CIA PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS IN GUERRILLA WARFARE

A tactical manual for the revolutionary. First published by the Central Intelligence

Agency and distributed to the Contras in Central America.

Tayac n

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-PREFACE-

• INTRODUCTION

• COMBATANT-PROPAGANDIST GUERRILLA

• ARMED PROPAGANDA

• ARMED PROPAGANDA TEAMS (APTs)

• DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF FRONT ORGANIZATIONS

• CONTROL OF MASS CONCENTRATIONS AND MEETINGS

• MASSIVE IN-DEPTH SUPPORT THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICAL

OPERATIONS

-APPENDIX-PREFACE

Guerrilla warfare is essentially a political war. Therefore, its area of

operations exceeds the territorial limits of conventional warfare, to penetrate

the political entity itself: the "political animal" that Aristotle defined.

     In effect, the human being should be considered the priority objective

in a political war. And conceived as the military target of guerrilla war, the

human being has his most critical point in his mind. Once his mind has been

reached, the "political animal" has been defeated, without necessarily

receiving bullets.

     Guerrilla warfare is born and grows in the political environment; in

the constant combat to dominate that area of political mentality that is

inherent to all human beings and which collectively constitutes the

"environment" in which guerrilla warfare moves, and which is where

precisely its victory or failure is defined.

     This conception of guerrilla warfare as political war turns

Psychological Operations into the decisive factor of the results. The target,

then, is the minds of the population, all the population: our troops, the

enemy troops and the civilian population.

     This book is a manual for the training of guerrillas in psychological

operations, and its application to the concrete case of the Christian and

democratic crusade being waged in Nicaragua by the Freedom Commandos.

Welcome!INTRODUCTION

1. Generalities

     The purpose of this book is to introduce the guerrilla student to the

psychological operations techniques that will be of immediate and practical

value to him in guerrilla warfare. This section is introductory and general;

subsequent sections will cover each point set forth here in more detail.

     The nature of the environment of guerrilla warfare does not permit

sophisticated psychological operations, and it becomes necessary for the

chiefs of groups, chiefs of detachments and squadron leaders to have the

ability to carry out, with minimal instructions from the higher levels,

psychological action operations with the contacts that are thoroughly aware

of the situation, i.e. the foundations.

2. Combatant-Propagandist Guerrillas

     In order to obtain the maximum results from the psychological

operations in guerrilla warfare, every combatant should be as highly

motivated to carry out propaganda face to face as he is a combatant. This

means that the individual political awareness of the guerrilla of the reason

for his struggle will be as acute as his ability to fight.

     Such a political awareness and motivation is obtained through the

dynamic of groups and self-criticism, as a standard method of instruction for

the guerrilla training and operations. Group discussions raise the spirit and

improve the unity of thought of the guerrilla training and operations. Group

discussions raise the spirit and improve the unity of thought of the guerrilla

squads and exercise social pressure on the weak members to carry out a

better role in future training or in combative action. Self-criticism is in termsof one's contribution or defects in his contribution to the cause, to the

movement, the struggle, etc.; and gives a positive individual commitment to

the mission of the group.

     The desired result is a guerrilla who can persuasively justify his

actions when he comes into contact with any member of the People of

Nicaragua, and especially with himself and his fellow guerrillas in dealing

with the vicissitudes of guerrilla warfare. This means that every guerrilla

will be persuasive in his face-to-face communication - propagandistcombatant - is his contact with the people; he should be able to give 5 or 10

logical reasons why, for example, a peasant should give him cloth, needle

and thread to mend his clothes. When the guerrilla behaves in this manner,

enemy propaganda will never succeed in making him an enemy in the eyes

of the people. It also means that hunger, cold, fatigue and insecurity will

have a meaning, psychologically, in the cause of the struggle due to his

constant orientation.

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.

     All these acts have as their goal the creation of an identification of the

people with the weapons and the guerrillas who carry them, so that thepopulation feels that the weapons are, indirectly, their weapon to protect

them and help them in the struggle against a regime of oppression. Implicit

terror always accompanies weapons, since the people are internally "aware"

that they can be used against them, but as long as explicit coercion is

avoided, positive attitudes can be achieved with respect to the presence of

armed guerrillas within the population.

4. Armed Propaganda Teams

     Armed Propaganda Teams (EPA) are formed through a careful

selection of persuasive and highly motivated guerrillas who move about

within the population, encouraging the people to support the guerrillas and

put up resistance against the enemy. It combines a high degree of political

awareness and the "armed" propaganda ability of the guerrillas toward a

planned, programmed, and controlled effort.

     The careful selection of the staff, based on their persuasiveness in

informal discussions and their ability in combat, is more important than their

degree of education or the training program. The tactics of the Armed

Propaganda Teams are carried out covertly, and should be parallel to the

tactical effort in guerrilla warfare. The knowledge of the psychology of the

population is primary for the Armed Propaganda Teams, but much more

intelligence data will be obtained from an EPA program in the area of

operations.

5. Development and Control of the "Front" Organizations

     The development and control of "front" (or facade) organizations is

carried out through subjective internal control at group meetings of "inside

cadres," and the calculations of the time for the fusion of these combined

efforts to be applied to the masses.

     Established citizens-doctors, lawyers, businessmen, teachers, etc.- will

be recruited initially as "Social Crusaders" in typically "innocuous"

movements in the area of operations. When their "involvement" with theclandestine organization is revealed to them, this supplies the psychological

pressure to use them as "inside cadres" in groups to which they already

belong or of which they can be members.

     Then they will receive instruction in techniques of persuasion over

control of target groups to support our democratic revolution, through a

gradual and skillful process. A cell control system isolates individuals from

one another, and at the appropriate moment, their influence is used for the

fusion of groups in a united national front.

6. Control of Meetings and Mass Assemblies

     The control of mass meetings in support of guerrilla warfare is carried

out internally through a covert commando element, bodyguards, messengers,

shock forces (initiators of incidents), placard carriers (also used for making

signals), shouters of slogans, everything under the control of the outside

commando element.

