JAKARTA – A soldier tore apart a snake with his teeth and his comradesheadbutted flaming stacks of bricks as Indonesia’s special forces treatedvisiting US defence secretary Jim Mattis to an unusual display on Tuesday.

Mattis — whose own nickname is “Mad Dog” — seemed impressed by the show,which also saw police dogs leaping from helicopters to attack “terrorists”.

To the sound of beating drums and with their faces daubed with camouflage,the elite soldiers launched a wild martial arts display as they demolishedwood and brick obstacles with kicks, punches and headbutts.

The dumbfounded US delegation looked on as the men then killed live snakes,including cobras, and served their blood to each other in a sign ofbrotherhood. One fighter even tore apart a snake with his teeth.

Nearby, a commando rolled around on broken glass while another shotapparently live bullets at a balloon held by his blindfolded comrade –with one round missing the target, although no one was injured.

An aerial display accompanied to the “Mission Impossible” theme tune sawsoldiers launch themselves from helicopters together with dogs to stage amock manhunt for a pair of “terrorists”.

Back on land, a dog then jumped through an open car window to grab one ofthe pretend radicals.

“As you see, the dogs beat the terrorist,” a satisfied military officialsaid following the show at Indonesia’s army headquarters to round of the USdefence secretary’s visit.

Mattis, whose next stop on his Asian tour was Vietnam, said: “Even the dogscoming out of those helicopters knew what to do when confronting theterrorist.” – AFP