Sort of Alive: inhumane treatment of robots

This is a brilliant article discussing conemporary developments in robotics, particularly in relation to warfare:
"The troops promoted the robot to staff sergeant -- a high honor, since that usually means a squad leader. They also awarded it three "purple hearts."

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/05/AR2007050501009_pf.html