     When the cadres are placed or recruited in organizations such as labor

unions, youth groups agrarian organizations or professional associations,

they will begin to manipulate the objectives of the groups. The

psychological apparatus of our movement through inside cadres prepares a

mental attitude which at the crucial moment can be turned into a fury of

justified violence.

     Through a small group of guerrillas infiltrated within the masses this

can be carried out; they will have the mission of agitating by giving the

impression that there are many of them and that they have a large popular

backing. Using the tactics of a force of 200-300 agitators, a demonstration

can be created in which 10,000-20,000 persons take part.

7. Support of Contacts with Their Roots in Reality     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 combatant-propagandist guerrilla is the result of a continuous

program of indoctrination and motivation. They will have the mission of

showing the people how great and fair our movement is in the eyes of all

Nicaraguans and the world. Identifying themselves with our people, they

will increase the sympathy towards our movement, which will result in

greater support of the population for the freedom commandos, taking away

support for the regime in power.

     Armed propaganda will extend this identification process of the

people with the Christian guerrillas, providing converging points against the

Sandinista regime.

     The Armed Propaganda Teams provide a several-stage program of

persuasive planning in guerrilla warfare in all areas of the country. Also,

these teams are the "eyes and ears" of our movement.

     The development and control of the cover organizations in guerrilla

warfare will give our movement the ability to create a "whiplash" effect

within the population when the order for fusion is given. When the

infiltration and internal subjective control have been developed in a manner

parallel to other guerrilla activities, a commandant of ours will literally be

able to shake up the Sandinista structure, and replace it.

     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.     The tactical effort in guerrilla warfare is directed at the weaknesses of

the enemy and at destroying their military resistance capacity, and should be

parallel to a psychological effort to weaken and destroy their sociopolitical

capacity at the same time. In guerrilla warfare, more than in any other type

of military effort, the psychological activities should be simultaneous with

the military ones, in order to achieve the objectives desired.COMBATANT-PROPAGANDIST GUERRILLA

1. Generalities

     The objective of this section is to familiarize the guerrilla with the

techniques of psychological operations, which maximizes the socialpsychological effect of a guerrilla movement, converting the guerrilla into a

propagandist, in addition to being a combatant. The nature of the

environment in guerrilla warfare does not permit sophisticated facilities for

psychological operations, so that use should be made of the effective faceto-face persuasion of each guerrilla.

2. Political Awareness

     The individual political awareness of the guerrilla, the reason for his

struggle, will be as important as his ability in combat. This political

awareness and motivation will be achieved:

• By improving the combat potential of the guerrilla by

improving his motivation for fighting.

• By the guerrilla recognizing himself as a vital tie between the

democratic guerrillas and the people, whose support is essential

for the subsistence of both.

• By fostering the support of the population for the national

insurgence through the support for the guerrillas of the locale,

which provides a psychological basis in the population for

politics after the victory has been achieved.

• By developing trust in the guerrillas and in the population, for

the reconstruction of a local and national government.• By promoting the value of participation by the guerrillas and

the people in the civic affairs of the insurrection and in the

national programs.

• By developing in each guerrilla the ability of persuasion faceto-face, at the local level, to win the support of the population,

which is essential for success in guerrilla warfare.

3. Group Dynamics

     This political awareness building and motivation are attained by the

use of group dynamics at the level of small units. The group discussion

method and self-criticism are a general guerrilla training and operations

technique.

     Group discussions raise the spirit and increase the unity of thought in

small guerrilla groups and exercise social pressure on the weakest members

to better carry out their mission in training and future combat actions. These

group discussions will give special emphasis to:

• Creating a favorable opinion of our movement. Through local

and national history, make it clear that the Sandinista regime is

"foreignizing," "repressive" and "imperialistic," and that even

though there are some Nicaraguans within the government,

point out that they are "puppets" of the power of the Soviets and

Cubans, i.e. of foreign power.

• Always a local focus. Matters of an international nature will be

explained only in support of local events in the guerrilla

warfare.

• 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 bettereconomy with work facilities, a higher standard of living, a true

democracy for all Nicaraguans without exception.

• Providing to each guerrilla clear understanding about the

struggle for national sovereignty against Soviet-Cuban

imperialism. Discussion guides will lead the guerrillas so that

they will see the injustices of the Sandinista system.

• 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.

• Self-criticism will be in constructive terms that will contribute

to the mission of the movement, and which will provide the

guerrillas with the conviction that they have a constant and

positive individual responsibility in the mission of the group.

The method of instruction will be:

a) Divisions of the guerrilla force into squads for group

discussions, including command and support elements,

whenever the tactical situation permits it. The makeup of

the small units should be maintained when these groups are

designated.

b) Assignment of a political cadre in the guerrilla force to

each group to guide the discussion. The squad leader

should help the cadre to foster study and the expression of

thoughts. If there are not enough political cadres for each

squad or post, leaders should guide the discussions, and the

available cadres visit alternate groups.

c) It is appropriate for the cadre (or the leader) to guide the

discussion of a group to cover a number of points and to

reach a correct conclusion. The guerrillas should feel that it

was their free and own decision. The cadre should serve as

a private teacher. The cadre or leader will not act as a

lecturer, but will help the members of the group to study

and express their own opinions.d) The political cadre will at the end of every discussion

make a summary of the principal points, leading them to

the correct conclusions. Any serious difference with the

objectives of the movement should be noted by the cadre

and reported to the commandant of the force. If necessary,

a combined group meeting will be held and the team of

political cadres will explain and rectify the

misunderstanding.

e) Democratic conduct by the political cadres: living, eating

and working with the guerrillas, and if possible, fighting at

their side, sharing their living conditions. All of this will

foster understanding and the spirit of cooperation that will

help in the discussion and exchange of ideas.

f) Carry out-group discussions in towns, and areas of

operations whenever possible with the civilian population,

and not limit them to camps or bases. This is done to

emphasize the revolutionary nature of the struggle and to

demonstrate that the guerrillas identified with the

objectives of the people move about within the population.

