Armed and dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina

[Radio_Lady]

I'd like to get some activity on this story tonight, if anyone has the time to read the following original thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x159572

I hope it's OK to bring it into General Discussion. Thanks, mods & admins.

Armed and Dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina

by Mark Townsend Houston
Sunday September 25, 2005
The Observer


It may be the oddest tale to emerge from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Armed dolphins, trained by the US military to shoot terrorists and pinpoint spies underwater, may be missing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Experts who have studied the US navy's cetacean training exercises claim the 36 mammals could be carrying 'toxic dart' guns. Divers and surfers risk attack, they claim, from a species considered to be among the planet's smartest. The US navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes, but has refused to confirm that any are missing.

Dolphins have been trained in attack-and-kill missions since the Cold War. The US Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have apparently been taught to shoot terrorists attacking military vessels. Their coastal compound was breached during the storm, sweeping them out to sea. But those who have studied the controversial use of dolphins in the US defence programme claim it is vital they are caught quickly.

Leo Sheridan, 72, a respected accident investigator who has worked for government and industry, said he had received intelligence from sources close to the US government's marine fisheries service confirming dolphins had escaped.

'My concern is that they have learnt to shoot at divers in wetsuits who have simulated terrorists in exercises. If divers or windsurfers are mistaken for a spy or suicide bomber and if equipped with special harnesses carrying toxic darts, they could fire,' he said. 'The darts are designed to put the target to sleep so they can be interrogated later, but what happens if the victim is not found for hours?'

Usually dolphins were controlled via signals transmitted through a neck harness. 'The question is, were these dolphins made secure before Katrina struck?' said Sheridan.

(Continued at...)

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1577753,00.html

This is the kind of story that is either true or pure B.S. and I'm trying to discern WHICH it is.

If you have something to add, please do...

Thanks in advance,

In peace,

Radio Lady

[shraby]

1. Keith Olbermann debunked the story tonight on Countdown.

[Radio_Lady]

2. OK, thanks. Didn't see Keith tonight -- people coming here for a

meeting with my husband... etc. Appreciate your taking the time to respond.

[Radio_Lady]

3. I must be confused. Keith is supposed to run at 8PM Pacific Time?

Did he host his own show tonight? Maybe the cable guide was off. Oh, well, I guess I'll check his transcript when they post it.

I guess I'm the only one interested in this story.

Unless you are too...