Sunday, December 21, 2008

THE BLOG AND CHRISTMAS

My sincere thanks to everyone who supported my blog over the past month.

I welcome everyone’s comments to the postings as I find them insightful and in the process, I also learn from you. You may not always agree with me and I am fine with that. The flip-side is that I may not always agree with you as my frame of reference may be different from yours. As life has given us all different experiences and points-of-view, this is understandable – as long as we can debate and discuss issues in an adult-like manner.

This is not a political blog (there are many very good ones around) and I therefore ask all visitors to refrain from asking me to engage in party-political discussions. As I do not have sufficient knowledge on the party-politics of the world, I feel I am not qualified to discuss them.

Several people have also written and asked if they could use some of my blog entries for their own research, lectures, blogs and so forth. My answer is “Yes” but on condition that it is remembered that what I write are my thoughts and secondly, that I am given credit for wherever the entries are used.

In 2009, I shall be taking a look at issues such as terrorism, organised crime, the principles of war, intelligence, PMCs, strategy, new weapon systems, African conflicts, narco-wars and so on.

Finally, I would like to wish all followers of and visitors to my blog a very blessed Christmas season. Those visitors from the troubled areas around the world, I wish you a peaceful and safe festive season.

May the coming year bring you all good health and happiness.

Merry Christmas all.

Added on 23 December 2008: A brief note to let you all know that I shall only resume posting on 1 January 2009. The next posting will take a look at terrorism.
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14 comments:

  1. AethyrDecember 21, 2008 at 11:54 AM

    I would also like to wish you merry Christmas and a happy new year!

    I am looking forward to your valuable insights and the discussions on your blog. So far the last two months have been exciting!

    with kind regards
    David

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  2. GrumblegutsDecember 21, 2008 at 11:58 AM

    Hi Eeben,
    Yip, it's been an interesting read on this blog. I've certainly learnt a lot in the short time it's been on-line. No doubt it will be more of the same next year.
    Merry Christmas, from me, the wifey, and Piggerley and Dopey, our 2 cats.

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  3. simonDecember 21, 2008 at 6:17 PM

    quite frankly, Im participating in this blog because its the most coherent look at Africa and PMC's ive come across over the last year.I hope I can add to the discussion in a productive way and I will be asking alot of questions ! God Bless you and yours.

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  4. graycladunitsDecember 21, 2008 at 11:39 PM

    Dear Sir:

    Merry Christmas! I hope you awake on Christmas morning to find gold bars, silver coins, fine cut gemstones, assault rifles, fine wines, and cigarettes under your Christmas tree! I know I am hoping for the same, but with fine cigars in place of the cigarettes.

    Sincerely, graycladunits

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  5. He of difficult daysDecember 22, 2008 at 1:09 AM

    Im just a muppet who lurks around... Hope you dont mind hehehehe

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  6. E RichardDecember 22, 2008 at 7:02 AM

    Hey Eeben,
    Yes, Merry Christmas.
    I enjoy absorbing the information you have to offer, it makes good sense.
    I will try to stay on point in the future. Thanks for responding. My education and intellectual attributes allow for me to only identify problems but not have any real solutions.
    Our public expression of Christmas here in the US is under siege. No longer PC to wish Merry Christmas from a public sanctioned position. Some think this is progress.

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  7. TangoDecember 22, 2008 at 12:41 PM

    Merry Christmas and every Christmas cheer making your best dreams come true all Christmas and new year.




    ( Best wishes to boet Pierre -Going back to Skinner Street barracks)

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  8. MauriceDecember 24, 2008 at 12:48 PM

    Gesëende Kersfees en 'n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar Eeben Barlow. It's people like yourself that truly care for Africa, that will never give up.

    You've paved a way, we can only hope that someone wise will walk the path.

    Best wishes to you and family

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  9. YolandeDecember 26, 2008 at 5:58 PM

    Hi Eeben

    I've just finished reading your book about EO...and what an eye-opener!! I thoroughly enjoyed it and it has surely caused me to think about what happens in Africa in a very different way.
    Hope 2009 is a wonderful year for you & your family!
    Regards
    Yolandé

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  10. bulletbunnyDecember 28, 2008 at 12:14 PM

    my new year's wish for Eeben Barlow and his continent is that more countries will have the good sense to use his expertise to bring peace to their troubled regions instead of relying on the useless UN or those Western powers who are only pretending to want to help so that they can run these countries by proxy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Para BellumDecember 28, 2008 at 7:47 PM

    Hey Eeben,

    Happy Christmas (belated) to you and yours. May 2009 be a great year for you and your family. I look forward to some of your intended posts for the new year.

    Vis Sic Pacem, Para Bellum.

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  12. Eeben Barlow's Milsec BlogDecember 31, 2008 at 8:51 AM

    My sincere thanks to everyone for their good wishes!

    Rgds,

    Eeben

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  13. JakeJanuary 2, 2009 at 8:21 PM

    Eeben,
    Trust you had a nice Christmas and New Years holiday.

    Look forward to your posts in 2009!

    Jake

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  14. Eeben Barlow's Milsec BlogJanuary 3, 2009 at 3:12 PM

    Many thanks, ALL!

    Rgds,

    Eeben

    ReplyDelete