The guerrilla projects himself toward the people, as the

political cadre does toward the guerrilla, and they should

live, eat and work together to realize a unity of

revolutionary thought.

The principles for guerrilla and political-cadre group discussions are:

• Organize discussion groups at the post or squad level. A cadre

cannot be sure of the comprehension and acceptance of the

concepts and conclusions by guerrillas in large groups. In a

group of the size of a squad of 10 men, the judgement and

control of the situation is greater. In this way, all students will

participate in an exchange among them; the political leader, the

group leader, and also the political cadre. Special attention will

be given to the individual ability to discuss the objectives of the

insurrectional struggle. Whenever a guerrilla expresses his

opinion, he will be interested in listening to the opinions of

others, leading as a result to the unity of thought.• Combine the different points of view and reach an opinion or

common conclusion. This is the most difficult task of a political

guerrilla cadre. After the group discussions of the democratic

objectives of the movement, the chief of the team of political

cadres of the guerrilla force should combine the conclusions of

individual groups in a general summary. At a meeting with all

the discussion groups, the cadre shall provide the principal

points, and the guerrillas will have the opportunity to clarify or

modify their points of view. To carry this out, the conclusions

will be summarized in the form of slogans, wherever possible.

• Face with honesty the national and local problems of our

struggle. The political cadres should always be prepared to

discuss solutions to the problems observed by the guerrillas.

During the discussions, the guerrillas should be guided by the

following three principles:

• Freedom of thought.

• Freedom of expression.

• Concentration of thoughts on the objectives of the democratic

struggle.

     The result desired is a guerrilla who in a persuasive manner ca justify

all of his acts whenever he is in contact with any member of the town/people

and especially with himself and with his guerrilla companion by facing the

vicissitudes of guerrilla warfare.

     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.     In addition, hunger, cold, fatigue and insecurity in the existence of the

guerrilla acquire meaning in the cause of the struggle due to the constant

psychological orientation.

4. Camp Procedures

     Encamping the guerrilla units gives greater motivation, in addition to

reducing distractions, and increases the spirit of cooperation of small units,

relating the physical environment to the psychological one. The squad chief

shall establish the regular camping procedure. Once thy have divested

themselves of their packs, the chief will choose the appropriate ground for

camping. He should select land that predominates over the zone with two or

three escape routes. He will choose among his men and give them

responsibilities such as:

• Clean the camp area.

• Provide adequate drainage in case of rain. Also build some

trenches or holes for marksmen in case of emergency. In

addition, he will build a stove, which will be done by making

some small trenches and placing three rocks in place; in case

the stove is built on a pedestal, it will be filled with clay and

rocks.

• Build a wind-breaking wall, which will be covered on the sides

and on the top with branches and leaves of the same vegetation

of the zones. This will serve for camouflaging and protecting it

from aerial visibility or from enemy patrols around.

• Construct a latrine and a hole where waste and garbage will be

buried, which should be covered over at the time of abandoning

the camp.

• Once the camp has been set up, it is recommended that a

watchman be positioned in the places of access at a prudent

distance, where the shout of alarm can be heard. In the samemoment the password will be established, which should be

changed every 24 hours. The commander should establish

ahead of time an alternate meeting point, in case of having to

abandon the camp in a hurried manner, and they will be able to

meet in the other already established point, and they should

warn the patrol that if at a particular time they cannot meet at

the established point, the should have a third meeting point.

     These procedures contribute to the motivation of the guerrilla and

improve the spirit of cooperation in the unit. The danger, sense of insecurity,

anxiety and daily concern in the life of a guerrilla require tangible evidence

of belonging in an order for him to keep up his spirit and morale.

     In addition to the good physical conditions in which the guerrilla

should find himself, good psychological conditions are necessary, for which

group discussions and becoming a self-critic are recommended, which will

greatly benefit the spirit and morale of the same.

     Having broken camp with the effort and cooperation of everyone

strengthens the spirit of the group. The guerrilla will be inclined then

towards the unity of thought in democratic objectives.

5. Interaction with the People

     In order to ensure popular support, essential for the good development

of guerrilla warfare, the leaders should induce a positive interaction between

the civilians and the guerrillas, through the principle of "live, eat , and work

with the people," and maintain control of their activities. In group

discussions, the leaders and political cadres should give emphasis to

positively identifying themselves with the people.

     It is not recommendable to speak of military tactical plans in

discussions with civilians. The Communist foe should be pointed out as thenumber one enemy of the people, and as a secondary threat against our

guerrilla forces.

     Whenever there is a chance, groups of members should be chosen

who have a high political awareness and high disciplinary conduct in the

work to be carried out, in order to be sent to the populous areas in order to

direct the armed propaganda, where they should persuade the people through

dialogue in face-to-face confrontations, where these principles should be

followed:

• Respect for human rights and others' property.

• Helping the people in community work.

• Protecting the people from Communist aggressions.

• Teaching the people environmental hygiene, to read, etc., in

order to win their trust, which will lead to a better democratic

ideological preparation.

     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.

     In any place in which tactical guerrilla operations are carried out in

populous areas, the squad should undertake psychological actions parallel to

these, and should proceed, accompany and consolidate the common

objective and explain to all the people about our struggle, explaining that our

presence is to give peace, liberty and democracy to all Nicaraguans without

exception, and explaining that out struggle is not against the nationals but

rather against Russian imperialism. This will serve to ensure greater

Psychological achievements which will increase the operations of the future.6. Conclusions

     The nature of the environment in guerrilla warfare does not permit

sophisticated facilities for psychological operations, and the face-to-face

persuasion of the guerrilla combatant-propagandists with the people is an

effective and available tool which we should use as much as possible during

the process of the struggle.ARMED PROPAGANDA

1. Generalities

     Frequently a misunderstanding exists on "armed propaganda," that

this tactic is a compulsion of the people with arms. In reality, it does not

include compulsion, but the guerrilla should know well the principles and

methods of this tactic. The objective of this section is to give the guerrilla

student an understanding of the armed propaganda that should be used, and

that will be able to be applied in guerrilla warfare.

