Goon Squad

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Alice the Goon from the Popeye cartoon strip (pictured with Sweetpea)

A Goon Squad is a group of surrogate "enforcers" acting with the tacit approval of a government or other authority structure. A goon squad may be officially condemned, but quietly tolerated.

[edit] History

The term "goon squad" has several specific historical references in the 20th century.^[1] However, it is more often used informally or humorously. Goon squad can range from the serious, to the ridiculous.

[edit] Goon Squad in Popular Culture

• Elvis Costello wrote a song called "Goon Squad", which appears on his early masterpiece, Armed Forces.
• In the movie The Princess Bride, Fezzik is recruited into a goon squad, although they call it a "brute squad". Miracle Max at one point tells him "You are the brute squad".
• The Hell's Angels acting as "security" for the Rolling Stones at Altamont would be an example of a goon squad.

[edit] Footnotes

1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goon_Squad