Dogs have long been revered by military historians and personnel (just Google “war dogs” and take a look at all the online shrines that have been built on the web to glorify them), and their stature in American military folklore will likely only grow with the news that a dog helped to snare Osama Bin Laden.
Reports the Sun:
A FEARLESS four-legged recruit joined US Special Forces as they stormed Osama Bin Laden’s secret lair. The explosive-sniffing dog was strapped to an assault team member as they took on one of their greatest challenges to date.
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Heavily armoured hounds — equipped with infrared night-sight cameras — have been used in the past by the top-secret unit. The war dogs wear ballistic body armour that is said to withstand damage from single and double-edged knives, as well as protective gear which shields them from shrapnel and gunfire.
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Wearing oxygen masks, the pooches have been trained to jump from aircraft at 25,000ft, before seeking out insurgents in hostile environments. The animals will attack anyone carrying a weapon and have become a pivotal part of special operations as they crawl unnoticed into tunnels or rooms to hunt for enemy combatants. The cameras on their heads beam live TV pictures back to the troops, providing them with critical information and warning of ambushes.
Your move, cats.
UPDATE: I put together the ultimate War Dog slideshow for you guys. Go take a look!
(Doggles photo via)