2. Close Identification with the People

     Armed propaganda includes all acts carried out by an armed force,

whose results improve the attitude of the people toward this force, and it

does not include forced indoctrination. This is carried out by a close

identification with the people on any occasion. For example:

• Putting aside weapons and working side by side with the

peasants in the countryside: building, fishing, repairing roofs,

transporting water, etc.

• When working with the people, the guerrillas can use slogans

such as "many hands doing small things, but doing them

together."

• Participating in the tasks of the people, they can establish a

strong tie between them and the guerrillas and at the same time

a popular support for our movement is generated.     During the patrols and other operations around or in the midst of

villages, each guerrilla should be respectful and courteous with the people.

In addition he should move with care and always be well prepared to fight, if

necessary. But he should not always see all the people as enemies, with

suspicions or hostility. Even in war, it is possible to smile, laugh or greet

people. Truly, the cause of our revolutionary base, the reason why we are

struggling, is our people. We must be respectful to them on all occasions that

present themselves.

     In places and situations wherever possible, e.g. when they are resting

during the march, the guerrillas can explain the operation of weapons to the

youths and young men. They can show them an unloaded rifle so that they

will learn to load it and unload it; their use, and aiming at imaginary targets

they are potential recruits for our forces.

     The guerrillas should always be prepared with simple slogans in order

to explain to the people, whether in an intentional form or by chance, the

reason for the weapons.

"The weapons will be for winning freedom; they are for you."

"With weapons we can impose demands such as hospitals,

schools, better roads, and social services for the people, for

you."

"Our weapons are, in truth, the weapons of the people, yours."

"With weapons we can change the Sandino-Communist regime

and return to the people a true democracy so that we will all

have economic opportunities."

     All of this should be designed to create an identification of the people

with the weapons and the guerrillas who carry them. Finally, we should

make the people feel that we are thinking of them and that the weapons are

the people's, in order to help them and protect them from a Communist,

totalitarian, imperialist regime, indifferent to the needs of the population.3. Implicit and Explicit Terror

     A guerrilla-armed force always involves implicit terror because the

population, without saying it aloud, feels terror that the weapons may be

used against them. However, if the terror does not become explicit, positive

results can be expected.

     In a revolution, the individual lives under a constant threat of physical

damage. If the government police cannot put an end to the guerrilla

activities, the population will lose confidence in the government, which has

the inherent mission of guaranteeing the safety of citizens. However, the

guerrillas should be careful not to become an explicit terror, because this

would result in a loss of popular support.

     In the words of a leader of the Huk guerrilla movement of the

Philippine Islands: "The population is always impressed by weapons, not by

the terror that they cause, but rather by a sensation of strength/force. We

must appear before the people, giving them the message of the struggle."

This is, then, in a few words, the essence of armed propaganda.

     An armed guerrilla force can occupy an entire town or small city that

is neutral or relatively passive in the conflict. In order to conduct the armed

propaganda in an effective manner, the following should be carried out

simultaneously:

• Destroy the military or police installations and remove the

survivors to a "public place."

• Cut all the outside lines of communications: cables, radio,

messengers.

• Set up ambushes in order to delay the reinforcements in all the

possible entry routes.• Kidnap all officials or agents of the Sandinista government and

replace them in "public Places" with military or civilian persons

of trust to our movement; in addition, carry out the following:

• Establish a public tribunal that depends on the guerrillas, and

cover the town or city in order to gather the population for this

event.

• Shame, ridicule and humiliate the "personal symbols" of the

government of repression in the presence of the people and

foster popular participation through guerrillas within the

multitude, shouting slogans and jeers.

• Reduce the influence of individuals in tune with the regime,

pointing out their weaknesses and taking them out of the town,

without damaging them publicly.

• Mix the guerrillas within the population and show very good

conduct by all members of the column, practicing the

following:

Any article taken will be paid for with cash.

The hospitality offered by the people will be accepted and

this opportunity will be exploited in order to carry out faceto-face persuasion about the struggle.

Courtesy visits should be made to the prominent persons

and those with prestige in the place, such as doctors,

priests, teachers, etc.

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, how many men arrived, from

what direction they came and in what direction they left, in

short, EVERYTHING.

In addition, indicate to the population that at meetings or in

private discussion they can give the names of theSandinista informants, who will be removed together with

the other officials of the government of repression.

     When a meeting is held, conclude it with a speech by one of the

leaders of guerrilla political cadres (the most dynamic), which includes

explicit references to:

     The fact that the "enemies of the people" -- the officials or Sandinista

agents -- must not be mistreated in spite of their criminal acts, although the

guerrilla force may have suffered casualties, and that this is done due to the

generosity of the Christian guerrillas.

     Give a declaration of gratitude for the "hospitality" of the population,

as well as let them know that the risks that they will run when the

Sandinistas return are greatly appreciated.

     The fact that the Sandinista regime, although it exploits the people

with taxes, control of money, grains and all aspects of public life through

associations, which they are forced to become part of, will not be able to

resist the attacks of our guerrilla forces.

     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.

     A statement repeated to the population to the effect that they can

reveal everything about this visit of our commandos, because we are not

afraid of anything or anyone, neither the Soviets nor the Cubans. Emphasize

that we are Nicaraguans, that we are fighting for the freedom of Nicaragua

and to establish a very Nicaraguan government.

4. Guerrilla Weapons Are The Strength of the People over an Illegal

Government

     The armed propaganda in populated areas does not give the

impression that weapons are the power of the guerrillas over the people, butrather that the weapons are the strength of the people against a regime of

repression. Whenever it is necessary to use armed force in an occupation or

visit to a town or village, guerrillas should emphasize making sure that they:

• Explain to the population that in the first place this is being

done to protect them, the people, and not themselves.

• Admit frankly and publicly that this is an "act of the democratic

guerrilla movement," with appropriate explanations.

