U.S. Military Dogs Get Bulletproof Vests

[Flagg]

U.S. Military Dogs Get Bulletproof Vests

Mon May 10, 2:18 AM ET

By LOUIS MEIXLER, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - On dangerous missions, Sgt. Darren Smith straps a bulletproof vest around the furry chest of his partner, a bomb sniffing dog named Kastor.


Patrols and checkpoints in Iraq (news - web sites) have become so risky that the U.S. Army is issuing bulletproof vests, not just to its soldiers, but also to bomb sniffing dogs to protect them too from roadside bombs and drive-by shootings.


"We need to protect our dogs just like we protect our people," said Staff Sgt. Jarrod Zaleski, the Army kennel master in Iraq. "This is still considered a war situation."


The U.S. Army has some 30 dogs in Iraq, guarding bases and checking cars for explosives. Zaleski says the dogs have uncovered car bombs and have such sensitive noses that one was able to smell an ammunition clip in a woman's pocketbook.


With violence escalating, the Army shipped vests for all of its dogs to Iraq about two weeks ago. War dogs in Afghanistan (news - web sites) already have the vests. Soldiers have worn vests since the start of the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.


"Anything we can do to keep him safe is well worth it," said Smith, a military policeman who searches buildings and works at checkpoints with Kastor, a red and yellow Belgian Malinois, a dog that looks like a small German Shepherd.


Smith and Kastor man checkpoints near the U.S. headquarters in Baghdad and sometimes are sent out to other areas of Baghdad that are potentially more dangerous. For security reasons, Smith would not say when he puts the vest of Kastor.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_dogs_of_war&cid=540&ncid=1473

[DRoseDARs]

1. Not all of them have, ass monkey...

"Soldiers have worn vests since the start of the invasion of Iraq in March 2003."

Way to misrepresent the facts there Louis. :eyes:

[Zhade]

14. Anyone got this asshole's email address?

I want to email him and tell him he's a fucking liar.

[Kolesar]

2. Dogs are northern creatures and vests are going to be hot

Dogs are decended from wolves, creatures who can thrive in subzero temperatures. I guess every poor creature in that country is going to have to suffer in this occupation.

Check out the travel forecast for Baghdad, it will be 10 degrees hotter in a month:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/local/IZXX0008?from=search_city

[LagaLover]

4. So Dingos and African Hunting Dogs

use air-conditioning??

[ElectroPrincess]

7. Rest easy LagaLover

For those fellow dog lovers worried about the high temps in Iraq, rest a little easier folks:

"The body armor includes pouches for cooling packs to help dogs cope with high temperatures" ;)

However, they should recruit the largest representatives of the breeds used for policing (>65lbs) because it's just more weight for the K9 to lug around.


http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/8125727.htm?1c

[LagaLover]

8. I wasn't too concerned

but thanks!!

[newyawker99]

12. Hi ElectroPrincess!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ElectroPrincess]

17. Thank you kindly ; )

Thanks much newyawker99,
The seemingly small acts of kindness can mean a lot to people. When folks say that I'm too soft and sentimental, I now consider it a complement. I promise to do the same (provide a welcome statement) when I'm an DU not so newbie in return. :-)

[happyslug]

16. African Hunting dogs

Are very lean, little hair and sweat a bit (Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes and Jackals do not sweat at all) and large ears to disperse excess heat (Unlike the Small ears of Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes and Jackals). One interesting fact was that Wolves protected their caches much more often than African Hunting Dogs (See http://www.givskudzoo.dk/showpage.asp?ID=613)

All four of these animal are closely related, close enough that if any two of them would breed you will have a breed able pup (Unlike Horses and Donkey who, when breed, produce the serial Mule).

This interbreed-ability is both their strength and weakness. It is the Dogs Strength in that these four species have different characteristics that gives them strengths in different environments (Two examples, first the Jackals and Coyote small size permit them to live in more open areas with less large game than Wolves, Second Example is the African Hunting Dogs who can survive in heat that a Wolf can NOT survive).

This adaptability is also the Dog's weakness, it is closely related not only to the "Noble" Wolf, but the unclean Jackal (and will act like either if it is needed to survive).


http://www.awf.org/wildlives/4548
http://magazine.naturecom.de/text/wild-dog.html
http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world/carnivora/carnivora.canidae.canis.html
http://www.givskudzoo.dk/showpage.asp?ID=613

[saigon68]

3. Did John Kerry Vote aaginst it ? </sarcasm>

That stoopid ad featuring " John Kerry voted against troopies body armor" runs 24-7 on all 6 Green Bay TV stations.

