David Stirling, Special Air Service and PMC Watchguard International

143

David Stirling and his subordinates, 1942

In previous articles in the series, we mentioned the famous recruitment company Soldier of Fortune, founded by Bob Denard. But around the same time, another organization appeared, offering the services of professional mercenaries. It was the world's first private military company Watchguard International, founded by David Stirling in 1965. This person will become the hero of this article.

David Stirling, Special Air Service and PMC Watchguard International

Monument to David Stirling, Doune Village and Castle Neighborhood, Scotland

Born in 1915, Stirling was the son of a brigadier general in the British Army. Before the start of World War II, he took fine art lessons in Paris and was going on an expedition to Everest, but then he volunteered for the Scottish Guards Regiment, which he later fought in France, and after the defeat, was evacuated from Dunkirk. Then, as part of Commando-8, Lt. Col. Lacock Stirling ended up in North Africa. This diversionary connection was disbanded after several unsuccessful operations, during one of which Stirling was injured in the eye and broke his leg. In the hospital, he drew up a plan for creating a new sabotage group, the task of which was to become raids on German rear.



Special Air Service


This idea was unexpectedly supported by Major General Neil Richie, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Commander of the British Forces in North Africa, Claude John Okinleck.


Major General Neil Ritchie

So Stirling (who at that time had the modest rank of lieutenant) was at the head of the Special Air Service (“Special Airborne Service”) - a unit that existed only on paper and was created to misinform the enemy: let the adversaries be afraid and try to calculate the length of the fangs of the painted tiger.

In July 1941, Stirling had 5 officers and 60 soldiers (Detachment L) at their disposal, who in November took the first battle as part of Operation Crusader. According to the plan drawn up by Stirling, on the night of November 16-17, 1941, these fighters were supposed to parachute to the airfields in Ghazal and Thimi, to destroy airplanes and fuel depots. After completing the mission, they were to be delivered to the base by units of the Desert Long Range Intelligence Group, established in June 1940 by Major Ralph Bangold (LRDG, Long Range Desert Group).


Ralph Banold, founder of the Long Range Desert Group


British Long Range Desert Group, North Africa

But the first pancake came out lumpy: the paratroopers were scattered around, they had to join the battle in small groups, the effect of surprise was lost and only 22 people managed to return to the base.


SAS first squad survivors, November 1941

The beginning was depressing. It seemed that detachment L was destined to repeat the fate of the disbanded Commando-8. But Stirling did not give up. He decided to change tactics and use vehicles - jeeps and trucks in raids. There was no solid front line and therefore night raids of mobile columns promised to be effective. And, in the end, if long-range reconnaissance groups could carry out long-distance raids towards the enemy, then why not use saboteur squads for their experience?


SAS fighters in a Chevrolet jeep, World War II, North Africa

This decision turned out to be successful, and on December 12, the group of Captain Maine successfully attacked the airfield in Tamet, destroying 24 aircraft, and returning to the base without losses.


Captain robert maine

During the following operations at two German airfields in Libya, another 64 aircraft were destroyed, and the losses of SAS fighters amounted to only three people.

On January 23, 1942, the attack on the port of Buerat proved to be successful, where army warehouses and fuel tanks were blown up, after which Stirling was promoted to major. In March of that year, SAS fighters destroyed 31 aircraft, and Stirling was nicknamed the Major Ghost.

Successful operations of the new unit led to its number growing significantly, and in September 1942, 6 squadrons (4 British, 1 French, and 1 Greek) and a boat service department entered the SAS. The words SAS became the motto: “Who takes risks, he wins”, the emblem is a dagger with two wings.


SAS emblem


SAS Fighters, May 1945

Stirling's career in SAS ended in January 1943, when during one of the operations in Tunisia he was captured by the Germans, he was released only after the end of the war. Stirling retired with the rank of colonel.

David Stirling's New Idea


In 1959, Stirling created the television company Television International Enterprises (TIE). However, the young veteran was bored in the office, and therefore, in 1962, by order of the Sultan of Oman Qaboos, he formed his first detachment of mercenaries - these were instructors who trained soldiers for action against rebels of the Dofar province.


Then during the civil war in Yemen (which was described in the article "Soldiers of Fortune" and "Wild Geese") Stirling's services were used by British intelligence. Then, the French mercenaries Roger Folk (Fulk) and Bob Denard, already well-known French mercenaries, were involved in the hostilities against the new republican authorities, and the British sent SAS staff members on leave to help them. Funding for these operations went through Saudi Arabia. All this convinced Stirling of the prospects of this area and after the completion of the operation in Yemen, Stirling created the company Kulinda Security Ltd. (KSL), whose employees were used by Americans for operations against drug cartels in Latin America. The same company sent instructors to train special forces in Sierra Leone and Zambia.

But it was just a “test of the pen”: Watchguard International is considered to be the first “real” private military company in the world. In parallel with it, the Kilo Alpha Services mercenary recruitment office was also established. Stirling's partner was the former commander of the 22nd SAS Regiment, John Woodhouse.


David Stirling


Lieutenant Colonel John Woodhouse

According to Stirling, his organization was, while remaining private, to maintain close contacts with the British government and act exclusively in his interests, or in the interests of countries friendly to Britain. Thus, his people were guaranteed payment for their "work", assistance in ensuring weapons and equipment and even some kind of cover and some help at the state level. The government, on the other hand, received high-class professional military personnel who were ready at any time to undertake various "delicate" missions abroad, involving military instructors, specialists in military equipment, and especially army or intelligence units, was undesirable and could lead to diplomatic scandal .

There was no shortage of necessary specialists. And a very interesting question arises: why in fairly prosperous 60s and even more so in prosperous 70s, 80s and today, citizens of "well-fed" countries voluntarily went to war in the territory of states where they were shot from the present weapons? And where you can easily die from some exotic disease even without outside help. Nevertheless, they went: to the French Foreign Legion, to the “teams” of Hoare and Denard, to various private military companies. But in the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain and other countries of the “golden billion” it is very difficult to die of hunger even for professional parasites and marginalized people.