• That this action, although it is not desirable, is necessary

because the final objective of the insurrection is a free and

democratic society, where acts of force are not necessary.

• The force of weapons is a necessity caused by the oppressive

system, and will cease to exist when the "forces of justice" of

our movement assume control.

     If, for example, it should be necessary for one of the advanced posts

to have to fire on a citizen who was trying to leave the town or city in which

the guerrillas are carrying out armed propaganda or political proselytism, the

following is recommended:

• Explain that if that citizen had managed to escape, he would

have alerted the enemy that is near the town or city, and they

could carry out acts of reprisal such as rapes, pillage,

destruction, captures, etc., it this way terrorizing the inhabitants

of the place for having given attention and hospitalities to the

guerrillas of the town.

• If a guerrilla fires at an individual, make the town see that he

was an enemy of the people, and that they shot him because the

guerrilla recognized as their first duty the protection of citizens.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

5. Selective Use of Violence for Propagandistic Effects

     It is possible to neutralize carefully selected and planned targets, such

as court judges, mesta judges, police and State Security officials, CDS

chiefs, etc. For psychological purposes it is necessary to gather together the

population affected, so that they will be present, take part in the act, and

formulate accusations against the oppressor.

     The target or person should be chosen on the basis of:

• The spontaneous hostility that the majority of the population

feels toward the target.

• Use rejection or potential hatred by the majority of the

population affected toward the target, stirring up the population

and making them see all the negative and hostile actions of the

individual against the people.• If the majority of the people give their support or backing to the

target or subject, do not try to change these sentiments through

provocation.

• Relative difficulty of controlling the person who will replace

the target.

     The person who will replace the target should be chosen carefully,

based on:

• Degree of violence necessary to carry out the change.

• Degree of violence acceptable to the population affected.

• Degree of predictable reprisal by the enemy on the population

affected or other individuals in the area of the target.

     The mission to replace the individual should be followed by:

• Extensive explanation within the population affected of the

reason why it was necessary for the good of the people.

• Explain that Sandinista retaliation is unjust, indiscriminate, and

above all, a justification for the execution of this mission.

• 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.ARMED PROPAGANDA TEAMS (APTs)

1.   Generalities

     In contact with the very reality of their roots, in a psychological

operation campaign in guerrilla warfare, the comandantes will be able to

obtain maximum psychological results from an Armed Propaganda program.

This section is to inform the guerrilla student as to what Armed Propaganda

Teams are in the environment of guerrilla warfare.

2.   Combination: Political Awareness and Armed Propaganda

     The Armed Propaganda Teams combine political awareness building

with armed propaganda, which will be carried out by carefully selected

guerrillas (preferably with experience in combat), for personal persuasion

within the population.

     The selection of the staff is more important than the training, because

we cannot train guerrilla cadres just to show the sensations of ardor and

fervor, which are essential for person-to-person persuasion. More important

is the training of persons who are intellectually agile and developed.

     An Armed Propaganda Team includes from 6 to 10 members; this

number or a smaller number is ideal, since there is more camaraderie,

solidarity and group spirit. The themes to deal with are assimilated more

rapidly and the members react more rapidly to unforeseen situations.

     In addition to the combination as armed propagandist-combatant each

member of the team should be well prepared to carry out permanent person

to-person communication, face-to-face.     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 source of basic recruitment for guerrilla cadres will be the same

social groups of Nicaraguans to whom the psychological campaign is

directed, such as peasants, students, professionals, housewives, etc. The

campesinos (peasants) should be made to see that they do not have lands; the

workers that the State is putting an end to factories and industries; the

doctors, that they are being replaced by Cuban paramedics, and that as

doctors they cannot practice their profession due to lack of medicines. A

requirement for recruiting them will be their ability to express themselves in

public.

     The selection of the personnel is more important than the training. The

political awareness-building and the individual capabilities of persuasion

will be shown in the group discussions for motivation of the guerrilla as a

propagandist-combatant chosen as cadres to organize them in teams, that is,

those who have the greatest capacity for this work.

     The training of guerrillas for Armed Propaganda Teams emphasizes

the method and not the content. A two-week training period is sufficient if

the recruitment is done in the form indicated. If a mistaken process of

recruitment has been followed, however good the training provided, the

individual chosen will not yield a very good result.

     The training should be intensive for 14 days, through team

discussions, alternating the person who leads the discussion among the

members of the group.

     The subjects to be dealt with will be the same, each day a different

theme being presented, for a varied practice.

     The themes should refer to the conditions of the place and the

meaning that they have for the inhabitants of the locality, such as talking ofcrops, fertilizers, seeds, irrigation of crops, etc. They can also include the

following topics:

• Sawed wood, carpenters' tools for houses or other buildings.

• Boats, roads, horses, oxen for transportation, fishing,

agriculture.

• Problems that they may have in the place with residents, offices

of the regime, imposed visitors, etc.

• Force labor, service in the militia.

• Forced membership in Sandinista groups, such as women's

clubs, youth associations, workers' groups, etc.

• Availability and prices of consumer articles and of basic needs

in the grocery stores and shops of the place.

• Characteristics of education in the public schools.

• Anxiety of the people over the presence of Cuban teachers in

the schools and the intrusion of politics, i.e. using them for

political ends and not educational ones as should be.

• Indignation over the lack of freedom of worship, and

persecution, of which priests are victims; and over the

participation of priests such as Escoto and Cardenal in the

Sandinista government, against the explicit orders of his

Holiness, the Pope.

NOTE: Members of the team can develop other themes.

     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 usepersuasion to carry out their mission. Some of the persuasive methods that

they can use are the following:

     Interior Group/Exterior Group. It is a principle of psychology that we

humans have the tendency to form personal associations from "we" and "the

others," or "we" and "they", "friends" and "enemies," "fellow countrymen"

and "foreigners," "mestizos" and "gringos."

