot allow such cruelty to occur. It may be necessary for American forces to kill Iraqi women and children, but there is absolutely no excuse for harming their innocent pets.
God may not care about the Iraqi people, but I believe he worries about their dogs and cats. And, yes, even their ugly camels.
DONNIE JOHNSTON covers the Culpeper area for The Free Lance-Star. Write him at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401; or by fax at 540/373-8455.