Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
As if we needed more proof that dogs rule, check out this amazing photograph from the Foreign Policy website. It's from a Special Forces training mission a few months ago. Two brave American warriors jumping out of a helicopter into the Gulf of Mexico.
On the FP website, Rebecca Frankel does a series called "War Dogs" and each one is an amazing testament to why dogs are awesome and why cats are pointless:
Dogs have been fighting alongside U.S. soldiers for more than 100 years, seeing combat in the Civil War and World War I. But their service was informal; only in 1942 were canines officially inducted into the U.S. Army. Today, they're a central part of U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan -- as of early 2010 the U.S. Army had 2,800 active-duty dogs deployed (the largest canine contingent in the world). And these numbers will continue to grow as these dogs become an ever-more-vital military asset.
So it should come as no surprise that among the 79 commandos involved in Operation Neptune Spear that resulted in Osama bin Laden's killing, there was one dog -- the elite of the four-legged variety. And though the dog in question remains an enigma -- another mysterious detail of the still-unfolding narrative of that historic mission -- there should be little reason to speculate about why there was a dog involved: Man's best friend is a pretty fearsome warrior.
There was even a rumor going around the internets this week that some Navy Seal dogs have titanium teeth. Which is cool, but apparently untrue.
Still: in the debate of Dog v. Cat, case closed. Dogs are fierce warriors, loyal friends, hard chargers, face lickers, snack lovers, and, clearly, patriots.
They didn't bring a cat to kill Bin Laden.
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Sorry Rob, but a trained Puma would have been totally badass.
These dogs are amazing, and dogs are beautiful things, but don't compare German Shepherds to Maine Coons.
A trained Puma with titanium teeth would be even more badass.
Aug '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Slate has a satire of this exact point, http://www.slate.com/id/2293232/
Agree though that if we depended on cats to protect us we would all be in burqas by now.
Edited on May 6, 2011 at 3:28pmApr '11
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
How many trained pumas are in the military did you say? Oh, thought so.
As a veterinarian, I love dogs and cats equally. But living in a household with canines, felines, and psittacines all represented, I have to say, if I ever was forced to go into combat (God forbid), I would want a dog by my side.
Aug '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
http://smallscreenscoop.com/he-man-whats-up/37159/he-man-whats-going-on/
Mar '11
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
I remember reading once about one of the original dogs, a Doberman Pinscher. He was working out in front of a patrol in the South Pacific and charged into a hut barking and snarling. When the patrol came up, they found him standing over the rifles of four very anxious Japanese soldiers who had just that minute become pacifists.
Dec '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
I wouldn't train cats for physical combat. On the other hand, they'd be excellent at disarming IEDs, because they have the dexterity and curiosity needed to play with the wiring until the unit becomes inert. Plus they can step on trigger plates gently enough not to activate them. And if the IED goes off and their body armor holds up, they can land on their feet after being blown thirty yards from the device.
May '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Beauty without vanity
Strength without insolence
Courage without ferocity
Dec '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
My mother tells the story of one of the dogs in her neighborhood being recruited into WWII for duty in the Pacific. When the war was over, the dog couldn't be returned to his owners because he'd been trained to attack Japanese on sight.
May '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
But Rob, whom do you think collected all the intelligence that made the mission possible?
Apr '11
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
They didn't bring any girls to kill OBL. Therefore, men are better than women. That's Rob Long's logic (admittedly tongue in cheek, as is this response, which I realize I have ruined by pointing out that it's tongue in cheek. But these things are easily misconstrued).
Still, considering that my cat snuck outside last night, ate some grass from our back lawn, and then threw it up on our carpet (if you're going to eat outside, throw up outside, is my motto), I'm ready to be convinced. Dogs never make messes in the house, right?
Dec '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
As the owner of three German Shepherds, I can attest to their abilities..!
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
My girlfriend Brandy (always wanted a girlfriend named Brandy).
8.5 pound terrorizer of dogs bigger than her. She once jumped right on to the back of a pit bull while attacking him, although I'm not sure the pit bull knew she was there.
Sep '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
'Bout time you showed up.
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Hard not to love this photo, also by Rebecca Frankel taken in Afghanistan last October. The things on his eyes are called doggles.
Aug '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Tommy De Seno
My girlfriend Brandy (always wanted a girlfriend named Brandy).
8.5 pound terrorizer of dogs bigger than her. She once jumped right on to the back of a pit bull while attacking him, although I'm not sure the pit bull knew she was there. · May 6 at 4:09pm
I used to have a JRT and a pit bull, and likewise the Jack would totally dominate the pit bull.
Aug '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
What if they had to go into North Korea?
May '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Rob Long
... and each one is an amazing testament to why dogs are awesome and why cats are pointless:
Much as I agree with you...I have to wonder if Claire <expletive deleted> in your coffee this week??
Feb '11
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Rob Long
Still: in the debate of Dog v. Cat, case closed. Dogs are fierce warriors, loyal friends, hard chargers, face lickers, snack lovers, and, clearly, patriots.
They didn't bring a cat to kill Bin Laden. ·
I have been waiting for the caninephiles to post this and it seems you beat Jonah Goldberg at NRO. Yes, dogs are awesome in the battlefield but as Trace noted:
As a feline admirer I note, without intelligence physical force is useless.
Apr '11
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Rob Long
...and each one is an amazing testament to why dogs are awesome and why cats are pointless
There are also quite a few annoying and pointless dogs.
Jul '10
Re: Don't Bring a Cat to Kill a Terrorist
Jonah's tribute to the rescue dogs at the Twin Towers is well worth the read.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/205073/cannies-rescue/jonah-goldberg
Dogs Rule