     The Armed Propaganda Team can use this principle in its activities, so

that it is obvious that the "exterior" groups ("false" groups) are those of the

Sandinista regime, and that the "interior" groups ("true" groups) that fight

for the people are the Freedom Commandos.

     We should inculcate this in the people in a subtle manner so that these

feelings seem to be born of themselves, spontaneously.

     "Against" is much easier that "for." It is a principle of political science

that it is easier to persuade the people to vote against something or someone

than to persuade them to vote in favor of something or someone. Although

currently the regime has not given the Nicaraguan people the opportunity to

vote, it is known that the people will vote in opposition, so that the Armed

Propaganda Teams can use this principle in favor of our insurrectional

struggle. They should ensure that this campaign is directed specifically

against the government or its sympathizers, since the people should have

specific targets for their frustrations.

     Primary Groups and Secondary Groups. Another principle of

sociology is that we humans forge or change our opinions from two sources:

primarily, through our association with our family, comrades, or intimate

friends; and secondarily, through distant associations such as acquaintances

in churches, clubs or committees, labor unions or governmental

organizations. The Armed Propaganda Team cadres should join the first

groups in order to persuade them to follow the policies of our movement,

because it is from this type of group that the opinions or changes of opinion

come.Techniques of Persuasion in Talks or Speeches:

• 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.

• Use Lively and Realistic Examples. Avoid abstract concepts,

such as are used in universities in the advanced years, and in

place of them, give concrete examples such as children playing,

horses galloping, birds in flight, etc.

• Use Gestures to Communicate. Communication, in addition to

being verbal, can be through gestures, such as using our hands

expressively, back movements, facial expressions, focusing of

our look and other aspects of "body language," projecting the

individual personality in the message.

• Use the Appropriate Tone of Voice. If, on addressing the

people, you talk about happiness, a happy tone should be used.

If you talk of something sad, the tone of the voice should be

one of sadness; on talking of a heroic or brave act, the voice

should be animated, etc.

• Above All, Be Natural, Imitation of others should be avoided,

since the people, especially simple people, easily distinguish a

fake. The individual personality should be projected when

addressing the population.

3. "Eyes and Ears" Within the Population     The amount of information for intelligence that will be generated by

the deployment of the Armed Propaganda Teams will allow us to cover a

large area with out commandos, who will become the eyes and ears of our

movement within the population.

     The combined reports of an Armed Propaganda Team will provide us

with exact details on the enemy activities.

     The intelligence information obtained by the Armed Propaganda

Teams should be reported to the chiefs. However, it is necessary to

emphasize that the first mission of the Armed Propaganda Teams is to carry

out psychological operations, not to obtain data for intelligence.

     Any intelligence report will be made through the outside contact of

the Armed Propaganda Team, in order not to compromise the population.

     The Armed Propaganda cadres are able to do what others in a guerrilla

campaign cannot do: determine personally the development or deterioration

of the popular support and the sympathy or hostility that the people feel

toward our movement.

     The Armed Propaganda Team program, in addition to being very

effective psychologically, increases the guerrilla capacity in obtaining and

using information.

     In addition, the Armed Propaganda cadre will report to his superior

the reaction of the people to the radio broadcasts, the insurrectional flyers, or

any other means of propaganda of ours.

     Expressions or gestures of the eyes, or face, the tone and strength of

the voice, and the use of the appropriate words greatly affect the face-toface persuasion of the people.     With the intelligence reports supplied by the Armed Propaganda

Teams, the comandantes will be able to have exact knowledge of the popular

support, which they will make use of in their operations.

4. Psychological Tactics, Maximum Flexibility

     Psychological tactics will have the greatest flexibility within a general

plan, permitting a continuous and immediate adjustment of the message, and

ensuring that an impact is caused on the indicated target group at the

moment in which it is the most susceptible.

     Tactically, an Armed Propaganda Equipment program should cover

the majority and if possible all of the operational area. The communities in

which this propaganda is carried out should not necessarily form political

units with an official nature. A complete understanding of their structure or

organization is not necessary because the cadres will work by applying

socio-political action and not academic theory.

     The target populations of the Armed Propaganda Teams will be

chosen for being part of the operational area, and not for their size or amount

of land.

     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 theiritinerary, i.e., the hour in which they can frequently contact them to give

them the information.

     The danger of betrayal or an ambush can be neutralized by varying the

itinerary a little, using different routes, as well as arriving or leaving without

previous warning.

     Whenever the surprise factor is used, vigilance should be kept in order

to detect the possible presence of hostile elements.

     No more than three consecutive days should be spent in a town.

     The limit of three days has obvious tactical advantages, but it also has

a psychological effect on the people, on seeing the team as a source of

current and up-to-date information. Also, it can overexpose the target

audience and cause a negative reaction.

     Basic tactical precautions should be taken. This is necessary for

greater effectiveness, as was indicated in dealing with the subject of "Armed

Propaganda," and when it is carried out discreetly, it increases the respect of

the people for the team and increases their credibility.

     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 team's goal is to motivate the entire population of a place, but to

constantly remain aware that defined target groups exist within this general

configuration of the public.     Although meetings may be held in the population, the cadres should

recognize and keep in contact with the target groups, mixing with them

before, during and after the meeting. The method for holding this type of

meeting was included in the topic "Armed Propaganda," and will be covered

in greater detail under the title "Control of Mass Meetings and

Demonstrations."

     The basic focus of the Armed Propaganda cadres should be on the

residents of the town, where their knowledge as formers of opinion can be

applied.

     In the first visits of identification with the inhabitants, the guerrilla

cadres will be courteous and humble. They can work in the fields or in any

other form in which their abilities can contribute to the improvement of the

living style of the inhabitants of the place, winning their trust and talking

with them; helping to repair the fences of their cattle; the cleaning of the

same, collaborating in the vaccination of their animals; teaching them to

read, i.e., closely together in all the tasks of the peasant or the community.

     In his free time, our guerrilla should mix in with the community

groups and participate with them in pastoral activities, parties, birthdays, and

even in wakes or burials of the members of said community; he will try to

converse with both adults and adolescents. |He will try to penetrate to the

heart of the family, in order to win the acceptance and trust of all of the

residents of that sector.

The Armed Propaganda Team cadres will give ideological training,

mixing these instructions with folkloric songs, and at the same time he will

tell stories that have some attraction, making an effort to make them refer to

heroic acts of our ancestors. He will also try to tell stories of heroism of our

combatants in the present struggle so that listeners try to imitate them. It is

important to let them know that there are other countries in the world where

freedom and democracy cause those governing to be concerned over the

well-being of their people, so that the children have medical care and free

education; where also they are concerned that everyone have work and food,and all freedoms such as those of religion, association and expression; where

the greatest objective of the government is to keep its people happy.

     The cadres should not make mention of their political ideology during

the first phase of identification with the people, and they should orient their

talks to things that are pleasing to the peasants or the listeners, trying to be

as simple as possible in order to be understood.

     The tactical objectives for identification with the people are the

following:

• To establish tight relations through identification with the

people through their very customs.

• To determine the basic needs and desires of the different target

groups.

• To discover the weaknesses of the governmental control.

• Little by little, to sow the seed of democratic revolution, in

order to change the vices of the regime towards a new order of

justice and collective well being.

     In the motivation of the target groups, by the Armed Propaganda

Teams, the cadre should apply themes of "true” groups and themes of "false"

groups. The true group will correspond to the target group and the false one

to the Sandinista regime.

     For the economic interest groups, such as small businessmen and

farmers, it should be emphasized that their potential progress is "limited" by

the Sandinista government, that resources are scarcer and scarcer, the

earnings/profits minimal, taxes high, etc. This can be applied to

entrepreneurs of transportation and others.     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.

     Social and intellectual criticisms. They should be directed at the

professionals, professors, teachers, priests, missionaries, students and others.

Make them see that their writings, commentaries or conversations are

censored, which does not make it possible to correct these problems.

     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.

     As a general rule, the Armed Propaganda teams should avoid

participating in combat. However, if this is not possible, they should react as

a guerrilla unit with tactics of "hit and run," causing the enemy the greatest

amount of casualties with aggressive assault fire, recovering enemy weapons

and withdrawing rapidly.

     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.

     The hostility of one or two men can be overcome by eliminating the

enemy in a rapid and effective manner. This is the most common danger.     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 sharpshooters.

     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.

5. A Comprehensive Team Program - Mobile Infrastructure

     The psychological operations through the Armed Propaganda Teams

include the infiltration of key guerrilla communicators (i.e., Armed

Propaganda Team cadres) into the population of the country, instead of

sending messages to them through outside sources, thus creating our "mobile

infrastructure."

     A "mobile infrastructure" is a cadre of our Armed Propaganda Team

moving about, i.e., keeping in touch with six or more populations, from

which his source of information will come; and at the same time it will serve

so that at the appropriate time they will become integrated in the complete

guerrilla movement.

     In this way, an Armed Propaganda Team program in the operational

area builds for our comandantes in the countryside constant source of data

gathering (infrastructure) in all the area. It is also a means for developing or

increasing popular support, for recruiting new members and for obtaining

provisions.

     In addition, an Armed Propaganda Team program allows the

expansion of the guerrilla movement, since they can penetrate areas that are

not under the control of the combat units. In this way, through an exact

evaluation of the combat units they will be able to plan their operations more

precisely, since they will have certain knowledge of the existing conditions.     The comandantes will remember that this type of operation is similar

to the Fifth Column, which was used in the first part of the Second World

War, and which through infiltration and subversion tactics allowed the

Germans to penetrate the target countries before the invasions. They

managed to enter Poland, Belgium, Holland and France in a month, and

Norway in a week. The effectiveness of this tactic has been clearly

demonstrated in several wars and can be used effectively by the Freedom

Commandos.

     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.DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF FRONT

ORGANIZATIONS

1. Generalities

     The development and control of front organizations (or "facade"

organizations) is an essential process in the guerrilla effort to carry out the

insurrection. That is, in truth, an aspect of urban guerrilla warfare, but it

should advance parallel to the campaign in the rural area. This section has as

its objective to give the guerrilla student an understanding of the

development and control of front organizations in guerrilla warfare.

2. Initial Recruitment

     The initial recruitment to the movement, if it is involuntary, will be

carried out through several "private" consultations with a cadre (without his

knowing that he is talking to a member of ours). Then, the recruit will be

informed that he or she is already inside the movement, and he will be

exposed to the police of the regime if he or she does not cooperate.

     When the guerrillas carry out missions of armed propaganda and a

program of regular visits to the towns by the Armed Propaganda Teams,

these contacts will provide the commandos with the names and places of

persons who can be recruited. The recruitment, which will be voluntary, is

done through visits by guerrilla leaders or political cadres.

     After a chain of voluntary recruitments has been developed, and the

trustworthiness of the recruits has been established by their carrying out

small missions, they will be instructed about increasing/widening the chain

by recruiting in specific target groups, in accordance with the following

procedure:     From among their acquaintances or through observation of the target

groups - political parties, workers' unions, youth groups, agrarian

associations, etc. - finding out the personal habits, preferences and biases, as

well as the weaknesses of the "recruitable" individuals.

     Make an approach through an acquaintance, and if possible, develop a

friendship, attracting him through his preferences or weaknesses: it might be

inviting him for lunch in the restaurant of his choice or having a drink in his

favorite cantina or an invitation to dinner in the place he prefers.

     Recruitment should follow one of the following guidelines:

• If in an informal conversation the target seems susceptible to

voluntary recruitment based on his beliefs and personal values,

etc., the political cadre assigned to carry out the recruitments

will be notified of this. The original contact will indicate to the

cadre assigned, in detail, all he knows of the prospective recruit,

and the style of persuasion to be used, introducing the two.

