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Article: Pussies on the parallel: Korea's frontline felines.
- Article from:
- Esprit de Corps
- Article date:
- August 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 S.R. Taylor Publishing. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Unlike their canine equivalents, whose military exploits are extolled in print and film, cats have had rather a poor press in military history. Nevertheless, their role has been significant in many wars.
One of the earliest records of tactical use of domestic cats occurred in the Second Millennium BC, when the Assyrians were the scourge of the Middle East. In one of their major battles with the Egyptians, the attackers drove a horde of felines ahead of their assaulting troops. The Egyptians, who regarded the cats as sacred reincarnations of their gods, refused to do anything to harm the animals, and fled, leaving the field to their enemies.
Later, cats ...