[firephonestival]

Let's also have a moment of silence for the questionably successful WWII plot to fight the Germans with explosive dogs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-tank_dog

It's a good thing that horses have been superseded. Animals should not be pulled into our wars.

[PradeetPatel]

As someone who's completely oblivious with the inner workings of the military sector, is there such thing as an ethics commission to ascertain what is deemed "ethically acceptable" and what is not?

[lazide]

Does it work? Does it fill a niche that can’t otherwise be filled and is considered important?

If so, it’s usually considered ethically acceptable.

See: land mines, white phosphorus, etc.

Chemical and biological weapons are in the few exceptions, and that is generally because they are very difficult to control and use without hurting your own troops as much or more.

[oneoff786]

Speaking of which, Russia is currently deploying dolphins, supposedly

[firephonestival]

Sadly, dolphins are another common target for conscription. They are smart mammals. The ones in Sevastopol could be considered turncoats, having transitioned through Soviet->Ukrainian->Russian hands. They're basically swimming guard dogs.

There is a joke about intelligent apes like orangutans and chimpanzees: they could probably learn to speak, but they refuse to do so out of fear that people would try to employ them.

[jaclaz]

Well I remember a US movie of the 1970's with George, C. Scott:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Dolphin

though admittedly in the fiction the dolphins were trained to place the explosives and leave.

About the supposed use of dolphins in Sevastopol:

https://www.livescience.com/russians-using-military-dolphins...

they seem like a marine version of the good ol' Roman geese:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brennus_(leader_of_the_Senones...

a sort of intrusion alarm.

[jjtheblunt]

citation?