Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Rebecca’s War Dog of the Week: On the scene of Brazil’s protests

By Rebecca Frankel Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent Postcard from Brazil Brazil has had its fair share of protests these last few months — the teachers‘ protest that began in August, and now the protests against oil exploration contracts. In this photo, taken in June, a protester is arrested by military police from the special ...

CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images

By Rebecca Frankel
Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent

By Rebecca Frankel
Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent

Postcard from Brazil

Brazil has had its fair share of protests these last few months — the teachers‘ protest that began in August, and now the protests against oil exploration contracts. In this photo, taken in June, a protester is arrested by military police from the special unit Chope, during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. In the background of this chaotic scene, you can see one of Brazil’s military police dogs. Apparently, Brazil integrated dogs into their armed forces in the 1960s, " authorized their use within the Military Police organizations of the Army during jungle operations and commando activities, and the Airborne Infantry Brigade." As to the job of the dog in this photo, I would assume, based on the dog’s breed (a shepherd) and the situation (a charged protest), that he is there for one thing — crowd control.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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