The first category of such volunteers is a kind of “adrenaline addicts” such as the quite successful businessman Michael Hoar or the wealthy aircraft collector Lynn Harrison. There are few such people, but they are. It is they who voluntarily go on various extreme expeditions to the mountains or the jungle, because to die is “better than from vodka and colds” (V. Vysotsky). As a last resort, parachute jump and line up for the most extreme rides at Port Aventura. The best option for them would be a “toy war” of a big sport, but few become professional athletes.

Another example of this kind is Mark Thatcher, the son of the famous Margaret, 71st British Prime Minister.


Family of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, 1982. To the right of his parents is Mark, to the left is his twin sister Carol, a TV journalist who became “famous” for having once called the black athlete "black scarecrow" on the BBC. In 2005, she won the Australian reality show and earned her nickname Queen of the Jungle for her whole life.

Mark Thatcher did not have the abilities and talent of Hoar, Denard or Stirling, but you can’t hide your character in your pocket, and therefore, instead of becoming a member of parliament or taking a warm place in the Foreign Office (British Foreign Office), he became a small-scale adventurer. He started as an unsuccessful race car driver: in three races in a row (1979, 1980 and 1981), his crew went out of the race, and in 1982 he was completely lost during the Paris-Dakar rally, and after three days of searching was discovered by an Algerian plane 50 km away from the track. Reporters then for the first and last time managed to take pictures of the crying "iron lady" M. Thatcher.


Unlucky race car driver Mark Thatcher

In the future, he did not miss the stars from the sky, but, using the name and influence of his mother, in the 80s he received large commissions, lobbying for two major transactions: the construction of a hospital and university in Oman and the purchase of aircraft by Saudi Arabia. These contracts aroused great suspicion in parliament and led to the creation of commissions, which, of course, were looking for compromising material against Margaret Thatcher, and not her non-prodigious son, but even then she managed to get out of the water.

In 2004, Mark Thatcher decided to raise rates: he and the former officer Simon Mann tried to organize a coup d'etat in the oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. However, the plane with weapons in which Mann was located was detained at the Zimbabwean airport, Mark was arrested in South Africa, but thanks to his mother’s influence, he was released on bail and sentenced only conditionally (in 2005). All these scandals did not prevent him from becoming a baronet - after the death of his father in 2003.

If the "adrenaline junkie" is still an idealist, we get a version of Ernesto Che Guevara.

But most legionnaires and “soldiers of fortune” are restless and unhappy people who do not find a place for themselves in modern society. There are especially many of them after the wars. They learned to fight very well, but the state no longer needs soldiers and former heroes are dismissed, where all the best places are already taken by cowards and fittlers - rear men who laugh at these "losers" and say phrases in their faces like: "I’m you I didn’t send a war. ” And until recently, people who felt themselves necessary, even irreplaceable, face a simple choice: to become a small, impersonal cog of an incomprehensible soulless mechanism or try to find a place where they will be in an environment that is understandable and familiar to them.

But back to Stirling and his PMC.

The main task of Watchguard International for the first time was the training of security personnel and guardsmen of the UK-friendly third world countries. Until 1970, Stirling avoided orders related to the organization of military raids on the territory of other states, and even more so with the participation of his people in coups. This was the fundamental difference between WI and Bob Denard's "Soldier of Fortune" mercenary offices. But in 1970, Stirling signed a $ 25 million contract with the Libyan royalists and almost started a “little war” against Gaddafi.

Then MI-6 employees came to Stirling, who suggested that he carry out an operation to free family members and close associates of Libyan king Mohammed Idris al Senussi, who was ousted in September 1969. This operation was called "Hilton" because it was the name of the central prison in Tripoli, which should have been taken by storm. The British intelligence leadership believed that this high-profile action would lead to a monarchist uprising in Libya. The financing of this operation was undertaken by a former king who was in exile in Egypt.

At that time, David Stirling was undergoing rehabilitation after injuries sustained in a car accident, and therefore former SAS major John Brooke Miller and warrant officer (an intermediate position between sergeant and officer) Jeff Thompson became direct supervisors of the operation. Under the guise of tourists, they went on reconnaissance in Libya, found a beach suitable for disembarkation and a road along which you can reach the prison as soon as possible. After that, a detachment of 25 former SAS employees was created (each of them cost the customer 5 pounds) and a ship was hired, which was supposed to deliver them from the island of Malta to Libya. These plans were not implemented, since the British Foreign Ministry decided that foreign policy risks exceed the possible benefits. Stirling demanded that the king pay at least the mercenaries and achieve this requirement, and then stepped aside.

However, his assistant James Kent and the above-mentioned Jeff Thompson decided that $ 25 million (the equivalent of 170 million modern dollars) were not lying on the road, and on their own initiative they continued preparations for Operation Hilton. Now the role of performers was to play 25 French mercenaries. However, at first they were deceived by an intermediary Steve Reynolds from South Africa, who, having taken the money, did not acquire a ship or weapons on them, and then, in March 1971, the still purchased vessel Conquistador XIII was arrested in Trieste, from where it was going to Yugoslav port of Plece - for weapons purchased in Czechoslovakia. Experts are sure that the British intelligence, who never complained about competitors, “surrendered” to the Italians of the conspirators.

In 1972, PMC Watchguard International was closed.

John Woodhouse focused on working in a brewing company owned by his family, but specializing in soft drinks, and even under the Panda Pops brand he created a new brand of soda. He also served as chairman of the association of former SAS members.

