U.S. military dogs in Kabul evacuated from the city's airport among other officials

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Link to tweet

[BannonsLiver]

1. Good.

Apparently we’re supposed to be upset about this. I’m not.

[XanaDUer2]

2. Good nt

[lagomorph777]

46. Yes, good!

[mucifer]

3. They should prioritize humans

[BannonsLiver]

4. They are

Their handlers were evacuated as well.

[mucifer]

6. Dogs shouldn't be sent back before interpreters.

[Johnny2X2X]

9. Interpreters aren't being sent back

They're Afghani, they're from Afghanistan. Getting them out is complicated, mind you that not all of them are leaving or want to leave.

We've already evacuated a few thousand interpreters, how many are really left?

[mucifer]

10. Not one dog should come back before an interpreter. Can you imagine how insulting that is ?

Try putting yourself as an interpreter who risked their life but was unable to get out with the knowledge that American dogs are getting out.

[Johnny2X2X]

11. Our American troops are no leaving without their dogs, period

We're getting Americans out first, that includes their service animals.

[LisaL]

12. Dogs don't need seats on the plane.

They are either going cargo or under the seat.
Do you think humans should be put under the seat? Dogs are not taking anyone's seat.

[pwb]

19. These poor interpreters were paid very very well for their services.

They could afford to move their families out of that shithole long ago. They have an international airport? The dogs should fly first class. This is all part of the Putin and puke horror show. I don't by it. Get out and don't look back. 20 years is enough.

[MiroJarvis]

48. Their country is not a shithole.

It's about time you people start respecting other nations.

[pwb]

49. What people?

I did not say shit hole country you did. Shit hole to me depends on the circumstances. Presently it appears to be a shit hole. What do your people call it?

[MiroJarvis]

53. Afghanistan

[Hekate]

52. "You people"?

[MiroJarvis]

54. Yes. You people.

[obamanut2012]

20. The K9s also risked their lives, and are US military personnel

Sorry, Americans first, then Afghanis. The dogs are Americans, and are also military. Leaving them there is tantamount to murder, and abandoning US troops.

[totodeinhere]

36. The dogs won't be kept in the passenger area of the plane.

Taking back dogs will have no impact on the number of interpreters that we can fit on the planes. Your outrage is misplaced.

[lagomorph777]

47. +1000

[WarGamer]

13. K9 soldiers are soldiers.

[StarryNite]

27. THIS

[obamanut2012]

33. Yup, they are NCOs

[intheflow]

38. Not to mention bonded with their handlers.

A soldier forced to leave behind a fellow soldier and dog will have extra special PTSD knowing they participated in animal cruelty against their best friend and most faithful companion in addition to everything else.

[EX500rider]

22. The cost of training a single animal can be $20,000 to $40,000.

And they are serving US military members.

[hamsterjill]

7. I doubt the dogs will be flying in first class.

I’m sure they will not be taking a place fit for a human. But they served and they deserve to get out!

[LisaL]

8. Police dogs are considered police officers.

So I am assuming military dogs are considered military officers.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

14. NCO's technically

They hold rank higher then their handlers.

[obamanut2012]

21. They are legally NCOs

And usually are higher ranked then their military handlers.

They are literally and legally military soldiers/airmen/marines/petty officers.

[Hortensis]

25. They are also military weapons. Aside from the cruel betrayal of their handlers

abandoning or killing them, they're very highly trained for various military duties, including detecting IUDs and running people down and killing them, and could not be left behind for Taliban use.

Anyway, none of these should be either-or decisions. We erred in the disruption of the end of this civil war in not being able to save everyone we had a duty to, including dogs. And then there would have been vast disagreement on who that was.

[alphafemale]

39. I think I would have shot my dog before abandoning it there.

That would be a fate worse than quick death.

[Hortensis]

40. Yes, abandoning a pet anywhere is dreadfully cruel, but there is no

chance our military would have done that to their canine members.

[alphafemale]

43. Yes. Thankfully they have changed that policy.

And the animals are valued as they should be.

