About Me

My photo
I saw active service in conventional, clandestine and covert units of the South African Defence Force. I was the founder of the Private Military Company (PMC) Executive Outcomes in 1989 and its chairman until I left in 1997. Until its closure in 1998, EO operated primarily in Africa helping African governments that had been abandoned by the West and were facing threats from insurgencies, terrorism and organised crime. EO also operated in South America and the Far East. I believe that only Africans (Black and White) can truly solve Africa’s problems. I was appointed Chairman of STTEP International in 2009 and also lecture at military colleges and universities in Africa on defence, intelligence and security issues. Prior to the STTEP International appointment, I served as an independent politico-military advisor to several African governments. Until recently, I was a contributing editor to The Counter Terrorist magazine. All comments in line with the topics on this blog are welcome. As I consider this to be a serious look at military and security matters, foul language and political or religious debates will not be entertained on this blog.

Monday, August 15, 2011

BACK AGAIN

I do apologise to everyone who wrote to me and sent comments to my blog and have yet to receive a reply or an answer.

Having been away for a few weeks, in an area where internet connection is something of the future, returning home and being able to read my mail and your comments, was indeed a pleasure.

Please give me a day or two to catch up on all my mail. I shall get back to the blog within the next few days.

In the meantime, keep your comments coming and stay well.

30 comments:

John said...

Good Evening Eeben,

Welcome back! From the quantity of hits on your webpage you are about to meet the definition of "viral" very soon! That is great news all round.

I do hope all is well and look forward to many great, insightful reads here in the future.

Best regards,
John

Brent Clark said...

The curiosity in me, would love to know the places you go and the people you meet.

Beats a desk job :)

Welcome back.
Brent

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Thanks John. Much appreciated.

As for going viral, that will be good. Some might however see me as a virus but that too is fine with me. I am really pleased to see my visitor tally is growing.

I am working on the next posting and hope to have it done within the next few days.

Rgds,

Eeben

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

I visit places in Africa that are off the beaten track Brent and have had the good fortune to meet some really good, dedicated men who are fighting the good fight. I am always saddened when I leave them.

Yes, it definitely beats a desk job – no question!

Rgds,

Eeben

John said...

Good Morning Eeben,

I noticed here and in various other places that some of your readers are looking for your book. I have personally held seen 3 copies of your work at the following link for $55US. The owners name is Tom and he has a rather extensive inventory (on par or better than the great London bookstores) of new and used military history etc. I imagine your readers could contact him and work out acquiring "Against All Odds" for a good price.

http://www.aberdeenbookstore.com/Home.htm

Regards,
John

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Many thanks John. Your efforts to assist some who wish to buy the book is much appreciated.

Rgds,

Eeben

Feral Jundi said...

Welcome back Eeben. It sounds like you are doing good work out there. Take care.

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Thanks Matt. I am just very fortunate to be able to work with good people.

Rgds,

Eeben

Oz said...

Hey Eeben, I hope you had a great trip! I recently read a book called devil incarnate and I was wondering if Athol Visser was a real person? Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

Greg Friend

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Interestingly enough, Sir47 asked me the same question, Greg.

Short answer: No. I had never heard of him. It is probably a pseudonym.

Rgds,

Eeben

sir 47 said...

for information athol visser was one of the head CCB.Ex mercenary in 5 codo of mike hoare,robber,selous scout and assassin of the CCB.In this time he was work with Rod Mclean;ex mercenary 5 codo,London gangster and arm tradder for CCB.
And the second name of my daughter is Eeben,a great name.
Respect sir Barlow
sir 47

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Thanks for that info, Sir47.

Now I am sure that either Athol Visser is a pseudonym but possibly someone who is making cheap capital out of CCB. Having met people who have either claimed to be me (that’s how they introduced themselves to me – using my name) or claimed to be in CCB, Region 5, I somehow doubt his story – but, he may have been tasked by a different CCB region to do work in London. Certainly in my time, there was no Athol Visser in Region 5. I would know as I recruited everyone who served in Region 5 – Europe and Middle East.

I am honoured to learn that your daughter and I share the same name. I am sure she will grow up to be a great kid.

Rgds,

Eeben

Oz said...