[ElectroPrincess]

5. Perhaps another "slap in the face" of the Iraqi Culture?

As I was googling for other reports on K-9 vests, I came across this Defense Tech article (cited below). I want to make clear beforehand that I love K-9s ... they're my favorite animal companion. However, if this report is a true reflection of the Iraqi culture (tenets within the Koran), we are in effect, disrespecting them by using working dogs.

No, I'm not saying that the US Military should not use them for tracking etc., but perhaps, if this report is true, troops should use military K-9s with discretion among the general population?

I'm of French/English ancestry but I've traveled all over the world to include Saudi Arabia and Iran. It saddens me that we (Americans and especially the "ground troop" Military) didn't make a greater effort to understand the mindset and culture of the law-abiding Iraqi citizens before we invaded their country. :( I'll do more on line research in order to confirm or dismiss this contention.

"Iraqis will likely find the armored doggies doubly insulting, Defense Tech pal KK believes. "The Koran says they are filthy animals. They are not kept as pets," he notes."

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/000883.html

[meow2u3]

6. So should we use working CATS? </sarcasm>

Having a cat, from what I hear, doesn't violate the tenets of Islam....


...BTA, the US would try to get the poor kitties to scratch the eyes out of the Iraqi POW's...:eyes:...and the kitty would say to the torturers, "Meow you!"

[happyslug]

13. Islamic views on dogs is complex, love - hate relationship

In pre-Mohammad days, Dogs were viewed as unclean by the Arabs of Arabia basically because they was little difference between the dogs of Arabia and the Jackals of Arabia (Both were viewed as savagers that cleaned up the filthy cities that existed world wide until modern sanitation came into use about 1850).

The record is mixed as to Mohammad attitude to dogs, he is believed to have kept Saluki Hunting dogs for example, but also wanted to remove the carrion eating dogs of the City of Mecca and Medina.

It is this ambiguity that leads to the two schools of thought on dogs. The first being that dogs are ONLY permitted for farming, hunting or security, the later that this "ruling from the Prophet" is made up after his death by traditional anti-dog Arabia and than attributed to him.

Given the reports of Dogs and people in the Koran I lean to the later as what Mohammad wanted (i.e. Dogs are good, BUT street dogs are unclean and prohibited if possible). The majority of followers of Islam tend to the later (i.e. anti-dog like pre-Mohammad Arabia was Anti-dog).

Please note Iraq is Arabic in addition to being Islamic, so I would guess most would follow the anti-dog policies of majority of Islamics (Through the Dogs in question are "work" dogs and as such not as unclean as regular dogs to Arabs).

Just a little background on Dogs and Islam, something our troops would be given just to make sure they minimize the number of cultural clashes that have and will occur do to having Americans in an Arabic/Islamic Country.

Anti- Dog Islamic Sites:
http://www.geocities.com/muthram/kalb.html
http://www.islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=9803
http://www.worldofislam.netfirms.com/dogs.html


Pro-dog Islamic Sites
http://www.masjidtucson.org/God/animals/dogsbeyondtraditionalislam.htm...
http://www.sparealife.org/fadl.html
http://www.sparealife.org/fadl2.html
http://www.submission.org/pets/dogs2.html

[crossroads]

15. We need to understand their culture

and customs. No doubt we have angered the Iraqis needlessly because of our blind arrogance. We are of the mind that the world should think like us. That is a big mistake. These differences of thought should be explained/taught to our troops if we should ever hope to win the hearts and minds IF that still is a goal/option in light of the tortures! Maybe if we had NOT been in such a rush to go to war...

:wow:

[David__77]

9. Dogs more important than Iraqi women and children.

The US view of human rights is interesting.

[daleo]

10. Using dogs to terrorize prisoners has increased the need for this

I would imagine that the reputation of U.S. military dogs is not too great in Iraq, especially after the photos of dogs attacking prisoners came out. No wonder they are being shot in drive by shootings. I notice the article carefully sidesteps the role of dogs in prisons. One man's best friend can be another man's worst enemy.

[rocktivity]

11. I hope this means that the US soliders

ALSO now have the bulletproof vests and armor they need...

:headbang:
rocknation