David Stirling returned to the leadership of TIE and began creating new programs. Among other projects, his company TIE participated in the creation of the British version of the Muppets. In 1988, he suddenly tried to return to the “military business”, recreating the already familiar Kilo Alpha Services recruitment bureau, but with the functions of a private military company. In the same year, he signed a contract with two princes (the British Philip and the Dutchman Bernard), representing the International Wildlife Fund (since 1984 - the World Wide Fund for Nature) to protect South African national parks from poachers. In parallel, agreements were reached on training the commandos of the Zulu movement "Inkata" and the opposing braid fighters (to which Nelson Mandela belonged).

Then, under a contract with David Walker, Stirling led the private military company Saladin Security Ltd, which supplied bodyguards for British diplomats and members of the royal family of Saudi Arabia.

David Stirling died in 1990, having become a knight of the British Empire.

Styling's ideas and projects were extremely successful and outlived their author.

Special Air Service these days


SAS, which was liquidated after the end of World War II (October 8, 1945), like a phoenix from the ashes, was revived in 1950 to fight Malay rebels, then conducted operations in Oman, Indonesia (the island of Borneo), in Aden.

Since 1969, the main adversary of the Special Air Service has been the terrorists of the IRA (Irish Republican Army). In 1976, SAS fighters conducted illegal operations on the territory of that country twice with the aim of abducting fighters who had taken refuge in Ireland. The first experiment was successful, but 8 people of the second group of special forces were detained, accused of illegal possession of weapons and deported to Britain.

Now SAS includes three regiments (21st, 22nd and 23rd) and two battalions of communications.

Elite is the 22nd regiment, which, recall, was previously commanded by John Woodhouse. It was he who inherited the SAS motto from Stirling's time: “Who takes the risk, wins”, and enjoys the reputation of a very effective special forces unit with extensive experience in successfully combating terrorists.

On May 5, 1980, the fighters of this regiment became famous throughout the world during Operation Nimrod, an assault on the Iranian embassy in London seized by Arab militants. With the permission of Margaret Thatcher, who wanted to show everyone how effective the special units of the UK are, this assault was broadcast live by BBC. Results of the operation: 5 out of six terrorists were killed, the rest was captured, one hostage was killed and two were injured.


Soldiers of the 22nd SAS regiment storm the Iranian embassy, ​​May 5, 1980



M. Thatcher and SAS fighters after the operation to free the Iranian embassy

In 1982, SAS units took part in the Falkland Islands war, in 1989 - in the "Anti-Cocaine War" in Colombia. In the 90s. Of the 1997th century, SAS units were used during the Gulf War and the Balkans, and in 6 XNUMX SAS employees and several fighters of the American Delta group participated in the operation of the Peruvian special services to free the residence of the Japanese ambassador in Lima, which was captured by militants of the Tupac Revolutionary Movement Amaru.

Another Stirling idea turned out to be successful - about private military companies (Private military company). We will try to talk a little about them in the next article.
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  1. +7
    26 June 2020 05: 49
    Good morning to everyone! Thanks for the article, Valery! Immediately a question! I looked, but did not find the name of the athlete whom Carol Thatcher so so dearly designated. Do you have any information?
    Regarding her son, brother Carol, the * Iron Lady * herself said that her son is capable of selling snow to the Eskimos and sand to Arabs. But this is a transition to personalities. I read the article with great interest, thanks again!
    1. +10
      26 June 2020 07: 25
      To the right of his parents is Mark, to the left is his twin sister Carol, a TV journalist who became “famous” for having once called the black athlete a “black scarecrow” on BBC.
      I searched, but did not find the name of the athlete whom Carol Thatcher so so dearly designated.
      It was in 2009 during the Australian Open and not on the air, but in the green room, in a private conversation, the content of which in the form of "information leakage" from "well-wishers" became known.
      This athlete is French tennis player Tsonga.
      1. +5
        26 June 2020 07: 43
        Good morning! But thanks for this information! But judging by the photo, it’s hard to call this Frenchman * nerdy bogey *. wink
  2. +5
    26 June 2020 07: 07
    SAS first squad survivors, November 1941
    Ninth to the left, the highest among all, David Stirling.
  3. +8
    26 June 2020 08: 57
    Thanks to the author for the most interesting article. At the very point. About the uselessness of veterans. Specialists after the end of the wars and rear rats. And the phrase "I did not send you there" to how many soldiers and officers eventually broke our fate after the Afghan war ...
  4. +10
    26 June 2020 09: 23
    Cool article, unexpected topic. Thanks to the author good good
  5. +7
    26 June 2020 10: 09
    Stirling's career in SAS ended in January 1943, when during one of the operations in Tunisia he was captured by the Germans, he was released only after the end of the war. Stirling retired with the rank of colonel.
    To begin with, Stirling was very lucky. Erwin Rommel, commander of the African Corps, is the only German commander to sabotage Hitler's secret order, Kommandobefehl, issued in October 1942. According to this order, it was forbidden to take saboteurs into captivity, they had to be destroyed on the spot. Stirling tried to escape five times. The first is almost successful, but the Italians caught him. After four more attempts, Stirling was sent to Germany, to the castle of Colditz, oflag IV-C for especially dangerous prisoners.
    1. +4
      26 June 2020 17: 07
      Good afternoon, Vic Nikolaitch. hi
      Rommel won against others by regularly sabotaging orders. And for the sabotage of this order, a separate respect for him.
      You can skip a glass with subordinates, not counts, tea smile

      Well, and when necessary, he forgot about his epaulets:

