Dog bombs 'biggest danger' to Iraq troops

[sabra]

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http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/dog-bombs-biggest-danger-to-iraq-troops/2005/08/01/1122748579830.html?oneclick=true

Dog bombs 'biggest danger' to Iraq troops

Coalition troops in Iraq have been warned not to run over or shoot stray dogs they see watching them from the roadside because they may be cut-out shapes hiding a home-made bomb.

Explosives experts say insurgents have created bombs with the trigger mechanisms hidden behind these fake dogs. Stray dogs roam in endless numbers in Iraq.

The terrorists have apparently used florescent tape to create eyes in their canine cut-outs to make them look more realistic in a vehicle's headlights.

The device includes two metal plates that, when hit by a bullet or the wheel of a truck, are jammed together, closing an electric circuit and setting off the bomb. Coalition soldiers say the dog bombs are the biggest threat they face in Iraq.

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[Odonata]

1. wtf?

They had to warn the troops not to shoot at or run over dogs?

[malmapus]

11. Running over is kinda understandable

When doing a convoy in a particularly hostile area, you don't stop for shit really. Its a sad truth, but its not like guys go out of their way to hit animals.

Shooting at, yeah WTF is up with that.

[NickB79]

17. The official line is that the dogs carry rabies

And were feeding on dead bodies in Fallujah and other bombed-out cities we created. Therefore, they were deemed a health hazard (like US bullets and bombs AREN'T a health hazard).

[Up2Late]

14. Frontline caught one of these Dog Shootings back in 2003 or 2004

The Dog was making a lot of noise, then you hear a shot, Dog yelp, then hobble away.

Then you see the dogs owner walk up finding their Dog near death. It's very sad.

[phusion]

2. They have to be warned?

Who goes around shooting or running over stray dogs?

Bastards.

[54anickel]

3. The troops must have the reputation for some "sporting event" with

stray dogs or something. Why else would the "insurgents" figure dogs as a damned good bait?

[evolved Anarchopunk]

5. our troops do. there are some heartbreaking videos out there

to prove it in fact.... i know, a few bad apples right.... well our whole fucking service is starting to spoil.....

[astonamous]

13. I've seen the video...

http://usmilitarykillsdogs.allsupportgroup.info/

[pretzel4gore]

7. dick hickock

along with perry smith, they were the killers in 'In Cold Blood'...while driving around, dick liked to 'door' stray dogs he saw on the highway....

[bemildred]

4. Somehow I doubt this is the "biggest danger". nt

[happyslug]

6. So when will the Iraqis start to use Real Dog Bombs.

During Operation Barbarossa (The German Invasion of Russia) as the German troops approached Moscow they started to run across "Dog Bombs". These were dogs who had been raised from pups to find food underneath tank engines. The Russians than would take the dogs, strap bombs with magnetic detonators onto the dogs and release the dogs near German tanks. The Russians took out many a German Tank with this technique. This forced the Germans to shoot any Dogs they saw.

If the Iraqis would combine the use of fake dogs to discourage American Shooting dogs with the use of such Dog Bombs, you may see more and more american armor going up in flames.

Remember the weakest Armor on most Vehicles is underneath the vehicle. While tanks tracks tend to be well armored (In case they hit a mine) the rest of the undercarriage has minimal armor. The dog bombs would blow up NOT under the tracks but under the undercarriage. Frightening prospect.

[bill]

9. re: "So when will the Iraqis start to use Real Dog Bombs."

The practice of dog bombs was short lived since, on the battlefield, the dogs ran under any tank they found - Nazi or Russian.

[happyslug]

16. How many tanks do the Iraqis have?????

The answer is NONE, thus the only thing the Iraqis have to worry about is Civilian cars, and with the gas shortage In Iraq, less and less of a problem.

[mike923]

21. Keep thinking....

the Russians trained these dogs from puppies. The Insurgents, i'm pretty sure, do not have facilities to train puppies.

[happyslug]

25. Raised under a truck with the engine on for six months?

The dog's food was under the engine compartment of the truck. That is all the training the Russian did, the Iraqis can do the same (If the Iraqi can overcome the traditional Arab disdain for dogs (which is related to dogs eating carrion than any real hatred of dogs). Simple and effective (with some dogs running under Civilian cars, but the Iraqis are already killing Civilians with their human suicide bombers why treat dogs any better?

[Pert_UK]

8. I call shennanigans......complete load of old bollucks.

Aside from anything else, there is The Day Today sketch about bomb dogs....

"The Day Today report on the IRA's use of bomb dogs in London, including the cordoning off of a man who was thought to have eaten a bomb dog"

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=11312

a) I'm sure there are a million more dangerous things for troops in Iraq
b) There must be a FAR easier way of boobytrapping things, unless US troops really do spend all their time shooting and running over stray dogs.

[NNN0LHI]

10. I am with you. I had my hip boots on soon as I read the headline...

...because the shit was getting so deep.

Don

[thebigidea]

20. gawd, where's Chris Morris when you need him!

Agh, making Nathan Barley series 2! someone get Armando to have an intervention with him - stop him before its too late!

[Kelvin Mace]

12. Sounds like the start of an urban legend.

[BrotherBuzz]

15. My Karma ran over your Dogma?

I guess this gives Shakespeare's line in Hamlet, "Hoisted by one's own petard" a new dimension.

[Chicago Democrat]

18. Buzzbro!

most excellent

[BrotherBuzz]

23. Party on, dude!

and remember, "Be excellent to each other!"

[daleo]

19. I recall an article about "real" dog bombs some time back on DU

Maybe those articles were really referring to these alleged cut-out dog bombs. Or, perhaps the insurgents had really blew up some actual dogs with "dog bombs", to get U.S. forces to start shooting strays as a defensive measure. They then turned that tactic against them, with the cut-out dog bombs.

Or, it is all just military urban legend stuff.

[obxhead]

22. the "biggest danger" to our troops

is shrub and his administration.

[henslee]

24. klink.

[WhiteTara]

26. this "war" is turning these kids into non humans

don't run over the dog. Holy F*cking Sh*t! Don't they have enough to kill without bringing the dogs into it?