Killer Dolphins -- armed & dangerous, loose in the gulf!

[tokosan]

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

by Arnold Palmer
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.

The mystery surfaced when a separate group of dolphins was washed from a commercial oceanarium on the Mississippi coast during Katrina. Eight were found with the navy's help, but the dolphins were not returned until US navy scientists had examined them.

Sheridan is convinced the scientists were keen to ensure the dolphins were not the navy's, understood to be kept in training ponds in a sound in Louisiana, close to Lake Pontchartrain, whose waters devastated New Orleans.

The navy launched the classified Cetacean Intelligence Mission in San Diego in 1989, where dolphins, fitted with harnesses and small electrodes planted under their skin, were taught to patrol and protect Trident submarines in harbour and stationary warships at sea.

Criticism from animal rights groups ensured the use of dolphins became more secretive. But the project gained impetus after the Yemen terror attack on the USS Cole in 2000. Dolphins have also been used to detect mines near an Iraqi port.

tokosan Reviewed by tokosan on 09-26-2005. Killer Dolphins -- armed & dangerous, loose in the gulf! Armed and dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina by Arnold Palmer 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 Rating: 5

[somebody someone]

urgh... i suppse it might be funny if i read it but i cant be botherd so shut up!

[tokosan]

urgh... i suppse it might be funny if i read it but i cant be botherd so shut up!

didnt read

[Lily420]

lol, where did you find this info?

[tokosan]

I have.... scources.

Let's just say I had a small hand in the release of these dolphins.

In no way should you think that my government put any kind of device on said dolphins.

[seedbare]

ha, i guess if your a wind surfer you better carry a thermous of coffee.

[GHoSToKeR]

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/navy/a/navydolphin.htm

[Torog]

I have.... scources.

Let's just say I had a small hand in the release of these dolphins.

In no way should you think that my government put any kind of device on said dolphins.

Howdy tokosan,

I doubt seriously if you had any part in releasing the dolphins..and if you did and yer American,that'd make ya a traitor.

Dolphins are critical in ensuring the safety of our subs,ships and ports..I'm sure that they are treated well and we are wise for using them for such duty.

Have a good one ...

[somebody someone]

i still dont get this story...

just the thought of dolphins swimmin around wit AK47s and helmets.

fuck the future is scary

[Torog]

i still dont get this story...

just the thought of dolphins swimmin around wit AK47s and helmets.

fuck the future is scary

Howdy somebody,

Well..AK 47's don't fire so well under the water and a helmet would create too much drag on the dolphin and probably,noisy cavetation too. Dolphins can apply all manner of mines however,as well as other means of anti-personnel defense,both lethal and non-lethal. Dolphins are a valuable asset to our port security and I hope that they continue to be so.

Have a good one ...