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. Athol Visser claimed to be a high ranking member of the CCB...I guess not, huh?

Oz said...

Sir47 I to read devil incarnate... parts of it horrified me and parts of it facinated me. What are your thoughts?

Unknown said...

hi Eeben, have you ever heard of this dude? he touts himself as quite the man..

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2F007skills.com%2Froymaia_6.html&h=zAQDFhAWkAQB9iBbmy8-XDLx0XntEmBL0fbvWxJ4qh_swmg
his name is roy maia
http://007skills.com/roymaia_6.html

he has some"skills" apparently. he makes these claims himself and doesnt rely on anyone else for adverising his uberness!

strange stuff. mike da silva

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

You are very welcome, Oz.

If he served in Region 5, I certainly didn’t know him.

Rgds,

Eeben

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Wow, never heard of him, Mike.

My philosophy is to say nothing about anyone I don’t know or who hasn’t tried to attack me, verbally or otherwise.

Rgds,

Eeben

sir 47 said...

for oz
if you want read another book about athol visser.You can read rod mclean cut throat it's bester than devil incarnate and give more information.This book devil incarnate is bad,horrible but give an evil vision of the human.

Unknown said...

congrats Eeben. you broke the 100k visits ceiling.. outstanding.
regards mike da silva.

Oz said...

sir 47
Yes I have read Cut Throat and I definently liked it...Being that Cut Throat is about a real person, Rod Mclean, do you think Athol Visser was a real person also?

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Thanks Mike.

Rgds,

Eeben

sir 47 said...

oz take my e mail we can talk about that
karanset@hotmail.fr

Obin and Jessica Robinson said...

Eeben how is that big book you are writing coming along? I'd still love to reserve a copy when you think you will be releasing it. Thanks!

Obin Robinson

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

Thank you for your support, Obin but I am afraid that my timeline continues to slip.

The past couple of months I have spent doing a lot of travelling and of course, in areas where I do not have the time to write. But, I promise I will get there!

Rgds,

Eeben

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

A pleasure Mike. Good luck...

Rgds,

Eeben

Unknown said...

good day Eeben, i would like to ask if you recall an ex staff member from the sierra leone contract. i know it was long ago and you had tons of staffers. there is a guy making some rather large statements and using the obligatory" when on the SL contract" speech. this was asked originally by another member here on your forum, to varify the guys status as ex EO. as i never worked in the days of the sierra leone contract i could not hazard a thumb suck at best. his name is 'Wildy Balbanero" and he is a philipino. i dont mean any disrespect if he was a staffer but i just cannot see this to be true though. however i will stand corrected if needs be.
many thanks for your very interseting and always entertaining comments.
mike da silva

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

I still have the name list with book numbers of everyone who served in EO, Mike. There was certainly never a 'Wildy Balbanero’ who served in EO and certainly never a Philipino. Call his bluff and ask him for his EO book number. I am sure he will probably have an excuse such as he was “under deep cover”.

It is possible that he worked with Sandline and used that to claim EO roots.

Rgds,

Eeben

Unknown said...

many thanks for your answer, i will relay this to the person who asked for the varification. i thought as much.
if i may be so bold as to ask, how is Lafras Luithing doing? is he still around? the day i was flown down to south africa from cabo ledo after using my face to stop the fists of rich nickoll and simon witherspoon to have my teeth fixed, Lafras drove me to my dad`s restaurant and i introduced him to my dad. my dad was suitably impressed and didnt even seem all that concerned that my nose was treble its size and on the side of my face. i must just say that i fully understand why we were issued attitude correction slaps that evening. we had to ease into our positions within the pecking order. after 8 days i was flown back to cabo ledo and we were all "pals" again. never did we have any nonsense again. i for one understood that i was a support element only and must not mouth off or my mouth will be filled with a fist. i still until today have a gammy jaw and it clicks when i chew. all said, i deserved my corrective slaps to keep me focused on my support task and leave the serious stuff to the operators. if i could do it all over agian I WOULD!

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

That’s very interesting but I was never privy to such info, Michael. I guess the guys at ATC might have better info for you.

Rgds,

Eeben

Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog said...

I haven’t spoken to Willem in years, Michael. So I am afraid I cannot give you any feedback on your question.

Rgds,

Eeben