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Army Special Forces: Stealthy, Deadly and Now Handy With a Llama
Washington Post ^ | Monday, February 5, 2007 | Al Kamen

Posted on 02/07/2007 1:14:53 PM PST by presidio9

After the Korean War, the Army gave up pack animals for trucks, planes and choppers to transport troops and equipment. But recently -- remember those folks on horseback routing the Taliban in Afghanistan? -- it's become clear that Special Forces might find themselves needing horses, mules and donkeys, and perhaps the occasional camel or llama, to move around.

But who remembers how to deal with these critters? No problem. Couple years ago the Army put together a 225-page field manual -- "Special Forces Use of Pack Animals" -- that provides a comprehensive overview on the care and feeding and uses of four-legged transportation, especially horses and mules.

"This manual," it reads, "provides the techniques of animal pack transport for organizing and operating pack animal units. It captures some of the expertise and techniques that have been lost in the United States Army over the last 50 years."

Secrecy News, which got a copy of the manual, says it has "not been approved for public release." Indeed, there's an admonition on the cover page to "destroy by any method" so as to prevent disclosure.

The manual also dispels the bad raps some animals have gotten. For example, "camels are clumsy-looking, rather ugly animals, and have a lousy reputation because they are believed to spit and kick at people. This perception is not accurate because

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: hellodali; llamas; ralphthewonderllama; specialforces; well
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To: Calvin Locke

One showed up in the battle of Corinth as a mascot for the 43rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment, but he later lost his life in the seige of Vicksburg.


21 posted on 02/07/2007 2:00:18 PM PST by flying Elvis ("In...War, the errors which proceed from a spirit of benevolence are the worst" Clausewitz.)
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To: presidio9
No relation to

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

22 posted on 02/07/2007 2:00:47 PM PST by LonePalm (Commander and Chef)
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To: LonePalm
London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS)


23 posted on 02/07/2007 2:06:55 PM PST by presidio9 (There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey)
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To: Bender2

There was some new Llama .45s for sale these past few years. I saw em at the local gunshop for 250 2 yrs ago. At a gunshow here in Albuquerque, they were selling for 450 nowadays.

If you still have it, Numrich gun parts has a huge catalog where you might find parts for it.


24 posted on 02/07/2007 2:09:27 PM PST by Redcitizen (My other OmniMech is a Masakari)
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To: LonePalm

Dr. Fernard Lamaze

25 posted on 02/07/2007 2:09:54 PM PST by presidio9 (There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey)
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To: presidio9
This perception is not accurate because

Really? Tell that to the camel that spit, farted and kicked at me. Nasty animals.

26 posted on 02/07/2007 2:16:50 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: presidio9

"Llieutenant Llewellyn? Llogistics is on the lline - the llaser illlluminators are going to be dellivered llate..."


27 posted on 02/07/2007 2:16:53 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Calvin Locke

"The US Army was looking at using camels, even had a herd of them..

****
That was one of Jefferson Davis' ambitions as Secretary of War during Franklin Pierce's presidency.


28 posted on 02/07/2007 2:19:22 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
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To: LonePalm

The credits have been completed in an entirely different style at great expense and at the last minute.

Executive Producer
JOHN GOLDSTONE & "RALPH" The Wonder Llama
Producer
MARK FORSTATER
Assisted By
EARL J. LLAMA
MIKE Q. LLAMA III
SY LLAMA
MERLE Z. LLAMA IX
Directed By
40 SPECIALLY TRAINED ECUADORIAN MOUNTAIN LLAMAS
6 VENEZUELAN RED LLAMAS
142 MEXICAN WHOOPING LLAMAS
14 NORTH CHILEAN GUANACOS (CLOSELY RELATED TO THE LLAMA)
REG LLAMA OF BRIXTON
76000 BATTERY LLAMAS FROM "LLAMA-FRESH" FARMS LTD. NEAR PARAGUAY
and
TERRY GILLIAM & TERRY JONES


29 posted on 02/07/2007 2:19:30 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: LonePalm

"Well, Hello Dali! I wish you could be back where you belong.
Here's another picture."

***
Those watches! Are...are..those Tagheuers?


30 posted on 02/07/2007 2:22:32 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
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To: presidio9

"The llama is a quadruped which lives in the big rivers like the Amazon. It has two ears, a heart, a forehead, and a beak for eating honey. But it is provided with fins for swimming.
Llamas are larger than frogs.
Llamas are dangerous, so if you see one where people are swimming, you shout...
Look out, there are llamas! "


31 posted on 02/07/2007 2:22:55 PM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: presidio9

"After the Korean War, the Army gave up pack animals for trucks, planes and choppers"

I thought that went out in WWII.


32 posted on 02/07/2007 2:28:44 PM PST by SoCal Pubbie
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To: antiRepublicrat; cardinal4

I was playing Santa Claus at the U.S. Embassy compound in Jeddah about 25 years ago. I had the Marines' suit on, and was perched on the bed of a Toyota pickup. The camel they rented was very young and spooked very easily. The parents plopped their kids on my knees for a photo-op. As we were finishing, the young camel took a dump all over my Gucci loafers. I should have put the fake costume boots on.


33 posted on 02/07/2007 2:38:09 PM PST by Ax (The Congress of the United States is now in enemy hands.)
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To: humblegunner; Allegra; TheMom; Xenalyte; thackney; Eaker; Dashing Dasher; stevie_d_64; TXBSAFH; ...

Llamas of Mass Destruction Ping


34 posted on 02/07/2007 3:08:05 PM PST by pax_et_bonum (I will always love you, Flyer.)
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To: presidio9
Animal, Pack, Llama type, Desert Pattern, Quantity One (1) Each.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

35 posted on 02/07/2007 3:24:58 PM PST by magslinger (Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make up something good.)
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To: presidio9
Llamas are cute and comic animals. Who wouldn't like a story about a llama? I am just sick to death of reading stuff like this:

Secrecy News, which got a copy of the manual, says it has "not been approved for public release."

day in and day out. Little secrets, big secrets, absurd ones, scary ones. They're all fair game it seems in a race to publish them. Like it's some great public service. This has got to stop.

36 posted on 02/07/2007 3:27:36 PM PST by Lil'freeper (You do not have the plug-in required to view this tagline.)
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To: Slings and Arrows; Millee


I hope they don't hurt the llamas

37 posted on 02/08/2007 12:34:02 PM PST by sully777 (You have flies in your eyes--Catch-22)
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