Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Rebecca’s War Dog of the Week: A postcard pick-me-up from Bagram

By Rebecca Frankel Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent Handler Staff Sgt. Jonathan Cooper of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Group takes a break with his dog dog, Astra, after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) patrol at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on April 29, 2013. Over the past four months, the MWD team has swept more ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Willis
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Willis
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Willis

By Rebecca Frankel

By Rebecca Frankel

Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent

Handler Staff Sgt. Jonathan Cooper of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Group takes a break with his dog dog, Astra, after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) patrol at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on April 29, 2013. Over the past four months, the MWD team has swept more than 15,000 vehicles, mitigating all VBIED threats to the installation.

In other news, props to Handler Sgt. Phillip Mendoza and MWD Benga for taking first place in 2013 USAF Academy Iron Dog Competition in Colorado Springs last week.

Rebecca Frankel is away from her FP desk, working on a book about dogs and war.

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

Read More On Afghanistan | Military | National Security Agency | South Asia | War

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