Doggie!

This is coolbert:

This is the type of headline and story that sentimental Americans are fond of:

"Dog gone: Iraqi puppy adopted by American soldier on charter flight en route to US"

"BAGHDAD (AP) _ Ratchet the Iraqi puppy finally had his day."

"An animal rescue group flew into Baghdad on Sunday and picked up the dog, which was adopted by Army Spc. Gwen Beberg, 28, of Minneapolis in a case that highlighted military rules barring troops from caring for pets while in Iraq."

"Ratchet was loaded onto a charter flight, which took off Sunday night for Kuwait. He's due in Minnesota later this week."

A dog, perhaps even a puppy, found wandering the streets of Baghdad, mangy, flea-bitten, hungry, alone, cared for and adopted by American soldiers. A dog finally brought back to America with the prospects of being given a good home! Thanks too in large measure because of the efforts of self-described animal/dog-loving-persons!

There is precedent for this sort of thing!! American soldiers have a long tradition of rescuing dogs from war zones and returning to the U.S. with a newly adopted and grateful pet.

One such dog was the famous cinematic "star" Rin Tin Tin!!

"The first of the line [Rin Tin Tin] was a shell-shocked pup found by American serviceman Lee Duncan in a bombed-out dog kennel in Lorraine, France, less than two months before the end of World War I. He was named for a puppet called Rintintin that French children gave to the American soldiers for good luck. The dog returned at war's end with Duncan to his home in Los Angeles, California."

Rin Tin Tin actually is credited [??] with saving Warner Brothers from bankruptcy, such was the "star" appeal of this "actor", originally "starring" in silent movies!

"His first starring role, 1923's Where The North Begins, playing alongside silent screen actress Claire Adams, was a huge success often credited with saving Warner Brothers from bankruptcy."

"His financial success for Warner Brothers inspired several imitations from other studios looking to cash in on Rin Tin Tin's popularity"

[there was in the 1970's, a movie entitled, "Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood"! About a dog WHO BECAME A FILM STAR - - ACCIDENTALLY - - MUCH IN THE MANNER OF RIN TIN TIN!!]

The legacy of Rin Tin Tin is still going strong. The tenth generation in the bloodline of Rin Tin Tin is active and doing promotionals.

"The authentic bloodline of Rin Tin Tin was not lost . . . the bloodline continued . . . the authentic bloodline of Rin Tin Tin continues through breeding of his offspring at El Rancho Rin Tin Tin in Latexo, Texas. The current Rin Tin Tin is tenth in line from the original and makes personal appearances across the country"

There is too - - a cultural dimension to all this that is surprising? A dog is a somewhat despised animal within Islamic culture? The saliva of a dog is thought be unclean [a dog licks it's own hindquarters]! The animal, unless you know otherwise, is felt to be unclean and unworthy of the same sort of affection an American would give to the animal!

"The saliva of a dog is impure, but the dog itself is not impure."

Muslims, those of Iraq, must look askance at the efforts made by American troops to save one dog, and return with same to the U.S.? Moving a "mountain" to provide a good home for a dog is NOT something an Iraqi would do?

"These Americans - - really must be crazy!!"

coolbert.