Article

2009-07-08 Afghanistan

Donkeys help US Marines fight the Taliban in Afghanistan

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-07-08 12:14|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 we were doing this up in Bridgeport yrs ago. Some of my Marines went through the mule packers course - I'm sure the mules got sick of new handlers every 6 wks as well. The intent was to use them in N. Korea. That may still happen.

Posted by Andy Ulusoque aka Broadhead6 2009-07-08 14:05|| 2009-07-08 14:05|| Front Page Top

#2 They tried introducing mules to the 10th Mountain Division when it was reconstituted at Ft. Drum, but the Army could not find any skilled muleskinners to train the animals.

And mules are NOT animals you can just "wing it" with. There are just some days when they are 100% ornery.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-07-08 14:23|| 2009-07-08 14:23|| Front Page Top

#3 Gotta be careful that the Talibs don't abduct them as 'war brides', too.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2009-07-08 15:09|| 2009-07-08 15:09|| Front Page Top

#4 You mean there are Democrats who support the military?

Posted by Mike 2009-07-08 16:28|| 2009-07-08 16:28|| Front Page Top

#5 It would be real interesting to see who would win a stubborn contest, a mule or a Marine. A real nature vs. nurture stubbornness contest.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-07-08 16:31|| 2009-07-08 16:31|| Front Page Top

#6 if ya go there, be sure and get a burger at Walker Burger down the road. One of the best I've ever had

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2009-07-08 16:43|| 2009-07-08 16:43|| Front Page Top

#7 "And mules are NOT animals you can just "wing it" with. There are just some days when they are 100% ornery."

On days that end in "y," 'moose. ;-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2009-07-08 17:38|| 2009-07-08 17:38|| Front Page Top

#8 Low tech works just as well now than when it was current tech. Mules and donkeys have their own logistical tails, but I've long wondered why they weren't used more in afghanistan, didn't know about the issue mentioned above re the lack of skilled handlers to teach troops.
On a related note, while I do find the "big dogs" robots very, very cool, and certainly a necessary step to ward a much more efficient mid-long temr future development, I still can't help to wonder if this isn't in its present form a very unnecessary re-invention of the wheel... why expensive and ultimately fragile "robot-mules", when you've got real donkeys off the shelves, so to speak.

Posted by anonymous5089 2009-07-08 17:57|| 2009-07-08 17:57|| Front Page Top

#9 we were doing this up in Bridgeport yrs ago.

Same place, B6. The training never really went away.

Posted by Pappy 2009-07-08 18:27|| 2009-07-08 18:27|| Front Page Top

#10 "They can be pretty stubborn," said one trainee

Did the trainee speak English or Mule? ;-)

Separately, what an opportunity to engage in trade with the local villagers, and build rapport, muleskinner-to-muleskinner! Perhaps even set up a small facility where the locals can train a second cadre of Marine skinners during down time. Somebody is being very clever with this effort.

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2009-07-08 18:32|| 2009-07-08 18:32|| Front Page Top

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