Posted on 10/31/2019 9:44:04 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
On Sunday, Americans were elated by the news that U.S. Army Delta Force operators had delivered savage ISIS “Caliph” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi his well-deserved end.
By Monday, the four-legged hero of that operation had captured Americans’ hearts. President Trump tweeted a picture of the beautiful Belgian Malinois dog sitting at attention, tongue out, in her military-issue harness with the caption, “We have declassified a picture of the wonderful dog (name not declassified) that did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing the Leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi!”
The rest is history.
Of course, it’s debatable whether dog names are formally classified, and in any event, the identity of America’s new favorite furry warrior, Conan, quickly came out — along with the heartwarming news that our brave canine is recovering from the wounds she sustained in her battle against America’s enemies.
The whole episode reveals something about my father-in-law, our president, that his supporters have always understood, but which his detractors have never really been able to comprehend. There’s a certain irreverent, populist “realness” to Donald Trump’s much-maligned Twitter account and off-the-cuff remarks to the press. His down-to-earth style is out of place in the Washington, D.C. swamp-world of uptight professional politicians, but that’s exactly what makes him so appealing to regular people.
Conan’s big moment is a perfect example of the phenomenon. No doubt, the fight against ISIS is deadly serious, as was the raid that took down their elusive leader. Al-Baghdadi was no cartoon villain; he was an evil man who led thousands of the world’s most violent, amoral men to establish a nightmarish kingdom built on torture, murder, and sex slavery. For years, he subjected the innocent people he conquered to some of the worst atrocities in recorded history. Amid mass executions and institutionalized rape, Baghdadi’s men executed numerous Americans, and even beheaded an American journalist on video. Baghdadi himself raped and tortured Kayla Mueller, an American aid worker, for months until she died.
That Baghdadi did all this in the name of religion, claiming that God himself sanctioned such savagery, makes his crimes that much worse.
President Trump knows that Americans grasp the gravity of the situation. His administration has not tried to hide the fact that innocent people, including at least three children, died during the daring raid in Syria’s Idlib Province as a result of Baghdadi’s decision to detonate a suicide vest and take the coward’s way out. My father-in-law would be the first to acknowledge that his decision to go forward with the operation put our finest fighters in harm’s way.
But the president also understood that, even at a serious moment like this, there’s something to be said for eschewing a bit of the standard presidential formality. Why not celebrate by declassifying a picture of the successful operation’s cutest warrior?
The Conan tweet perfectly exemplifies President Trump’s approach to interacting with the American people. He’s serious when he has to be, but he’s also constantly looking for ways to cut through the pomp and communicate with the people in more lighthearted and direct ways. The media try to turn every joke, hyperbolic tweet, and dig at his political foes into a story about an “unhinged” president — but that only reveals their own inability to understand what he’s actually saying.
I hope he never gives up his style of public relations. Conan is a national treasure now — and deservedly so — because of it. When people look back on this operation, they won’t just think about Baghdadi’s heinous crimes; they’ll also remember the “purple-heart pup” who helped bring him to justice.
There is one bow to presidential tradition that I can get behind, though — I’ve been trying to convince my father-in-law to adopt an official White House pet for some time. I don’t know what the Defense Department regulations might be surrounding service dogs, but if it’s an option, I can’t think of a better pick than Conan after she recovers from her injuries. In addition to being downright adorable, she would serve as a constant reminder to the entire country of the sacrifices our military makes to keep us safe.
This good girl is even the same breed, a Malinois, as the dogs that carry out many of the security duties at the White House. She’d be right at home.
If that isn't a hint I don't know what is.
From the region of Malines in Belgium.
Next to chocolate and beer, they’re a famous Belgian import.
As a breeder of GSD’s, I can tell you that pedigrees are pretty important
I would think that if she were to have puppies, they would go for a very high $$$.
If he got a dog, I would flat out cry tears of joy.
They’re a working dog. Like GSDs they have high energy and are very demanding.
Also loyal and good at what they do.
She would also be an extra guard for President Trump.
