CIA Guerilla Handbook
CIA Guerilla Handbook
CIA Guerilla Handbook
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º º
º PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS IN GUERRILLA WARFARE º
º º
º by º
º º
º Tayac n º
º º
º A tactical manual for the revolutionary that º
º was published by the Central Intelligence º
º Agency and distributed to the Contras in º
º Central America. º
º º
º Combat Arms urges gun owners in the United º
º States to become very familiar with the º
º contents of this manual and to discuss it º
º among your family and friends. Liberty knows º
º no peace. º
º º
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PREFACE
Welcome!
INTRODUCTION
1. Generalities
2. Combatant-Propagandist Guerrillas
3. Armed Propaganda
Armed propaganda includes every act carried out, and the good
impression that this armed force causes will result in positive
attitudes
in the population toward that force; ad it does not include forced
indoctrination. Armed propaganda improves the behavior of the population
toward them, and it is not achieved by force.
This means that a guerilla armed unit in a rural town will not give
the impression that arms are their strength over the peasants, but
rather
that they are the strength of the peasants against the Sandinista
government of repression. This is achieved through a close
identification
with the people, as follows: hanging up weapons and working together
with
them on their crops, in construction, in the harvesting of grains, in
fishing, etc.; explanations to young men about basic weapons, e.g.
giving
them an unloaded weapon and letting them touch it, see it, etc.;
describing
in a rudimentary manner its operation; describing with simple slogans
how
weapons will serve the people to win their freedom; demanding the
requests
by the people for hospitals and education, reducing taxes, etc.
The support of local contacts who are familiar with the deep
reality
is achieved through the exploitation of the social and political
weaknesses
of the target society, with propagandist-combatant guerrillas, armed
propaganda, armed propaganda teams, cover organizations and mass
meetings.
The mass assemblies and meetings are the culmination of a wide base
support among the population, and it comes about in the later phases of
the
operation. This is the moment in which the overthrow can be achieved and
our revolution can become an open one, requiring the close collaboration
of
the entire population of the country, and of contacts with their roots
in
reality.
COMBATANT-PROPAGANDIST GUERRILLA
1. Generalities
2. Political Awareness
3. Group Dynamics
þ The unification of the nation is our goal. This means that the
defeat of the Sandinista armed forces is our priority. Our
insurrectional movement is a pluralistic political platform
from
which we are determined to win freedom, equality, a better
economy with work facilities, a higher standard of living, a
true
democracy for all Nicaraguans without exception.
þ Showing each guerrilla the need for good behavior to win the
support of the population. Discussion guides should convince
the
guerrillas that the attitude and opinion of the population
play a
decisive role, because victory is impossible without popular
support.
þ Freedom of thought.
þ Freedom of expression.
This means that every guerrilla will come to have effective face-
to-
face persuasion as a combatant-propagandist in his contact with the
people,
to the point of giving 5-10 logical reasons why, e.g. a peasant should
give
him a piece of cloth, or a needle and thread to mend his clothes. When
behaves in this manner, no type of propaganda of the enemy will be able
to
make a "terrorist" of him in the eyes of the people.
4. Camp Procedures
This attitude will foster the sympathy of the peasants for our
movement, and they will immediately become one of us, through logistical
support, coverage and intelligence information on the enemy or
participation in combat. The guerrillas should be persuasive through the
word and not dictatorial with weapons. If they behave in this way, the
people will feel respected, will be more inclined to accept our message
and
will consolidate into popular support.
6. Conclusions
ARMED PROPAGANDA
1. Generalities
þ When working with the people, the guerrillas can use slogans
such
as "many hands doing small things, but doing them together."
"The weapons will be for winning freedom; the are for you."
þ Mix the guerrillas within the population and show very good conduct by
all members of the column, practicing the following:
The guerrillas should instruct the population that with the end of
the
operative, and when the Sandinista repressive forces interrogate
them,
they may reveal EVERYTHING about the military operation carried
out.
For example, the type of weapons they use, ho many men arrived,
from
what direction they came and in what direction they left, in short,
EVERYTHING.
Make the promise to the people that you will return to ensure that
the
"leeches" of the Sandinista regime of repression will not be able to
hinder
our guerrillas from integrating with the population.
þ Explain to the population that in the first place this is being done
to
protect them, the people, and not themselves.
þ The command tried to detain the informant without firing because he,
like
all Christian guerrillas, espouses nonviolence. Firing at the Sandinista
informant, although it is against his own will, was necessary to prevent
the repression of the Sandinista government against innocent people.
