Secretary of Defense Mattis received an unusual welcome from the Indonesian troops Wednesday.
With drums banging in the background, the Kopassus — Indonesian special forces — smashed bricks with their heads, rolled over glass, walked through fire, and drank the blood of snakes in a rare demonstration for the guest of honor. The highlight of the show was when the soldiers wrangled cobras, cut off their heads, and drank their blood while troops shouted war cries. In one instance, an Indonesian soldier bit a snake in half.
The Indonesian soldiers also demonstrated their counter-terrorism capabilities, as well as their marksmanship and bladed weapons skills.
WATCH:
Mattis, who was reportedly seen grinning throughout the performance, spoke highly of the Indonesian troops.
“The snakes! Did you see them tire them out and then grab them?” Mattis said on the plane to Vietnam, the next stop on his tour. “The way they were whipping them around, a snake gets tired very quickly… You could imagine how much training went into each individual there, that they were able to do that… When you watch a force do that, many small things, perfectly, you can imagine that they can also put the bigger things together.”
While drinking the blood of snakes may seem strange to some, the ability to deal with snakes in the jungle is a necessary survival skill for Indonesian troops. Furthermore, in parts of Southeast Asia, displays of raw courage are generally considered a rite of passage for military men, and U.S. troops have even taken part in such rituals.
The rare show Wednesday concluded Mattis’ three-day visit to Indonesia, where the U.S. is working to strengthen military-to-military ties with the local armed forces.
ALSO WATCH: Manning’s Eligibility For Senate Is Questionable
Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free
The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.