Armed and dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina - Nubblies.net Forums

09-26-2005, 12:46 AM

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.

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.

source

Mr. Blonde · 09-26-2005, 12:54 AM

Beebs · 09-26-2005, 01:04 AM

Holy shit, I thought that would be an Onion article. Of course the Dolphin probably never really picked up the ability they wanted it to.

09-26-2005, 01:19 AM

[ September 25, 2005, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: DJ FC ]

MAGICLIT · 09-26-2005, 01:26 PM

Trained to kill terroists yet cannot find their way home, things that make you go hmmmm.

bloodyfart · 09-26-2005, 01:46 PM

im having a shirt made up with the first pic on it for my fight in november.

Mr. Blonde · 09-26-2005, 02:36 PM

I think that is an excellent idea. Lets make shirts. Ninja, i believe this is your area.

bloodyfart · 09-26-2005, 02:48 PM

zazzle.com

09-26-2005, 03:34 PM

I'm actually going to rasterbate that image as well...

Mr. Blonde · 09-26-2005, 10:33 PM

this image may be what finally gets me to rasterbate.

Repugnant Abomination · 09-27-2005, 12:29 AM

It's a shame Schroeder had to be the one to bring it to us....I can't help but feel it's dirty with his taint.

09-26-2005, 12:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
DJ FC Guest Posts: n/a	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. 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. source
DJ FC Guest Posts: n/a

09-26-2005, 12:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mr. Blonde Spice Master Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,969 Internets: 284106
	Psychedelics are illegal not because a loving government is concerned that you may jump out of a third story window. Psychedelics are illegal because they dissolve opinion structures and culturally laid down models of behavior and information processing. ― Terence McKenna

09-26-2005, 01:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
DJ FC Guest Posts: n/a	[ September 25, 2005, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: DJ FC ]
DJ FC Guest Posts: n/a

09-26-2005, 01:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
MAGICLIT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: city of sin Posts: 2,753 Internets: 10	Trained to kill terroists yet cannot find their way home, things that make you go hmmmm.
	I am all in favor of a ruling class, especially since I rule.

09-26-2005, 01:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
bloodyfart Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: side control Posts: 2,044 Internets: 203	im having a shirt made up with the first pic on it for my fight in november.
	<b>We're here, and we're queer, so get used to it</b>

09-26-2005, 01:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Beebs Poor Sport Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indianapolis / Middlebury / Long Lake Posts: 5,306 Internets: 127341	Holy shit, I thought that would be an Onion article. Of course the Dolphin probably never really picked up the ability they wanted it to.

09-26-2005, 02:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mr. Blonde Spice Master Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,969 Internets: 284106	I think that is an excellent idea. Lets make shirts. Ninja, i believe this is your area.
	Psychedelics are illegal not because a loving government is concerned that you may jump out of a third story window. Psychedelics are illegal because they dissolve opinion structures and culturally laid down models of behavior and information processing. ― Terence McKenna

09-26-2005, 02:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
bloodyfart Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: side control Posts: 2,044 Internets: 203	zazzle.com
	<b>We're here, and we're queer, so get used to it</b>

09-26-2005, 03:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
DJ FC Guest Posts: n/a	I'm actually going to rasterbate that image as well...
DJ FC Guest Posts: n/a

09-26-2005, 10:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mr. Blonde Spice Master Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,969 Internets: 284106	this image may be what finally gets me to rasterbate.
	Psychedelics are illegal not because a loving government is concerned that you may jump out of a third story window. Psychedelics are illegal because they dissolve opinion structures and culturally laid down models of behavior and information processing. ― Terence McKenna

09-27-2005, 12:29 AM	#11 (permalink)
Repugnant Abomination Almost there... Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,979 Internets: 164547	It's a shame Schroeder had to be the one to bring it to us....I can't help but feel it's dirty with his taint.