The Navy plans to increase the size of its marine mammal programme
significantly in the years to come. ONR's chief, Rear Admiral Wilson, has
asserted that military dolphins will be utilized in 'expanding roles',
including protecting offshore oil wells from terrorists and combating
underwater sabotage of their shipping. According to official documents, the
Navy has enlarged its budget for the programme substantially in the past
few years, appropriating $28.7 million between 1985 and 1989 for 'advanced
marine biological research.'
(UPDATE: The dolphin program was officially shut down in the United States
Navy in 1995 (?) - although I believe they still have dolphins, it's been
severely cut-back.)