      An adversary worthy of all respect. soldier soldier soldier
      1. +4
        26 June 2020 18: 30
        Participated in a conspiracy against Hitler
        1. +3
          26 June 2020 19: 37
          Participated in a conspiracy against Hitler
          Rommel ????
          1. +4
            26 June 2020 19: 42
            Of course, and in order to avoid shame with the court, he was offered suicide with poison and promised that his family would not be touched, which he did
          2. +3
            26 June 2020 19: 48
            Exactly. Allowed to trap cyanide - kipish from the arrest of a national hero did not want to do
        2. 0
          21 August 2020 09: 40
          Alas, but he did not participate ... However, he has so many merits and, had he survived the war, he certainly would not have been sitting idle in the new army of the FRG! Yes, and in the USSR he went to lectures at military academies. Although maybe the United States would have lured away - God forbid the Pentagon needed figures of this scale.
  6. +7
    26 June 2020 11: 37
    Thanks, as always, an interesting article. Margaret Thatcher did not know about her son. You raised a very interesting topic. Why people go to mercenaries I personally understood. The question is why, in a well-fed and, in principle, socially just Western Europe, they went to terrorist organizations such as the Red Army Faction and others
    1. +6
      26 June 2020 12: 04
      Maybe because if there is a concept - "from rags to riches", then, probably, there is also "from riches to rags". Well-fed idlers who want to change the normal course of historical processes in one fell swoop.
      1. +2
        26 June 2020 12: 23
        Welcome hi
        Yes you are right. Trotsky's example - living with his parents' money in Europe up to 30+, he was engaged in incomprehensible activities. However, there is a difference - a book publisher from West Germany becomes a Palestinian fighter taking hostages, university girls in a socially developed country organize terrorist attacks in order to build a totalitarian system ... Cheto from psychiatry, in my opinion. By the way, Baaden Meinhof really consisted initially of crazy patients
        1. +4
          26 June 2020 13: 10
          * We don’t know any of the new ones. We have influence, but we cannot control them. When you planted us, you should have known that the children who will replace us will be tougher, much tougher. *
          These words were said by Andreas Baader in prison.
          1. +5
            26 June 2020 13: 12
            Greetings! hi
            If I'm not mistaken, this guy wanted to terrorize the building of socialism in Germany, in which he hoped to cure psychiatric diseases
            1. +3
              26 June 2020 13: 18
              Hi Albert! Well, it's hard to say what they had in mind. Here's another quote from him:
              - * The sexual revolution and the liberation of the oppressed from the yoke of imperialism go hand in hand. Someone does not understand this. * This quote is literal! No.One word is not missed, the extreme. laughing
              1. +6
                26 June 2020 13: 40
                Everything in the spirit of Kalantai and the theory of the Glass of Water laughing In the communes of the Kropotkin Zionists from the Left Socialists, Shomer Atsair, the boys and girls washed together in the shower, were against all forms of possessiveness, including legal marriage, and making love for them was like drinking a glass of water)). Golda Meir belonged to this movement in her youth - she didn’t live in communes, but her husband was a gray henpecked laughing
                1. +4
                  26 June 2020 13: 55
                  Quote: Krasnodar
                  Golda Meir belonged in her youth - she didn’t live in communes,

                  I looked at her photo from the time of youth. Well, what can I say .... not impressed. Strictly for an amateur. wink
                  Ha, ha, ha! The theme seems to be military, and we ???? About women! laughing laughing laughing
                  1. +3
                    26 June 2020 14: 13
                    Arriving at the annual gatherings in the Israeli army from the arms of an 18-20 year old girl, after lunch in a good restaurant, I immediately wanted two things, barely wearing a uniform and signing up for a weapon - a woman and a hawk soldier So everything is in topic laughing
                    On such people as she, men are being sought for a strong woman, suffering from a pronounced oedipal complex, sons of wives or single mothers who dominate the family.
            2. +3
              26 June 2020 13: 24
              By the way, they were kicked out of the training camp with a scandal! Well, the Palestinian soul does not accept naked female nature! laughing Yes, even with a gun on his chest.
              1. +6
                26 June 2020 13: 43
                An overexcited Palestinian soul was looking for a way out of testosterone overload in love with pack animals, which did not contribute to the victory of the National Liberation Front of Palestine fighters over the Zionist enemy am
                1. +5
                  26 June 2020 13: 58
                  Quote: Krasnodar
                  It did not contribute to the victory of the fighters of the National Front for the Liberation of Palestine over the Zionist enemy

                  The swimmers of the national team of the GDR was different! laughing I mean sports achievements only. fellow
                  1. +4
                    26 June 2020 14: 16
                    It seems to help women before the competition))
                    1. +4
                      26 June 2020 18: 52
                      This is not what helps. The fact is that in the first weeks of pregnancy in the female body, testosterone prevails over estrogen. That gives undoubted advantages over "ordinary" athletes. In the countries of the socialist camp, athletes were strongly encouraged to make "unprotected love" before responsible international competitions.
                      The first to tell about this was Katarina Witt, then the recognition of the heroines of big sports from the former Soviet Union poured in. Here's a "doping" in the Soviet way.
                      1. +2
                        26 June 2020 19: 18
                        Then an abortion?
                      2. +6
                        26 June 2020 19: 24
                        Exactly. Moreover, it was kept silent that with the then possibilities of perinatal surgery, after three abortions, a woman became infertile. But the country needed "gold", and children ... Villagers give birth to!
                      3. +2
                        26 June 2020 19: 38
                        That's it! A friend Anton came on his tank and ... bah-bahhh !!!! He explained everything from a scientific / medical / point of view, and .... But there is no romanticism. There is a science! laughing tongue laughing
                      4. +3
                        26 June 2020 19: 41
                        As a gynecologist, I'm really better than a tanker laughing
                      5. +2
                        26 June 2020 19: 44
                        And I always liked Katya Witt! I was rooting for her.
                      6. +3
                        26 June 2020 19: 46
                        Not quite after three - you depend on the body, but in general, yes. IVF and ICSI in the USSR did not practice))
                      7. +2
                        26 June 2020 19: 40
                        Doubtful theory. The chances of running into the same toxicosis during competitions or training in pregnant women are much greater than increasing the results due to hormonal changes. And with toxicosis, it's not like medals, it's impossible to speak)
                      8. +3
                        26 June 2020 19: 54
                        My respect, colleague! Toxicosis begins at 8-10 weeks. And this is in a normal female body, not burdened by constant physical exertion on the verge of an extreme.
                        On 2-3 - "hormonal storm" in which testosterone rules.
                      9. +1
                        26 June 2020 20: 07
                        Hello hi
                        Toxicosis is a purely individual and unpredictable business and can manifest itself in the first days after conception. And this is only one of the problems. The pressure drops are the same and much more. This is not an exact science.) Therefore, an elite athlete is unlikely to consciously do this. Yes and not really heard about such a phenomenon.
                      10. +2
                        26 June 2020 20: 16
                        Toxicosis in the first three weeks after conception is quite rare. Everything else lies in the field of psychological "pumping".
                      11. +3
                        26 June 2020 19: 55
                        By the way - also right. And the body is changing, and when training before the competition, a miscarriage that can lead to complications is a trifle.
                      12. +2
                        26 June 2020 20: 10
                        שָׁלוֹם hi

