He screamed as he bit the rabbit's heart

[deep]

Commandos provide a gory display at the Najaf transfer ceremony.

By Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Saad Fakhrildeen
Special to The Times

December 21, 2006

NAJAF, IRAQ — The audience knew what to expect when Iraqi commandos took the stage at the stadium here Wednesday with frogs and a rabbit in hand, preparing to celebrate with a bloody flourish the transfer of local authority from U.S. to Iraqi troops.

But the Americans were in for a surprise.

As U.S. commanders and guests watched, the burly commandos in dark green T-shirts began taking bites out of the frogs.

One man knelt, placed the rabbit belly-up on his lap, and cut it open with his military knife. He screamed as he bit the rabbit's heart, then handed the carcass to his companions, who began gnawing away, blood flowing down their cheeks.

The ceremony marked the shifting of responsibility for security in Najaf province to Iraqi forces, and was attended by U.S. and Iraqi dignitaries, including Iraqi national security advisor Mowaffak Rubaie. It was the third such shift by the U.S.-led coalition, following the transfer of Muthanna province by the British in July and Dhi Qar province by the Italians in September.

The show of Iraqi machismo followed a tamer warm-up by counter-terrorism forces from the Interior Ministry. They performed martial arts moves before simulating the capture of a "terrorist," in this case a fellow police officer in civilian clothes.

The gory performance was familiar territory for many Iraqis, who grew up watching such shows of strength, either at mass gatherings or aired live on Saddam Hussein's state-run television. The former president's Fedayeen, or special forces, were known for devouring wolves, and commandos ate a variety of animals: snakes, dogs, cats, as well as the usual frogs and rabbits.

"This is included in their training. It's an indication that they can operate under any circumstances, whatever nature provides them," said Mohammed Askari, an Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman.

But the demonstration was not standard operating procedure for the Americans.

"Our soldiers do a lot of things, but I've never seen them do anything like that," U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kurt Cichowski, who attended the ceremony, told the Associated Press.

U.S. commandos have long studied survival techniques that include devouring freshly killed animals. But it's usually under duress rather than on stage, U.S. military historians say.

Rich Baker, a military historian at the U.S. Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, Pa., said soldiers are often taught to eat small animals such as snails. The Army Field Manual contains dozens of examples, including culinary oddities such as insects, frogs, snakes and lizards.

Baker, who served in the Air Force, says he still remembers being taught how to kill and eat a snake. "However, I didn't get to the point where I had to actually do it."

Certainly not on stage.

"That's not something you would find in the Western world," he said. "PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, would probably roll over and scream bloody murder."

Are we just a hare's breath away from democracy?

 

[CTU2fan]

They have frogs in Iraq?

 

[deep]

a few less, now

it just gets me how this whole Iraq program was sold to the american public

americans (in general) are so ignorant when it comes to other cultures

 

[Justin24]

a few less, now

it just gets me how this whole Iraq program was sold to the american public

americans (in general) are so ignorant when it comes to other cultures

You can say that about anyone not just americans. Look in england in a recent article people are more cautious towards islam, why they never understood the religion.

 

[VertigoGal]

what a comical scene to picture. thanks, this brightened my day.

I am indeed ignorant of other cultures
biting rabbit hearts out= pretty freaky

 

[80sU2isBest]

I am indeed ignorant of other cultures
biting rabbit hearts out= pretty freaky

Anyway you look at it, I agree.

 

[verte76]

Damn. I'm glad I wasn't there!

 

[80sU2isBest]

Damn. I'm glad I wasn't there!

Me too; I have a real heart for animals. It would have really hurt my heart to see that.

 

[DaveC]

I have a real heart for animals. It would have really hurt my heart to see that.

No pun intended, I'm sure?

I would have loved to see the looks on the "American dignitaries"'s faces when this whole thing started!

 

[80sU2isBest]

No pun intended, I'm sure? /QUOTE]

Oh man, I didn't even catch that til you mentioned it. What a poor choice of wording I made.

 

[Got Philk?]

I wonder what a rabbit heart tastes like...

And then I think about the other ones who get the sloppy seconds.

 

[Sue DeNym]

Cruelty to animals aside, doesn't this go against the dietary laws of Islam?

 

[Harry Vest]

Cruelty to animals aside, doesn't this go against the dietary laws of Islam?

Good question!!!

 

[Devlin]

Probably. But then, lots of things done in the name of Islam fly directly in its face, it seems.
Rather like the things done in the name of Christianity.

 

[Canadiens1131]

Awesome!

 

[VertigoGal]

yeah I doubt it has much to do with Islam, exactly.
probably they were just really...excited?

 

[Angela Harlem]

Cruelty aside, nothing. It's digusting, and admiring it is condoning it. Nothing funny about it, nothing to be ashamed of by being ignorant of. Then there's those of you who are laughing at it.

 

[sue4u2]

Cruelty aside, nothing. It's digusting, and admiring it is condoning it. Nothing funny about it, nothing to be ashamed of by being ignorant of. Then there's those of you who are laughing at it.

Agreed..
I'm assuming these are educated people to some degree.
There are many barbaric practices, once known about, and with education of, should be abolished. We know what many of them are and this one should be added to that list.

 

[Bono's Betty]

Cruelty aside, nothing. It's digusting, and admiring it is condoning it. Nothing funny about it, nothing to be ashamed of by being ignorant of. Then there's those of you who are laughing at it.