Enemy Dogs

Apparently the FOB dogs qualify as "America's Enemies". There are the two usual suspects, my officially named "FOB Dog" and another, smaller, scruffier, short-legged white dog. Yesterday a new dog made an appearance. He looked like a combination of a wolfhound and a greyhound. He was light brown, rail-thin, with prominent ribs. He had a slight limp-- something was wrong with one his back legs. I noticed him as I walked out for my afternoon PT. I came close to getting my camera but was too lazy to walk back.

He watched me closely and moved off to one side. At about the same time I arrived a senior NCO walked over and was scrutinizing the dog. The dog eyed both of us. The NCO fingered his 9mm and said "I gotta get close enough for a good shot."
I said, "You're going to shoot him?"

I had a sinking feeling in my gut and I had to walk away. I didn't want to see and hear the poor dog being shot. Another NCO with an M4 walked over and charged the weapon. The dog had apparently been shot at before because as soon as he heard the the bolt rack a round into the NCO's gun he started running.

The dog wasn't dumb. I guess you don't survive long as a dumb dog in Afghanistan but about 15 minutes later I saw a group of Soldiers walking towards the corner of the FOB where the dog had disappeared. Shortly after that I heard three shots. Apparently whoever did the deed wasn't a very good shot.

I don't know why that dog was executed but the others are tolerated. He was larger and more haggard looking, maybe that was it. I dont know why they don't just seal up the holes and keep the dogs from getting into the FOB. They do cause problems-- they knock over trash cans and spread garbage around.

Most people don't seem to care about shooting dogs so I don't know what makes me different. I have observed that Soldiers seem eager to shoot the dogs-- like they want to kill something and jump at the opportunity for sanctioned killing.

A Soldier's job is to be prepared to kill, so it isn't too bizarre to imagine that they are eager to kill. Maybe I idealize the concept of the warrior who loathes killing and only uses lethal force when truly necessary. I wonder if it is true that first person shooter games numb a person's sensitivity to violence-- a lot of these guys go on missions all day and then come back and play Xbox 360 all night. Ready to shoot all day and then virtual shooting all night. It must be exciting for them to shoot a dog. I'm serious.

It's like maybe they are titillated by the potential to unleash lethal force, which makes them eager to charge their weapon and get clearance to destroy. At some level I understand that but my understanding is still hampered by own goal of avoiding any situation that would involve me even thinking about firing my weapon. I'll do it if it comes up, but as a non-combatant I will make every effort to minimize my chances...

This all taps into one aspect of my job here-- that we take anger seriously, whether it is towards the self or others, because lethal force is always two quick movements away.