posted on December 9, 2003 03:43:03 PM new
LONDON (AP) - Buster, a 6-year-old Springer spaniel, earned more than a pat on the head Tuesday when he was awarded Britain's highest animal bravery medal for his role in breaking a resistance cell in Iraq.
The British army canine received the Dickin Medal at a ceremony at London's Imperial Museum for discovering a cache of weapons and explosives in Safwan, southern Iraq, in March.
Buster's handler, Sgt. Danny Morgan, said the building was thought to be the headquarters of extremists responsible for attacks on British forces, but that soldiers searching it had found nothing.
He said Buster, however, persisted, eventually stopping and staring at a wardrobe. When the wardrobe was moved a piece of tin fell from the back, revealing a cavity.
Inside were Russian AK47 assault rifles, a pistol, six grenades, ammunition, 4.4 pounds of cocaine and propaganda material.
Morgan, 38, who is based at the military dogs' training school in Aldershot, southern England, said it was "fantastic" for Buster to be recognized for succeeding where humans had failed.
"It is such an honor, not just for Buster, for myself and the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, but also for all the dogs that were deployed" in Iraq, Morgan said.
The medal was presented by Princess Alexandra, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and patron of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. The charity's founder, Maria Dickin, created the medal in 1943 to honor animals that served with distinction with British forces during World War II.
Buster is the 60th recipient of the award, which has been given to 32 World War II carrier pigeons, 23 dogs, three horses and a ship's cat.
posted on December 9, 2003 05:22:27 PM new
What does it have to do with the French? Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on December 9, 2003 05:43:13 PM newBeef Jerkie increases IQ.
Dog regularly rewarded to achieve results, with beef jerkie, inspired soldiers to move wardrobe after they had failed to do so, in their search for weapons.
New call for beef jerkie to be supplied to ‘intelligence’ gathering troops in the anticipation that it will facilitate their performance and enable them to recognise wardrobes as man made obstacles.
posted on December 9, 2003 06:02:50 PM newDUUUh. How much did the French army participate in IRAQ?
To quote: "DUUUh." French absence in Iraq had nothing to do with bravery or the lack thereof. They didn't wish to take part in this war & had the balls--er, audacity--to say "no" to US pressure.
Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on December 9, 2003 06:42:56 PM new
Reading the responses above, this blatant (to most) attempt at levity is beyond the level of comprehension of the two of you.
"Another plague upon the land, as devastating as the locusts God loosed on the Egyptians, is "Political Correctness.'" --Charlton Heston
posted on December 9, 2003 06:47:09 PM new
Perhaps if you had actually said something humorous...? Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on December 9, 2003 09:04:26 PM new
Won't be anything to give if our military keeps on appointing ex-members of Saddam's enforcers to the "new" police. Won't take long for things to go back to the way they were before we 'liberated' Iraq. Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on December 10, 2003 04:50:02 AM new
So just because they were members of the ex-regime party they no longer can serve a purpose to better the country?
This same resoning is the reason it took so long to rebuild Germany after the war...
But my how we can complain about the time it is taking LOL
posted on December 10, 2003 05:38:44 AM new
Yes, and some complain about our even going into their homes at all, to see if they have the weapons to use on our troops.
says, "French not brave".