                        I don’t remember over the last decades of the pregnant Olympic champion)
                      13. +3
                        26 June 2020 20: 14
                        Buga Syare! hi
                        Yes, in general it is difficult to imagine how not to lose a child in a competitive training mode. And in general - most active athletes have problems getting pregnant
                        PS Yesterday I listened to Fragments of the first Moldavian opera Grozovan. I don’t understand anymore - I completely forgot the language. sad
                      14. +1
                        26 June 2020 21: 38
                        Without practice, language is quickly forgotten
                      15. +1
                        26 June 2020 22: 01
                        Without medium
                        But living in a romance-speaking country, I probably would have continued to understand him)).
                      16. 0
                        27 June 2020 16: 16
                        Quote: Liam
                        I don’t remember over the last decades of the pregnant Olympic champion)

                        Some time ago, it was considered a form of doping. The presence of traces of male sperm in the body of an athlete began to be considered chemical doping immediately after the competition. About 20 years ago or more in France for a long time it was decided to consider the athlete a violator of anti-doping rules, who said that she only enjoyed oral sex before the start.
                      17. 0
                        27 June 2020 16: 22
                        Quote: gsev
                        Quote: Liam
                        I don’t remember over the last decades of the pregnant Olympic champion)

                        Some time ago, it was considered a form of doping. The presence of traces of male sperm in the body of an athlete began to be considered chemical doping immediately after the competition. About 20 years ago or more in France for a long time it was decided to consider the athlete a violator of anti-doping rules, who said that she only enjoyed oral sex before the start.

                        I doubt that you can back up your statements with some official sources like WADA
                      18. 0
                        27 June 2020 18: 28
                        Quote: Liam
                        You can back up your statements with some official sources like WADA

                        The athlete’s attitude to pregnancy is quite controversial. As far as I understand, attributing the basis of a person’s life to doping is difficult. However, around the world, athletes were provoked by some actions before the start. Some cases, and not only in Russia, were quite scandalous. This case was not the most famous and I do not remember the decision on it. I’m not sure that WADA was created before the case I mentioned. Yes, and the Russian-language Internet became widespread after the influence of pregnancy on the athletic success of athletes was discussed in sports circles.
        2. The comment was deleted.
        3. +3
          26 June 2020 14: 04
          Mutually hi
          ... Cheto from psychiatry, in my opinion.
          I agree categorically good for in another way and not to name Yes
    2. +1
      27 June 2020 10: 01
      Quote: Krasnodar
      The question is why, in a well-fed and, in principle, socially just Western Europe, they went to terrorist organizations such as the Red Army Faction and others

      this is also elementary. immeno because in full.
      remember yourself at 17. energy is rushing, you must do something with it, nature mother is seething with it.
      even in a new world, even in the virgin lands!
      and when the wrong one is gone, where to put this energy?
      here and looking for youth priklyuchny. then to protests against everything and everyone, and even to terror.
      take something useful and most importantly dangerous and difficult, they (young) should be occupied.
      1. +1
        27 June 2020 12: 11
        I remember myself in the 17th. On an armored car, between Vladimir Ilyich and Lev Davydovich. They argued, I remember who is Comrade Blank in Halacha. But Fanya Kaplan, having heard the opinion of Comrade Trotsky, decided to act according to the precepts of Rabbi Akiva. feel
        1. +1
          27 June 2020 12: 15
          Quote: Krasnodar
          I remember myself in the 17th. On an armored car, between Vladimir Ilyich and Lev Davydovich. They argued, I remember who is Comrade Blank Halakh

          you have reduced everything to a joke. and I tried to express a serious thought.
          1. +1
            27 June 2020 12: 18
            Well, but seriously, then in Izrailovka this is smoothed out by compulsory draft in the army and reservist service. Although the protest movements are adjoined mainly by bored representatives of the golden youth of humanitarian professions - programmers and students of the medical faculty will not be seen among them))
  7. +4
    26 June 2020 17: 54
    Valery, hello and thanks! hi I read it with great interest, although to the British "I am somehow not very good" (c), and to their ability to fight with an equal opponent too.
    If the "adrenaline junkie" is still an idealist, we get a version of Ernesto Che Guevara.

