Oliver Stone calls on U.S. military to stop 'violently dismembering live animals'

Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone has urged the U.S. Department of Defense in a recent video to stop using thousands of goats in medical training drills.

"Each year, the U.S. military and its contractors shoot, stab, mutilate, burn, and kill more than 10,000 live animals in cruel and archaic trauma training exercises," Stone said in the video, produced by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The video utilizes leaked footage of a Coast Guard trauma training drill, where live anesthetized goats had their limbs cut off and were stabbed to simulate injuries. The Associated Press reported in April that other branches of the military use similar training techniques on goats and pigs.

According to PETA, 22 of 28 NATO nations use only non-animal methods for military training.

"As a veteran, I believe that those who are willing to fight for our country need the best possible training," Stone said. "Giving them a goat who was dismembered with hedge trimmers is not it. In the 21st century, there are more humane and effective ways to train service members than violently dismembering live animals."

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube on May 31, below:

[WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES]