The dog that started it all has been identified -- or so we think. The canine member of the U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 that took down Osama bin Laden -- a Belgian Malinois who answers to the name of Cairo -- reportedly met with President Barack Obama behind closed doors last week. But even as that burning question now appears to have been answered, the excitement over war dogs abounds. Speculation and rumors have been flying, from titanium teeth to canine parachute jumps to just how a dog might've brought down bin Laden. Here's some more war-dog fodder to chew on.
Above, Staff Sgt. Philip Mendoza and his military working dog, Rico, wearing specially made goggles, train aboard a helicopter at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Elizabeth Rissmiller
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H DONE
10:25 AM ET
May 15, 2011
More on War Dogs
There's a great documentary airing occasionally on the Military Channel and available on Amazon called "War Dogs of the Pacific." It focuses on the USMC dog program in WW2 and explores the bond between the dogs an their handlers. It's a very moving film and a tribute to the guys and dogs who served in the jungles of the Pacific. They did some amazing things back then too. Bring a box of kleenex, it's a tear jerker.
SCOTTB23
12:30 PM ET
May 15, 2011
Wonderful
Some truly brilliant pictures here! Always thrilling to see imagery from places in such turmoil and there is definitely a grim fascination to be seen in the efficient of it all!
Plus I love the doggy goggles.
Scott Bass - Parkour Photographer
FAHEEN
7:01 AM ET
May 17, 2011
The use of the phrase "dog
The use of the phrase "dog mecca for all services " is very very hurtful for Muslims. Mecca is the holiest of all holy places for Muslims . It is of huge historic and religious significance for Muslims and indeed for people who give equal respect to all religions. Now we don't say the Vatican or Jerusalem or Bethlehem of so and so. Or do we? I am sure you didn't put these words there purposefully. Such a good piece of work can easily do without these words. Putting these words within double quotes hasn't helped. It is just as hurtful . Please take these words off from the piece..Thanks
ZOOMBULANCE
9:22 AM ET
May 18, 2011
Grow up..
One definition of the word 'mecca' according to the dictionary on my Mac is:
[as n. ] ( a Mecca) a place that attracts people of a particular group or with a particular interest : Holland is a Mecca for jazz enthusiasts.
Get over yourself. You have the right to be offended but you don't have the right to ask the author to edit his article to salve your sense of victimhood. Every time I watch an undercover documentary on what imams say in British mosques, I am offended, but those pricks also have the right to offend me, and I have a right to be offended but I don't request they stop their sexism, racism, homophobia and antisemitism.
People like you really need to grow a thicker skin...
PDIKEMAN
3:35 PM ET
May 18, 2011
Here's your answer....
....."NO"!
PHILOBILE
4:46 AM ET
May 22, 2011
My my, Faheen - poor you. As
My my, Faheen - poor you. As other posters have suggested, you need to get over your sense of entitled victimhood.
"Mecca", in common English usage colloquially denotes a place of such importance (or containing such a rare commodity) that people flock from all over the world to it. There is no equivalent place that exerts such a universally powerful influence, so your demand to find something else won't wash, sorry mate. Those that have pointed out that the delight that some Muslims find in insulting and denigrating western practises, norms and ideals, sadly, also have a point (I wish they didn't). Though, I personally think that two wrongs don't make a right, and that escalating insults just lead to nowhere.
I understand that for Muslims the dog is considered to be an unclean and prohibited animal, therefore, the association made by the author may be a rather crass one, to your world view. I have chatted to other Muslims about how dogs are seen as incredibly useful working animals (as well as being beloved companions) - but find that the idea seems so completely out there and preposterous to most Muslims that they can't geat their heads around it. A shame really - stepping outside of the little mental boxes that we have grown up in is probably just what the world needs right now (and I include myself in that one).
PHILOBILE
6:02 AM ET
May 22, 2011
I would like to add, that I
I would like to add, that I was surprised to read the passage linking dogs to Mecca in this otherwise laudable photo-essay. Given that it is widely known that Muslims generally regard dogs as unclean, I expected more from a magazine like FP, to catch a reference that will cause offense to Muslims. However, my other comments still stand.
TNOOK
10:11 AM ET
May 28, 2011
MECCA
BESIDES DOGS IN MECCA THERE ARE PIGS AND GOATS. ALSO WHEN YOU ENTER MECCA THEY CUT OFF ONE OF YOUR HANDS SO YOU HAVE TO EAT FROM THE SAME HAND THAT YOU WIPE WITH. GROW UP. THESE ARE JUST WORDS OF DESCRIPTION. WHEN I READ THE PART ABOUT THE DOGS IN MECCA I LMFAO BECAUSE I KNEW SOMEONE WOULD TAKE OFFENSE.
BJOHNSON54
2:24 AM ET
May 20, 2011
It's pretty cool...
to see these dogs helping out overseas to help bring terrorists to justice. We've come along way from when just people were fighting, now we have canines with spy gadgets and cameras able to capture raids and document everything. I only wish my dog was as trained, it would be great to have a guard dog like that without spending tens of thousands of dollars on the gear.
CHANGXIA2
6:18 PM ET
May 21, 2011
The picture looks good with a
The picture looks good with a great fashion goggles on the dog. America should also thank all this dog for all the good deeds that they did. I will donate clothes with the help of karmaloop codes because of these dog. I have a dog myself and hope to train it to become a dog like these ones.
LAWSIMONS
12:59 AM ET
May 22, 2011
Dogs have a long history in
Dogs have a long history in warfare but we didn't realize they were now being trained to jump from helicopters! Apparently modern war dogs are decked out in ballistic body armor that can take single and double-edged knives. They also are given further protective gear to shield them from shrapnel and gunfire. As I was shopping using Karmaloop Codes. Further, they are given oxygen masks for helicopter jumps and helmets with videocameras for remote monitoring.Thanks to them we were able to take Osama down.
MARYANN H
6:23 AM ET
June 6, 2011
So Happy...
I was so happy to see a second slide show\article on War Dogs as I absolutely LOVED the first one. And this one is just as cool - I actually like the pictures in this slide show better as they show a lot more of the dogs and concentrate more on the dogs themselves. And I LOVED IT!
These dogs are not only incredibly cute and loyal but they are saving lives. These dogs shouldn't just be given the worldwide brands as just dogs, but they should be branded worldwide as HEROES.
Because what they are doing is simply amazing.
And these heroes need to be implemented more often not only in our armed forces, but in the forces of all of our allies and all of the countries that are a wealthyaffiliate of the United States - because every single life matters. And these dogs are absolutely saving lives.
I just hope they come out with a third War Dogs slide show\article - because these are my absolute favorites - I love seeing the pictures.
And this slide show started off with my favorite picture from the last slide show, the picture of the dog with the goggles - which was the last picture in War Dogs 1.
You did an amazing job Rebecca - and I definitely hope to see more from you! Simply awesome story and pictures...
MICHAELC9
6:07 PM ET
June 6, 2011
Amazing Pics.
It's pretty cool to see these dogs in action. I've seen a ton of police dogs around the US, but never even heard of these Navy Seal Dogs. It's amazing to think how well these dogs can be trained so that they can perform missions like this. I have a dog and a cat, and I can see why they have dogs do this and not cats....mine would just lay there all day. They definitely picked the right species for the job.
Michael
JULIA MIRON
12:41 AM ET
June 11, 2011
War Dog II
The legend of the bin Laden hunter continues.. The picture looks good with a great fashion goggles on the dog. America should also thank all this dog for all the good deeds that they did. I will donate clothes with the help of karmaloop codes because of these dog. I have a dog myself and hope to train it to become a dog like these ones. become a nurse to see these dogs helping out overseas to help bring terrorists to justice. We've come along way from when just people were fighting, now we have canines with spy gadgets and cameras able to capture raids and document everything. I only wish my dog was as trained, it would be great to have a guard dog like that without spending tens of thousands of
CNA
12:15 AM ET
June 20, 2011
I understand that for Muslims
I understand that for Muslims the dog is considered to be an unclean and prohibited animal, therefore, CNA Hawaii the association made by the author may be a rather crass one, to your world view.