    Yes. Che was the idol of my generation, who just did not dream of going to Cuba and helping them in the fight against staff members. smile
    Then everyone was deceived by the message of his death, I do not remember whose verses:

    "Suddenly the rumor passed like a rustle on the foliage of the boulevard,
    That Major Ernesto Che Guevara was killed somewhere ... "

    Christ of the twentieth century, as he was called in Latin America, if I am not mistaken.
    1. +4
      26 June 2020 18: 16
      Hi Konstantin !!!! Poem- * Major *. Author-Yaroslav Smelyakov. hi
    2. +3
      26 June 2020 19: 05
      Uncle Kostya! You won’t believe it! They are now the idol of many twenty-year-olds!
      "I am young, in the remains of snot,
      I'm afraid of shaking life like a pear,
      It’s dark in their souls, like in jop,
      And in jope itching - to amuse the soul. "(C)
      1. +3
        26 June 2020 19: 09
        That's for sure. I had a friend in the old days who was as big as a bull. So he said: "I'm not afraid of one against three men, and I go around the backyards at night to young punks, somehow I'm afraid of getting a feather in the back ..."
        1. +2
          26 June 2020 19: 29
          And it was like that.
          1. +2
            26 June 2020 19: 42
            * I'm going with a friend, I look, they stand.
            They stood silently in a row,
            They stood silently in a row
            there were eight. *
            V. Vysotsky. bully
            1. +3
              26 June 2020 19: 56
              It happened differently. Sergey, well, you know ...
              1. +2
                26 June 2020 20: 00
                There was, there was a case. Even a few. Since then, with some degree of apprehension I am referring to * young lawless people *. Here I completely agree with the words of Andreas Baader.
        2. +3
          26 June 2020 19: 56
          Quote: Sea Cat
          That's for sure. I had a friend in the old days who was as big as a bull. So he said: "I'm not afraid of one against three men, and I go around the backyards at night to young punks, somehow I'm afraid of getting a feather in the back ..."

          That's right - with a rusty knife they cut into the kidney and finitis
          1. +3
            26 June 2020 20: 03
            Chisel in the liver. I saw this.
            1. +2
              26 June 2020 20: 17
              With a liver in general it is necessary to be careful wink , how is our friend Mikado, something today he is not visible? Didn't you call him? drinks
              1. +1
                26 June 2020 20: 23
                Called of course! Well I need to understand how last night's party ended, because, I don’t remember how I got home laughing Don’t worry about Kolya, his liver is capable of processing raw uranium into military plutonium laughing
                1. +2
                  26 June 2020 20: 29
                  I envy, I have not had those years, but in the old days ... laughing soldier
                  1. +2
                    26 June 2020 20: 35
                    I envy
                    It would be something!
                    "And the Lord will ask us:" Children, what are they famous for in the world? "
                    What will we answer him? By drinking three buckets ??? " (FROM)
                    1. +1
                      26 June 2020 20: 47
                      By drinking three buckets ??? "

                      Others will not be able to answer this. request
      2. +4
        26 June 2020 19: 58
        Quote: 3x3zsave
        Uncle Kostya! You won’t believe it! They are now the idol of many twenty-year-olds!
        "I am young, in the remains of snot,
        I'm afraid of shaking life like a pear,
        It’s dark in their souls, like in jop,
        And in jope itching - to amuse the soul. "(C)

        Club Che in Moscow - about 8 years ago was the leading most popular club among senior students))
        1. +3
          26 June 2020 20: 23
          In my time, there were no such clubs, only "in the kitchen". "Our" party was against exporting the revolution in this way. request

          And he knew a lot about weapons. APS as a means to convince the imperialists. In short, "a kind word and a gun ...", or in reverse order. laughing
          1. +3
            26 June 2020 20: 25
            A good barrel, only the one I shot from was with a malfunctioning automatic shooting mode ((.
            1. +2
              26 June 2020 20: 30
              Only bursts? Is there a problem with the disconnector?
              1. +2
                26 June 2020 20: 30
                No
                Just automatic mode did not work at all
                1. +2
                  26 June 2020 20: 32
                  Interesting! On the usual 92nd Beretta I sharpened the ledge on the disconnector and the pistol began to peel in bursts.
                  1. +3
                    26 June 2020 20: 33
                    I even can’t shoot bursts from the M-16 long classic. )) We were taught to shoot solo, at a high pace.
                    1. +2
                      26 June 2020 20: 43
                      With M-16 did not communicate closely. He shot from the Arch, but it was under 308 Winchester.
                      1. +1
                        26 June 2020 20: 46
                        Also a good lyalyka
                        Long M-16 - a very accurate weapon, but in a desert climate requires careful maintenance
                        Galil and Kalashnikov more reliable
                      2. +1
                        26 June 2020 20: 48
                        This is understandable, Galil and Kalashnikov are brothers. smile
                      3. +2
                        26 June 2020 20: 49
                        Well, yes - Galil more precisely, AK is easier and does not rust, like an Israeli
                      4. +2
                        26 June 2020 20: 50
                        The Chinese rusts like "paddle", I mean their old clones, how is it now with the quality, I do not know.
                      5. +4
                        26 June 2020 20: 54
                        He didn’t hold anything Chinese, heavier than an iPhone laughing
                      6. +2
                        26 June 2020 20: 59
                        We got a couple of Chinese from Vietnam, both rusty, and after cleaning they continued to rust just as successfully. And the trunk could literally be bent "on the knee".
                      7. +2
                        26 June 2020 21: 53
                        Disposable weapons? )))
                      8. +2
                        26 June 2020 21: 54
                        In our opinion, yes, but blacks still manage to use them. laughing
                      9. +3
                        26 June 2020 21: 59
                        Negroes, according to the stories of guys working in Africa, have disposable soldiers laughing
                      10. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 00
                        With their birth rate is not a problem. laughing
                      11. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 05
                        Quite right, although in the IDF of Ethiopian origin, the bulk of the soldiers are quite normal soldiers - very hardy, by the way))
                        On a run for 2000 m percent, 60 of them have a result of up to 7 minutes
                      12. +1
                        26 June 2020 22: 07
                        On a run for 2000 m percent, 60 of them have a result of up to 7 minutes

                        But ... request
                      13. 0
                        26 June 2020 20: 55
                        Quote: Krasnodar
                        Well, yes - Galil more precisely, AK is easier and does not rust, like an Israeli

                        Did you check it yourself? Or just show off ...
                      14. +3
                        26 June 2020 20: 56
                        Yes, I’ve checked it.
                      15. 0
                        26 June 2020 21: 10
                        Quote: Krasnodar
                        Yes, I’ve checked it.