More energy and more demanding than GSDs. A handful and a half.
I love dogs that look like wolves. My dream dog would be a Czech Wolfdog.
Looks exactly like a wild Carpathian wolf!
Well written article. I just read where Lara had been a TV producer, and is now a senior advisor for Trump’s re-election campaign.
I gotta say, for the Trump family to adopt Conan would be a PR coup.
Coming this summer to a theater near you...
CONAN: The Jihadi-Slayer!
[Cue Conan theme music:] BAMP bamp bampa-pa-bamp-bamp-bamp ba BAMP bamp bampa-pa-bamp-bamp-bamp...
He better adopt her handler too. He doesn’t have the time to keep her active enough. Beside she has a team to protect, what about them? She’s back on the job. No one loves her more than the team she’s with. War dogs are a team player. The team is pack, she’s trained to protect the pack. A truely great animal doing her job.
Good idea. Make the handler secret service and have Conan join the secret service dogs program (more as a pr thing.) That could work out extremely well. Adopt them both.
You’re leaving her team short, what about them? It’s about the team not DJT. She’s a hero and back on the job. If her and the handler are replaced and brought home I can see it but her team is the most important and she a tested member and weapon. That’s my opinion. She wasn’t the only one under fire on that raid.
My aunt and uncle raised many German Shephards. As family with Jewish heritage it was a deliberate choice. But those were the most protective, loyal dogs you could ever wish for.
Story 1) My aunt and uncle had a housekeeper-nanny. One day my nephew was probably being an unruly kid under the age of 10. The nanny slapped my nephew. Those 2 German Shepherds saw her slap the boy and cornered her in the kitchen for more than an hour before my aunt and uncle came home. As soon as they walked in they knew she had done something wrong by laying her hand on my nephew. Those dogs are very protective. She was dismissed immediately.
Story 2) The dogs were mostly kept in a dog run with 8 foot high fencing. My aunt and uncle lived in a beautiful home, but across the street and down 2 lots was a sort of commercial medical building. Some criminals decided to break into that building. The German Shepherds just somehow knew that these perps did not belong, so they scaled the 8 foot fence ran down the street and cornered the perps. The police arrived, but even they were afraid of the dogs! Finally my aunt and uncle realized the dogs got out and went and called them back home. The police were relieved, but also quite pleased that the GS dogs cornered the pers. The dog Commands were all in German - which again was a deliberate choice for a family of Jewish heritage - but the police did not know the commands. Few people know those commands.
For those who may not realize, GS dogs were used to herd Jews back in the Nazi German era. So it is absolutely liberating for a Jewish American family to raise their own GS dogs to be protective of their hearth against anyone who would threaten a Jewish family.
Personally, I’m a Labrador kind of guy. They are fun and want to please and seem to enjoy life when they are given a life to fulfill. But German Shepherds are a special breed. They require a lot (as do Labs) but they give a lot back (as do Labs). Between the two breeds, imo, you couldn’t expect greater loyalty - just depends on what you want from a dog.
I understand, I would just wonder if the injury may have had an effect. I also would want the President to feel obligated to get a dog if he is not someone that really cares about having one. Many people like other people’s pets cuz they don’t have to take care of them. It will be fun to see Conan at the White House with the President. Who knows, maybe we will see Barron as well. Something about a dog.
I cannot and will not argue with that. But, at some point she will retire.
The team is important. Getting Trump re-elected is even more important IMHO. The team is screwed blued and tattooed if a Dem gets in. It is very much in their self interest in helping the CiC that is standing behind them and not using them and betraying them. See Obama for an example of using and betraying.
IMO you won’t find greater loyalty than from a dog like Conan. If the Trumps adopt her and move to Mar-a-Lago in 2024, it’s a perfect place for her to spend her remaining years protecting the POTUS. Yes bring her trainer. But wow. Mar-a-Lago is the dog heaven all the stories say good dogs go to...
Since your handle is equine, I assume you are into horses. I have a special fondness for them as well. We raised thoroughbreds. My last is a tragedy I don’t even like to think about, but I loved her very much.
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