Dog Warriors

[monk222]

Apparently, a canine warrior may be have been a part of the elite team that went into Pakistan to expunge Osama bin Laden from the face of the earth. Liz Goodwin gives us a nice report on these doggy heroes putting it all on the line for their country and for freedom:

Americans are fascinated by the anonymous U.S. Navy SEALs who daringly raided Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad, Pakistan compound this week, but one canine commando is attracting especially fervent interest.

According to the New York Times and the British tabloid The Sun, a military dog (not pictured) was strapped onto one of the assault team members as he was lowered out of a Black Hawk helicopter and began the operation that killed the notorious terrorist on Monday.

...

Dogs are increasingly important in America's combat operations abroad, and some have been outfitted with special (and adorable) "doggles" to protect their eyes, oxygen masks to protect their lungs as they parachute out with soldiers at high altitudes, and even waterproof vests that contain infrared cameras that transmit video back to servicemen watching a monitor yards behind them. Check out Foreign Policy's beautiful photo essay on military dogs here.

Bo would've been so jealous of those doggles that I might've had a tough time to keep him from signing up. I'd have to explain about the rigorous training and roughing it out in the field, but I'd probably have to look into buying a pair of doggles for him.







And, of course, we shouldn't forget the Cats of War