                        Well, I believe. We have here on the site that it was not a Jew who served in the IDF and drenched the Arabs ..))) And he knows everything about weapons (even our modern one)))) ..
                        Quote: Sea Cat
                        Albert served in the Israeli army, so don’t need la-la ...

                        Albert even)))) How do you know? He can come up with this here)))
                        Kostya doesn’t hurt you .. And then Albert can arrange a tour to cure Israel .. (very modestly at a price ..))))))
                        They cut everything out., Blood will be poured from the Arab ..))))
                      16. +3
                        26 June 2020 21: 54
                        And you otmazali your children from the army, Vitaly? )))
                        Did you serve yourself? laughing
                      17. +2
                        26 June 2020 21: 57
                        My soul hurts, I'm worried about you, because I’m sure that something is wrong with you and that’s why you constantly rush at people. It’s a pity, I’ve even somehow kindred with you.
                      18. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 07
                        He unfortunately drinks
                        And this is not compatible with medicines for the cores, but the passenger does not understand this, due to the presence of alcohol instead of cerebrospinal fluid
                      19. +2
                        26 June 2020 21: 01
                        Albert served in the Israeli army, so don’t need la-la ...
                      20. +3
                        26 June 2020 21: 07
                        Roman, are you this?
                      21. +3
                        26 June 2020 21: 18
                        Quote: 3x3zsave
                        Roman, are you this?

                        No, this is clearly not him. The style is different! If ... if not a skillful disguise! laughing
                      22. +2
                        26 June 2020 21: 59
                        Seryozha, do you care? In any case, this is one tooth for our Lexus. drinks
                      23. +2
                        27 June 2020 08: 12
                        Quote: Sea Cat
                        Seryozha, do you care?

                        Curiosity, that's just curiosity!
                        * Mask, do I know you? * bully
                      24. +2
                        26 June 2020 21: 55
                        Quote: 3x3zsave
                        Roman, are you this?

                        This is not a novel. laughing This is the drum of the site, its eternal mascot
                      25. +1
                        27 June 2020 12: 12
                        * I am not Negoro. I am captain Sebastian Pereira. Ebony merchant. *
                        laughing wink laughing
          2. +2
            26 June 2020 20: 34
            Quote: Sea Cat
            In my time, there were no such clubs, only "in the kitchen"

            The famous * Cocktail Hall * on Gorky? bully
            1. +2
              26 June 2020 20: 45
              What is this "Cocktail Hall"? In general, I was not a fan of strolling about in taverns, if occasionally they went, then to the "Moscow" on the first floor, or to the "Blue Bird". drinks
              1. +3
                26 June 2020 20: 51
                Well, it’s quite a symbolic place. As the name implies, it was based on cocktails, the appetizer is appropriate, the music is live. The atmosphere is powerful zakas to the west. The audience is made of * golden * and not only young people. Plus control of the terrible Kei JB Aksyonov was crazy about him .
                1. +3
                  26 June 2020 20: 53
                  He was redesigned in a cafe * Ice Cream * in 1968.
                  1. +2
                    26 June 2020 21: 28
                    Then I know, of course, I visited after the army.
                2. +2
                  26 June 2020 20: 57
                  I read Aksyonov up and down, but I don’t remember such a place, and he is noticeably older than me in age, from the generation of the "sixties". And when I was there, the Office tended only night bars in the "National" and "Metropol", which in no way prevented our farts and prostitutes from being there like at home. Before the army, I was in the "Birch" opera detachment and talked to this audience in full.
                  1. +3
                    26 June 2020 21: 04
                    Konstantin! This place is featured by Aksyonov in the * Moscow Saga *.
                  2. +3
                    26 June 2020 21: 50
                    Aha-ha !!!! So that's who smashed Moscow hippies !!!!!! laughing bully laughing
                    1. +2
                      26 June 2020 21: 53
                      Nobody saw them then. And our job was farce and currency whores. Petrovka 38 supervised us and, of course, the shadow of the Office was invisibly present.
                      1. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 00
                        1971. * Square * in the Soviet?
                      2. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 03
                        Long before, considering that I went to the army in the fall of 66, and returned to a completely different city, because for three years I had never been on vacation, and thank God. For "Square" I will not say anything, I just do not know.
                      3. +1
                        26 June 2020 22: 09
                        The headquarters of the operational Komsomol detachment. I read about those events with A. Bogomolov, and he, in turn, interviewed the main participants in the events.
                      4. +1
                        26 June 2020 22: 14
                        What events? The only thing I took part in was in the "quiet" dispersal of the crowd on Pushkinskaya during the trial of Sinyavsky and Daniel. Some of our people visited the courtroom during the trial and they really liked how Sinyavsky behaved, the impression of Daniel was with a minus sign. But ... that's from the words, I was not there.
                      5. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 18
                        Incorrectly expressed, sorry! About that event. Acceleration of a hippie rally, demonstration.
                      6. +1
                        26 June 2020 22: 20
                        What year was that? I’m saying that in my time there were two and a half hipar all over Moscow and I really didn’t see them.
                  3. 0
                    12 August 2020 14: 17
                    The office passed only night bars in the "National" and "Metropole"

                    The office "grazed" the entire Intourist network across the country, and the younger brothers too. There were even "specially equipped" rooms.
                    1. 0
                      12 August 2020 14: 49
                      The office "ran" the entire Intourist network across the country,

                      It goes without saying, I only talked about what I saw myself and did not know from books and conversations. hi
                      1. 0
                        12 August 2020 15: 44
                        I don't know from books either. I saw a video from the "equipped room" "Intourist", the video control was not office.
                      2. 0
                        12 August 2020 16: 04
                        In my time (66-67) we saw video cameras only in "Technology of Youth", they appeared much later. And then if something was filmed, then on a regular movie camera, 16mm. to my mind.
                        ... the video control was not office control.