[Hortensis]

50. I doubt abandoning military canines was ever a policy

of our modern military, but sure; they're valued as they should be, and of course especially emotionally by their human partners.

[Arazi]

16. Offs, what's wrong with you? These dogs are on par with other soldiers

And I guarantee you, they'll be just as viciously treated as any American soldier if they were captured by the Taliban who believe dogs are even more inferior than infidels.

They'll fly in their crates in cargo so no, they won't take up space in the cabin for any of the (equally) valuable interpreters we can get out as well

[XanaDUer2]

35. cats are considered clean animals, dogs are not. I agree

100% with you.

We should abandon highly-trained dog soldiers to wander the street of Afghanistan being shot or worse. ? They didn't volunteer for this.

[totodeinhere]

31. I support evacuating the dogs. Those dogs worked long and hard for the US

military and they deserve to get out just like anyone else. And their lives are just as precious as human life. We are just another of many species living on this planet.

[Politicub]

37. Is this an attempt at public shaming?

The thought of writing a post about prioritizing humans seems cruel, written to evoke a certain kind of response. As if we have a choice, those of us here.

We are all sitting in our comfortable perches, despairing over images from Afghanistan, worrying about the plights of people who are left behind. We are collectively dealing with horrific images in our own way.

Then we have a bit of a respite from our sadness. The original post. It is brief. Perhaps it lasts for five seconds. Many of us love dogs. I do, and they give me happiness, without any judgement. This time it is bittersweet.

Our words typed on screens are ultimately meaningless. Perhaps it feels powerful to prompt a shame response--a bastardization of influencer clout.

Your post did this to me, mucifer. I don't know who you are and what you prioritize in life, but I would like for you to know that, indeed, you jolted me out of a moment of solemn appreciation that people love their animals, and it is good that they are being saved. People should be saved, too.

You should know that it is also good to allow people some brief tears of gratitude before we head back into a sea of awfulness and impotent thoughts.

[hamsterjill]

5. Good!!!

This needs to be seen far and wide!!!

[Bayard]

15. Good!

I hope they go to good homes.

[Wingus Dingus]

17. Good.

[obamanut2012]

18. Good, they are US military members

The "humans are more important" folks don't get any notice from me. That is such a weird attitude, especially for these doggos who are literally US personnel. US citizens first, and that includes the K9s.

[Wingus Dingus]

24. They're military assets. Lots of money and work go into

training them. Why wouldn't we bring them home?

[obamanut2012]

32. Exactly, and they really are NCOs

The dogs are always one rank higher than their handlers on purpose.

[FakeNoose]

26. Those doggies will have a long time in the cargo hold

Maybe they'll get sedated before the flight. The poor things have probably never been on a plane before. Have a safe trip!

[GoCubsGo]

44. I'm pretty sure they've all been on a plane before.

Probably more than once. That's how they got to Afghanistan in the first place. These are military dogs, not strays the troops befriended. They were likely born at the base in San Antonio, where the military dog program is based. They'll be fine. They'll probably get reassigned elsewhere in the Middle East or in Europe, so they're probably not going to spend really long periods in the air. Besides, dogs are den animals. They'll be in crates, where they'll fell much safer than they would be outside of them.

[Coventina]

28. Glad to hear they are being evacuated.

Any ray of light in this clusterf*ck is welcome news to me.

[Danascot]

29. Ears up!

[Wingus Dingus]

34. "Bag of peanutz, pleez."

[Saffron Walden]

30. Good!

[demmiblue]

41. Excellent news!

[North Shore Chicago]

42. These highly trained fur soldiers

deserve being evacuated like any American human! Some of these dogs have probably saved numerous lives as well as they put their lives in harms way to save lives.

Why is a DU'er causing unnecessary drama about this? He/She has Snoopy as an avatar for crying out loud.

[Raine]

45. Good ... for sure the Taliban would kill them if they got a hold of them

feeling the way they do about dogs and these dogs are true soldiers and heroes.

[Hekate]

51. I should hope so