Comments on: A Brief History of PMC’s http://www.privatemilitaryherald.com/2009/04/23/a-brief-history-of-pmcs/ News, analysis and commentary from the world of private security. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:56:51 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Feral Jundi http://www.privatemilitaryherald.com/2009/04/23/a-brief-history-of-pmcs/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Feral Jundi Sat, 02 May 2009 03:00:10 +0000 http://www.privatemilitaryherald.com/?p=150#comment-5 Thanks for clearing up the record Eeben, and maybe this author would like to come on to the site and maybe apologize or something? There really is no reason for authors and journalists to not contact you and do a quick fact check, just out of respect for the truth. Especially since you are openly conversing on a blog and sites like this, for all the world to read. Cheers. Thanks for clearing up the record Eeben, and maybe this author would like to come on to the site and maybe apologize or something? There really is no reason for authors and journalists to not contact you and do a quick fact check, just out of respect for the truth. Especially since you are openly conversing on a blog and sites like this, for all the world to read. Cheers.

]]> By: Eeben Barlow http://www.privatemilitaryherald.com/2009/04/23/a-brief-history-of-pmcs/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Eeben Barlow Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:25:12 +0000 http://www.privatemilitaryherald.com/?p=150#comment-3 Whereas the author has gone to some length to research his subject, he has made several glaring errors. It is these errors that make me wonder how accurate the rest of his book will be: 1. Having served with 32 Bn and having met those who opposed us on the battlefield, ie the Angolan Armed Forces, there was never any loathing towards 32 Bn but the utmost respect. 2. EO never manipulated the media. Indeed, the media, had the author done his research, were used and manipulated by several individuals.corporations/agencies/organisations and it was the media that stood in the forefront of the disinformation campaign against EO. 3. EO never placed any add, let alone in SoF. Again, the author, if he was writing a serious book, would have researched this. 4. EO only ever had one MI-24 gunship at its disposal (not gunships) and two BMPs. The remainder of the vehicles were all soft skinned. 5. The man who assumed office after Strasser’s removal was Brigadier Julius Maada Bio. 6. EO knew of the coup the morning it happened – and the men were warned not to interfere. It is a pity that the author did not state that EO’s costs were US$ 31 million as opposed to the UN’s US$ 600 million per year. Having deployed 17 000 men to do what EO’s 250 men did was considered the UN’s most successful mission. Regards, Eeben Barlow Founder and Former Chairman of Executive Outcomes Whereas the author has gone to some length to research his subject, he has made several glaring errors. It is these errors that make me wonder how accurate the rest of his book will be:

1. Having served with 32 Bn and having met those who opposed us on the battlefield, ie the Angolan Armed Forces, there was never any loathing towards 32 Bn but the utmost respect.
2. EO never manipulated the media. Indeed, the media, had the author done his research, were used and manipulated by several individuals.corporations/agencies/organisations and it was the media that stood in the forefront of the disinformation campaign against EO.
3. EO never placed any add, let alone in SoF. Again, the author, if he was writing a serious book, would have researched this.
4. EO only ever had one MI-24 gunship at its disposal (not gunships) and two BMPs. The remainder of the vehicles were all soft skinned.
5. The man who assumed office after Strasser’s removal was Brigadier Julius Maada Bio.
6. EO knew of the coup the morning it happened – and the men were warned not to interfere.

It is a pity that the author did not state that EO’s costs were US$ 31 million as opposed to the UN’s US$ 600 million per year. Having deployed 17 000 men to do what EO’s 250 men did was considered the UN’s most successful mission.

Regards,

Eeben Barlow
Founder and Former Chairman of Executive Outcomes

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