Caine likens ‘kamikaze dolphin’ question to ‘sharks with laser beams’ in nod to Austin Powers movies
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded with humor to a question about Iranian 'kamikaze dolphins' during a Pentagon press briefing, comparing it to the 'sharks with laser beams' line from the Austin Powers films. War Secretary Pete Hegseth also joked about the topic, neither confirming nor denying the existence of such animals in U.S. military use. The exchange followed a Wall Street Journal report suggesting Iran might use mine-carrying dolphins, though U.S. officials appear to treat the idea skeptically.
- ▪Gen. Dan Caine likened the idea of kamikaze dolphins to 'sharks with laser beams' from the Austin Powers movies.
- ▪War Secretary Pete Hegseth joked that he couldn't confirm or deny the U.S. having kamikaze dolphins but claimed Iran does not.
- ▪The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran may be exploring the use of mine-carrying dolphins to counter a U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
- ▪The U.S. and Soviet navies have previously explored using marine mammals for military purposes, such as mine detection and reconnaissance.
- ▪A beluga whale named Hvaldimir, found off Norway in 2019 with a camera harness, sparked speculation about Russian marine espionage.
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Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, broke from his normally stoic self over a question about the existence of Iranian “kamikaze dolphins” at Tuesday’s Pentagon press briefing. When asked by the Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan about the existence of “kamikaze dolphins,” Caine showed his working knowledge of the Austin Powers movies, joking that it reminded him of “sharks with laser beams.” Dr. Evil, the antagonist in the comedy series, laments that all he wants is “sharks with fricking laser beams attached to their heads” to take out his nemesis.
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