The Dogs of War

By DAVID ELLIS

French forces in the gulf include a division of 1,177 highly trained canines. The air-force hounds, most of them German shepherds, serve as "mobile radars" by patrolling the grounds near French Jaguar fighter planes, according to Alain Colorado, commander of the dog division. The canines, who learn the scent of their human comrades-in-arms, can sniff out an impostor in the ranks up to 36 hours after an intrusion. They have a nose for explosives as well.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart