Paws on the Ground, the Dogs of War

In war, there are substitutes for soldiers. Unmanned machines can do much of the work of fighting men. But when boots-on-the-ground tactics require the presence of men, paws on the ground--the dogs of war--come along for the fight.

War and peace
Dogs have been long employed for their special skills in peacetime domestic applications. Border crossings come to mind. A beautiful Belgian malinois sniffs my car upon entering California. Whether he smells for odiferous contraband or a dog bone, I don't know. But that fine canine sniffs better than any human I know. But back to war.

Using canines in war isn't something new. Used unofficially in the Civil War and others, dogs deployed in war officially in 1942. Recognizing that many breeds need something to do--they need to work rather than lounge around--the military put those needs to work in war.

Furthermore, whether or not fierce fighting goes on nearby is of no consequence to the canines. They've been trained. Their skills are so honed, developed, and practiced that nothing deters them from getting the job done. See an informative slideshow of war dogs in action here. It's quite incredible what they do and how fearlessly they perform.

The hunt
After 911, the hunt for Osama bin Laden focused in the mountains of Afghanistan. The high-altitude rugged territory made the search difficult at best. Caves were thought to harbor the villain. His movement from one to another added further uncertainty. While drones might be sent in to look for the evil mastermind, finding where he had been before fell to the dogs.

It's not surprising that the recent raid on bin Laden's compound in Pakistan employed a dog. Reports recount that bin Laden's presence at the compound was uncertain. A dog would know if he was there or had been.

As it turns out, bin Laden was there and the rest is history. Details of the mission are still unraveling, but I bet the dog on the mission had a say in identifying the dead.

In service to country
And I'm glad some incredible pooches find jobs in the military. There is no nobler mission than serving our nation at the side of fighting men and women.

Sources:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/05/04/war_dog
Decision Points, George W. Bush, Crown Publishers, New York, 2010.