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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Critics Beef About Pig Explosions in US Army Tests

Campaigners question need to test body armor by blowing up pigs in Humvees

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(Newser) – Animal rights activists have condemned the US military for blowing up live pigs to test body armor, USA Today reports. Military officials say the tests provided valuable information on the relationship between body armor and brain injury. But critics say the pig-blasting program caused unnecessary animal suffering for questionable results.

"I think the relevance of this is highly questionable," said a Humane Society official, who acknowledged that protecting soldiers was "a worthy goal." "People are not pigs. Is this the best they can do after several years of losing soldiers to roadside bombs?"

Marine Pfc.Jesse Young, 19, of Clinton, Conn., wearing body armor, enters a mock village during a training exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Marine Pfc.Jesse Young, 19, of Clinton, Conn., wearing body armor, enters a mock village during a training exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.   (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
Designers assemble specialty items for the military at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York.
Designers assemble specialty items for the military at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York.   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
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If use of animal subjects in testing results in our ability to save lives or prevent injury to our troops, we're confident this is the right thing to do. - Jan Walker, a spokesman for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

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riffran
Apr 10, 09 6:08 AM CDT
hold on ill get my kleenex, and dab my bleeding heart...rofl Reply
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