                        Then who, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or anyone on the left?
                      3. 0
                        12 August 2020 16: 10
                        "Younger brothers" - the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they also had their own "quota" in hotels.
                        Shown (early 90s) equipment. US, fit in a case, the cost was announced about 20 thousand green. The room was equipped, there were "resting" two prostitutes and two "managers of organized crime groups" with a specialization in "burglary" laughing In short, an adult film in the format of a reality show.
                      4. 0
                        12 August 2020 16: 25
                        It is clear that in the 90s a video camera appeared for me, a sinner, too, filmed all sorts of things, it's nice to watch now and remember. smile
                3. +3
                  26 June 2020 20: 57
                  I read a lot of Aksenov, but for all my "disside", his antagonist Konetsky is much closer to me.
                  1. +2
                    26 June 2020 21: 08
                    I have always just dragged myself from Konetsky! In addition, he always loved the sea and once even dreamed of becoming a sailor, it did not work out. "Pyotr Nitochkin and mental incompatibility", as it seems the thing was called, captain Sag-Sagailo, chronometer and freezer. laughing
                    1. +2
                      26 June 2020 21: 19
                      I read Konetsky a little earlier than Aksenov, but, honestly, the jumps of a naked nymph, hunting mosquitoes with a vacuum cleaner and drinking triple cologne in Amderma, remained in my memory better than "the island of Crimea".
                      Anyway, the work of Aksenov bears a suicidal connotation.
                      1. +3
                        26 June 2020 21: 26
                        I liked the "Island of Crimea" and, perhaps, because by the time of reading the book, I was already closely registered with archaeologists for every summer with underwater work in Chersonesos.
                        Thank you for reminding me about a nymph with a vacuum cleaner. laughing , but something has already begun to be forgotten.
                      2. VLR
                        +4
                        26 June 2020 21: 56
                        But Aksenov has a children's adventure story "on the theme" about the adventures of a Soviet pioneer: "My grandfather is a monument." A group of mercenaries disguised as symphony orchestra musicians (weapons in cases) are trying to carry out a coup in the tropical state of Great Empyrean and Carbunkle. And one of the mercenaries is John Gray, a goodie. In general, it gives the impression of a parody, like Vysotsky's song about the citizen Epifan, who was recruited by a foreign spy (and Epifan turned out to be a Chekist). But, I think Aksenov in 1969 wrote seriously.
                      3. +1
                        26 June 2020 21: 57
                        Quote: 3x3zsave
                        I read Konetsky a little earlier than Aksenov, but, honestly, the jumps of a naked nymph, hunting mosquitoes with a vacuum cleaner and drinking triple cologne in Amderma, remained in my memory better than "the island of Crimea".
                        Anyway, the work of Aksenov bears a suicidal connotation.

                        Exactly laughing Depressively manic in places
                      4. +1
                        28 June 2020 16: 21
                        - wink Not always - "Gene Green, untouchable ..." is quite a life-affirming thing ...
            2. +3
              26 June 2020 20: 49
              Intelligent "chatter in the kitchen"! laughing
              "This is an unscheduled concert in the kitchen,
              This is recharging our batteries,
              This is a way to keep her crazy and not swell,
              A way to make you and me more fun "(C)
              I love Shakhrin! Perhaps the most positive person in Russian rock over the past 40 years.
              1. +2
                26 June 2020 21: 37
                Quote: 3x3zsave
                I love Shakhrin!

                * A bottle of kefir-half-bacon ... *. And here * Argentina-Jamaica. 5-0 *. I also listen with pleasure!
                1. +2
                  26 June 2020 21: 43
                  Yes, in general, a sunny man! Especially against the background of other immigrants from the Sverdlovsk Rock Club
                  1. +2
                    26 June 2020 21: 52
                    But who frankly dislikes is Butusov. Longing, nagging. Word, not mine.
                    1. +4
                      26 June 2020 22: 01
                      Butusov is a wonderful musician and an excellent arranger, however, he is not a poet. Most of the well-known texts of "Nautilus" were written by Ilya Kormiltsev.
                      1. +1
                        26 June 2020 22: 03
                        I mean the style of execution.
                      2. +3
                        26 June 2020 22: 07
                        Well, figs knows! "Pea Seeds" and "Feast of Common Trouble" are quite aggressive.
                    2. +4
                      26 June 2020 22: 12
                      Quote: Phil77
                      But who frankly dislikes is Butusov. Longing, nagging. Word, not mine.

                      Uh ... who said it was useless to bang your head against a wall? laughing
                      1. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 19
                        who said it is useless to bang your head against a wall?
                        Stanislav Jerzy Lets said. laughing
                      2. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 28
                        Oh ... that thought was unkempt laughing
                      3. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 34
                        Uncleaned thoughts are in every way better than what the father of the character DiCaprio is used to. laughing
                      4. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 53
                        The wife has a girlfriend whose scalp really resembles exactly the hair that the character’s father DiCaprio is used to laughing
                      5. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 56
                        Poor guy !!! crying
                      6. +2
                        26 June 2020 22: 57
                        Yes, no, not enough brains, she does not understand that she is a poor fellow laughing
                      7. +2
                        26 June 2020 23: 03
                        Yes, no, not enough brains, she does not understand that she is a poor fellow
                        Mdya ... The happiness of man is the unconsciousness of the misfortune of his being.
                      8. +2
                        26 June 2020 23: 07
                        Or happy is he who is satisfied with his fate))
  8. +1
    28 June 2020 16: 14
    - Mentioning Major Bangold, one should mention Sam Popsky ... at least as the main and successful competitor of LPDG ...



    - Photos "S. Popski" - Vladimir Penyakov, cap badges on the beret of the unit and sleeve patch "Posky &` Privat Army "

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