Pentagon vows to no longer treat soldiers like animals

Disturbing, sickening, horrifying and abhorrent are words I would use to describe this:

The Pentagon is recommending changes in the handling of troops'remains, after it was revealed that a crematorium contracted by themilitary handles both human and animal cremations.

A military official said there have been no instances or chargesthat human and pet remains were mixed. But officials are nowrecommending that troops' remains be incinerated only at facilitiesthat are dedicated entirely to humans, in order to avoid any appearanceof a problem. Or, officials said, families can opt to have a relative'sremains sent to a local funeral home for cremation, which would be paidfor by the military.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates believed the earlier situation was"insensitive and entirely inappropriate for the dignified treatment ofour fallen," said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell.

It's a matter that deals with the American conservative philosophy in general, which sells our government to the highest bidder, even if the work that contractors do is substandard.