Mattis gets bizarre Indonesian send off
A soldier tore apart a snake with his teeth and his comrades headbutted flaming stacks of bricks as Indonesia's special forces treated visiting US defence secretary Jim Mattis to an unusual display on 23 January.
Mattis - whose own nickname is ‘Mad Dog’ - seemed impressed by the show, which also saw police dogs leaping from helicopters to attack ‘terrorists’.
To the sound of beating drums and with their faces daubed with camouflage, the elite soldiers launched a wild martial arts display as they demolished wood and brick obstacles with kicks, punches and headbutts.
The US delegation looked on as the men then killed live snakes, including cobras, and served their blood to each other in a sign of brotherhood. One fighter even tore apart a snake with his teeth.
Nearby, a commando rolled around on broken glass while another shot apparently live bullets at a balloon held by his blindfolded comrade - with one round missing the target, although no one was injured.
An aerial display saw soldiers launch themselves from helicopters together with dogs to stage a mock manhunt for a pair of ‘terrorists’.
Back on land, a dog then jumped through an open car window to grab one of the pretend radicals.
‘As you see, the dogs beat the terrorist,’ a military official said following the show at Indonesia's Army Headquarters to round of the US defence secretary's visit.
Mattis, whose next stop on his Asian tour was Vietnam, said: ‘Even the dogs coming out of those helicopters knew what to do when confronting the terrorist.’
More from Defence Notes
-
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.
-
Haiti crisis forces Caribbean militaries to prepare for intervention
As gangs gain control of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Caribbean neighbours have been preparing to intervene in the failed state, with the US and other partners waiting in the wings with equipment and financial support.
-
European Commission sets out first-ever European Defence Industrial strategy
The strategy set out by the Commission will aim to bolster Europe’s defence industry, foster innovation and strengthen international alliances.
-
Boeing fined $51 million due to unauthorised exports
An administrative settlement between the US Department of State and the manufacturer resolved 199 violations of US regulations including unauthorised exports of technical data to China.