Unleashing the Dogs of War: Using Military Working Dogs to Apprehend Enemy Combatants

摘要

In the El Anbar province of central Iraq, an infantry company conducts a mission rehearsal in preparation for a cordon and search operation to capture an enemy insurgent leader. The operation will be conducted in a densely populated neighborhood within the city limits of Ar Ramadi. The company commander planning the operation is concerned about what actions can be taken if the insurgent leader attempts to escape capture. The Rules of Engagement (ROE) authorize the use of force, including deadly force, to be used against the targeted insurgent leader. However, if the insurgent leader successfully avoids capture, or is shot dead while trying to escape, the commander may lose an invaluable opportunity to gather battlefield intelligence against the insurgency. The company commander is also concerned about the risks of controlling lethal fires in a populated urban area. To mitigate the risks of collateral damage and civilian casualties, the company commander submits a request to employ a non-lethal weapon for use during the capture mission. Back at the brigade command post, the company commander's request to use a non-lethal weapon during the cordon and search operation is forwarded from the battalion commander to the brigade commander. The brigade commander has never received a request to deploy a non-lethal weapon in an offensive operation and contemplates the ramifications of granting his subordinate commander's request. The brigade commander recognizes that the requested "non-lethal weapon " has never been used against the enemy during offensive combat operations. After studying the request for several minutes, the brigade commander turns to his Command Judge Advocate (CJA) and asks, "Judge, can we use a dog to apprehend enemy combatants during a cordon and search operation?"