þ Make the population see that it was the repressive system of the
regime
that was the cause of this situation, what really killed the informer,
and
that the weapon fired was one recovered in combat against the Sandinista
regime.
þ Make the population see that if the Sandinista regime had ended the
repression, the corruption backed by foreign powers, etc., the freedom
commandos would not have had to brandish arms against brother
Nicaraguans,
which goes against our Christian sentiments. If the informant hadn't
tried
to escape he would be enjoying life together with the rest of the
population, because not have tried to inform the enemy. This death would
have been avoided if justice and freedom existed in Nicaragua, which is
exactly the objective of the democratic guerrilla.
The person who will replace the target should be chosen carefully,
based on:
þ Carefully test the reaction of the people toward the mission, as well
as
control this reaction, making sure that the populations reaction is
beneficial towards the Freedom Commandos.
6. Conclusions
Armed propaganda includes all acts executed and the impact achieved
by
an armed force, which as a result produces positive attitudes in the
population toward this force, and it does not include forced
indoctrination. However, armed propaganda is the most effective
available
instrument of a guerrilla force.
1. Generalities
The leader of the group should be the commando who is the most
highly
motivated politically and the most effective in face-to-face persuasion.
The position, hierarchy or range will not be decisive for carrying out
that
function, but rather who is best qualified for communication with the
people.
The target groups for the Armed Propaganda Teams are not the
persons
with sophisticated political knowledge, but rather those whose opinion
are
formed from what they see and hear. The cadres should use persuasion to
carry out their mission. Some of the persuasive methods that they can
use
are the following:
Be Simple and Concise. You should avoid the use of difficult words
or
expressions and prefer popular words and expressions, i.e. the language
of
the people. In dealing with a person you should make use of concise
language, avoiding complicated words. It is important to remember that
we
use oratory to make our people understand the reason for our struggle,
and
not to show off our knowledge.
The objective should be the people and not the territorial area.
In this respect, each work team will be able to cover some six
towns
approximately, in order to develop popular support for our movement.
The Team should always move in a covert manner within the towns of
their area.
They should vary their route radically, but not their itinerary,.
This
is so that the inhabitants who are cooperating will be dependent on
their
itinerary, i.e., the hour in which they can frequently contact them to
give
them the information.
The basic procedures are: covert elements that carry out vigilance
before and after the departure and in intervals. There should be two at
least, and they should meet at a predetermined point upon a signal, or
in
view of any hostile action.
The tactical objectives for identification with the people are the
following:
For the elements ambitious for power and social positions, it will
be
emphasized that they will never be able to belong to the governmental
social class, since they are hermetic in their circle of command.
Example,
the nine Sandinista leaders do not allow other persons to participate in
the government, and they hinder the development of the economic and
social
potential of those like him, who have desires of overcoming this, which
is
unjust and arbitrary.
Once the needs and frustrations of the target groups have been
determined, the hostility of the people to the "false" groups will
become
more direct, against the current regime and its system of repression.
The
people will be made to see that once this system or structure has been
eliminated, the cause of their frustration s would be eliminated and
they
would be able to fulfill their desires. It should be shown to the
population that supporting the insurrection is really supporting their
own
desires, since the democratic movement is aimed at the elimination of
these
specific problems.
One exception to the rule to avoid combat will be when in the town
they are challenged by hostile actions, whether by an individual or
whether
by a number of men of an enemy team.
When the enemy is equal in the number of its forces, there should
be
an immediate retreat, and then the enemy should be ambushed or
eliminated
by means of sharp-shooters.
In any of the cases, the Armed Propaganda Team cadres should not
turn
the town into a battleground. Generally, our guerrilla will be better
armed, so that they will obtain greater respect from the population if
they
carry out appropriate maneuvers instead of endangering their lives, or
even
destroying their houses in an encounter with the enemy within the town.
The activities of the Armed Propaganda Teams run some risks, but no
more than any other guerrilla activity. However, the Armed Propaganda
Teams
are essential for the success of the struggle.
6. Conclusions
In the same way that the explorers are the "eyes and "ears" of a
patrol, or of a column on the march, the Armed Propaganda Teams are also
the source of information, the "antennas" of our movement, because they
find and exploit the sociopolitical weaknesses in the target society,
making possible a successful operation.
