I saw this at Allah’s last night, and was immensely sickened.

Before you insist it’s fake, the U.S. military is investigating:

HONOLULU (AP) – Military officials are investigating an Internet video that purports to show a Marine throwing a puppy off a rocky cliff.

Maj. Chris Perrine of the Marine Corps Base Hawaii says it appears the man is based with a unit in the islands.

Marine officials are calling the YouTube video “shocking and deplorable” and say it violates “the high standard we expect of every Marine.”

Some readers at Hot Air do everything they can to find a way it’s fake, or simply insist the puppy is already dead. First of all, this isn’t the first incident of some jackasses hurting or taunting a dog in Iraq. I’m not vouching for its authenticity, but it’s not impossible. Second, I don’t think it really matters if the dog is dead already or not. It’s disgusting. And I’m sure just about every troop would agree that it’s unacceptable.

As Ace writes:

Hot Air spins a reader’s theory that the puppy was already dead and the yelping noises were added post-filming — so they weren’t killing a puppy, but rather just filming a prank of dubious taste — but I think that’s just the sort of (benevolently) kneejerk conservative protectiveness of servicemen at work, plus the (often useful) skepticism of news and video reports.

I think the obvious explanation will prove to be accurate: Yup, he killed a puppy for no good reason…

I hope Allah’s reader is right, but I doubt it. Either way, the video doesn’t really establish much except for what we already knew: There are are a lot of assholes in the world, and some of them even wear a uniform.

Update: More on the investigation:

Base officials said the video came to their attention this morning. An investigation has been initiated. Maj. Chris Perrine, a Marine spokesman here, said “it’s looking like” the Marine is based out of Hawai’i.

“We do not tolerate this type of behavior and will take appropriate action,” the base said…

The 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment of about 1,000 Hawai’i Marines recently replaced a sister unit in Iraq, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

Marine Corps Base Hawai’i said the vast majority of Marines “conduct their duties in an honorable manner that brings great credit upon the Marine Corps and the United States.”

There have been numerous stories of Marines adopting pets and bringing them home from Iraq or helping to arrange life-saving medical care for Iraqi children. Those are the stories that exemplify what we stand for and how most Marines behave.”