1. Generalities
2. Initial Recruitment
þ The cadre then must emphasize this theme, word or thought in the
discussions or meetings of the target group, through a casual
commentary, which improves the focus of other members of the group
in
relation to this. Specific examples are:
The guerrilla cadre moving among the target groups should always
maintain a low profile, so that the development of hostile feelings
towards
the false Sandinista regime seems to come spontaneously from the members
of
the group and not from suggestions of the cadres. This is internal
subjective control.
Any other target group will be aware that other groups are
developing
greater hostility to the government., the police and the traditional
legal
bases of authority. The guerrilla cadres tn that group - for example,
teachers - will cultivate this awareness-building, making comments such
as
"So-and-so, who is a farmer, said that the members of his cooperative
believe that the new economic policy is absurd, poorly planned and
unfair
to the farmers."
6. Conclusions
1. Generalities
The taxes that they pay the government do not benefit the
people
at all, but rather are uses as a form of exploitation in order
to
enrich those governing.
Make it plain to the people that they have become slaves, that
they are being exploited by privileged military and political
groups.
When the mass uprising is being developed, our covert cadres should
make partial demands, initially demanding, e.g. "We want food," "We want
freedom of worship," "We want union freedom" - steps that will lead us
toward the realization of the goals of our movement, which are: GOD,
HOMELAND and DEMOCRACY.
4. Creation of Nuclei
Our agitators will visit the places where the unemployed meet, as
well
as the unemployment offices, in order to hire them for unspecified
"jobs."
The recruitment of these wage earners is necessary because a nucleus is
created under absolute orders.
These key agitators of ours will remain within the multitude. The
one
responsible for this mission will assign ahead of time the agitators to
remain near the placard that he will indicate to them, in order to give
protection to the placard from any contrary element. In that way the
commander will know where our agitators are, and will be able to send
orders to change passwords or slogans, or any other unforeseen thing,
and
even eventually to incite violence if he desires it.
At this stage, once the key cadres have been dispersed, they should
place themselves in visible places such as by signs, lampposts, and
other
places which stand out.
These members must have a high discipline and will use violence
only
on the verbal orders of the one in charge of them.
6. Conclusions
1. Generalities
2. Motivation as Combatant-Propagandist
Every member of the struggle should know that his political mission
is
as important as, if not more important than, his tactical mission.
3. Armed Propaganda
7. Conclusion
Too often we see guerrilla warfare only from the point of view of
combat actions. This view is erroneous and extremely dangerous. Combat
actions are not the key to victory in guerrilla warfare but rather form
part of one of the six basic efforts. There is no priority in any of the
efforts, but rather they should progress in a parallel manner. The
emphasis
or exclusion of any of these efforts could bring about serious
difficulties, and in the worst of cases, even failure. The history of
revolutionary wars has shown this reality.
APPENDIX
2. The Audience
3. Political Oratory
4. Qualities in a Speech
5. Structure of a Speech
þ Introduction or Preamble
One enters into contact with the public, a personal
introduction
can be made or one of the movement to which we belong, the
reason
for our presence, etc. In these first seconds it is important
to
make an impact, attracting attention and provoking interest
among
the audience. For that purpose, there are resources such as
beginning with a famous phrase or a previously prepared
slogan,
telling a dramatic or humorous story, etc.
þ Purpose or Enunciation
The subject to be dealt with is defined, explained as a whole
or
by parts.
þ Appraisal or Argumentation
Arguments are presented, EXACTLY IN THIS ORDER: First, the
negative arguments, or against the thesis that is going to be
upheld, and then the positive arguments, or favorable ones to
our
thesis, immediately adding proof or facts that sustain such
arguments.
þ Recapitulation or Conclusion
A short summary is made and the conclusions of the speech are
spelled out.
þ Exhortation
Action by the public is called for, i.e., they are asked in
and
almost energetic manner to do or not to do something.
The devices that are used the most in oratory are those obtained
through the repetition of words in particular periods of the speech,
such
as:
Reduplication, when the phrase begins with the same word that ends
the
previous one. For example: "We struggle for democracy, democracy and
social
justice." The concatenation is a chain made up of duplications. For
example: "Communism transmits the deception of the child to the young
man,
of the young man to the adult, and of the adult to the old man."
In the antithesis or word play, the same words are used with a
different meaning to give an ingenious effect: e.g., "The greatest
wealth
of every human being is his own freedom, because slaves will always be
poor
but we poor can have the wealth of our freedom."
Similar cadences, through the use of verbs of the same tense and
person, or nouns of the same number and case. For example: "Those of us
who
are struggling we will be marching because he who perseveres achieves,
and
he who gives up remains."
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