• If the target does not seem to be susceptible to voluntary

recruitment, meetings can be arranged which seem casual with

the guerrilla leaders or with the political cadres (unknown by

the target until that moment). The meetings will be held so that

"other persons" know that the target is attending them, whether

they see him arrive at a particular house, seated at the table in a

particular bar or even seated on a park bench. The target, then,

is faced with the fact of his participation in the insurrectional

struggle and it will be indicated to him also that if he fails to

cooperate or to carry out future orders, he will be subjected to

reprisals by the police or soldiers of the regime.

• The notification of the police, denouncing a target who does not

want to join the guerrillas, can be carried out easily, when it

becomes necessary, through a letter with false statements of

citizens who are not implicated in the movement. Care should

be taken that the person who recruited him covertly is not

discovered.• With the carrying out of clandestine missions for the

movement, the involvement and handing over of every recruit

is done gradually on a wider and wider scale, and confidence

increases. This should be a gradual process, in order to prevent

confessions from fearful individuals who have been assigned

very difficult or dangerous missions too early.

     Using this recruitment technique, our guerrillas will be able to

successfully infiltrate any key target group in the regime, in order to improve

the internal control of the enemy structure.

3. Established Citizens, Subjective Internal Control

     Established citizens, such as doctors, lawyers, businessmen,

landholders, minor state officials, etc., will be recruited to the movement and

used for subjective internal control of groups and associations to which they

belong or may belong.

     Once the recruitment/involvement has been brought about, and has

progressed to the point that allows that specific instructions be given to

internal cadres to begin to influence their groups, instructions will be given

to them to carry out the following:

• The process is simple and only requires a basic knowledge of

the Socrates dialectic: that is the knowledge that is inherent to

another person or the established position of a group, some

theme, some word or some thought related to the objective of

persuasion of the person in charge of our recruitment.

• 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:     Economic interest groups are motivated by profit

and generally feel that the system hinders the use of their

capability in this effort in some way, taxes, import-export

tariffs, transportation costs, etc. The cadre in charge will

increase this feeling of frustration in later conversations.

     Political aspirants, particularly if the are not

successful, feel that the system discriminates against them

unfairly, limiting their capabilities, because the Sandinista

regime does not allow elections. The cadres should focus

political discussions towards this frustration.

     Intellectual social critics (such as professors,

teachers, priests, missionaries, etc.), generally feel that the

government ignores their valid criticism or censors their

comments unjustly, especially in a situation of revolution.

This can easily be shown by the guerrilla cadre at meetings

and discussions, to be an injustice of the system.

     For all the target groups, after they have established

frustrations, the hostility towards the obstacles to their

aspirations will gradually become transferred to the current

regime and its system of repression.

     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.

     Antigovernmental hostility should be generalized,

and not necessarily in our favor. If a group develops a

feeling in our favor, it can be utilized. But the main

objective is to precondition the target groups for the fusion

in mass organizations later in the operation, when other

activities have been successfully undertaken.4. Organizations of Cells for Security

     Internal cadres of our movement should organize into cells of three

persons, only one of them maintaining outside contact.

     The cell of three persons is the basic element of the movement, with

frequent meetings to receive orders and pass information to the cell leader.

These meetings are also very important for mutually reinforcing the

members of the cell, as well as their morale. They should exercise criticism

of themselves on the realization or failures in carrying out individual

subjective control missions.

     The coordination of the three-member cell provides a security net for

reciprocal communication, each member having contact with only an

operational cell. The members will not reveal at the cell coordination

meetings the identity of their contact in an operational cell; they will reveal

only the nature of the activity in which the cell is involved, e.g., political

party work, medical association work, etc.

     There is no hierarchy in cells outside of an element of coordination,

who is the leader, who will have direct but covert contact with our guerrilla

comandante in the zone or operational area. The previous diagram does not

indicate which new operational cell is the limit, but it indicates that for every

three operational cells, we need a coordination cell.

5. Fusion in a "Cover" Organization

     The fusion of organizations recognized by the Sandinista government,

such as associations and other groups, through internal subjective control,

occurs in the final stages of the operation, in a tight connection with mass

meetings.     When the guerrilla armed action has expanded sufficiently, armed

propaganda missions will be carried out on a large scale: propaganda teams

will have clearly developed open support of the institutions; the enemy

system of target groups will be well infiltrated and preconditioned. At the

point at which mass meetings are held, the internal cadres should begin

discussions for the "fusion" of forces into an organization – this organization

will be a "cover" source of our movement.

     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 in 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."

     When the awareness-building is increased, in the sense that other

groups feel hostility towards the regime, the group discussions are held

openly and our movement will be able to receive reports that the majority of

their operatives are united in common, greater hostility against the regime.

This will be developed and the order to fuse/join will come about. The

fusion into a "cover" front is carried out thusly:

• Internal cadres of our movement will meet with people such as

presidents, leaders, and others, at organized meetings chaired

by the group chief of our movement. Two or three escorts can

assist the guerrilla cadre if it becomes necessary.

• Publish a joint communiqué on this meeting, announcing the

creation of the "cover" front, including names and signatures of

the participants, and names of the organizations that they

represent.

     After releasing this communiqué, mass meetings should be initiated,

which should have as a goal the destruction of the Sandinista control.6. Conclusions

     The development and control of the "cover" organizations in a

guerrilla war will give our movement the ability to create the "whiplash"

effect within the population, when the order for fusion is gives. When the

infiltration and internal subjective control have been developed parallel with

other guerrilla activities, a democratic guerrilla commander will literally be

able to shake up the Sandinista structure and replace it.CONTROL OF MASS CONCENTRATIONS AND

MEETINGS

1. Generalities

     In the last stages of a guerrilla war, mass concentrations and meetings

are a powerful psychological tool for carrying out the mission. This section

has as its objective giving the guerrilla student training on techniques for

controlling mass concentrations and meetings in guerrilla warfare.

2. Infiltration of Guerrilla Cadres

     Infiltration of guerrilla cadres (whether a member of our movement or

outside element) in workers' unions, student groups, peasant organizations,

etc., preconditioning these groups for behavior within the masses, where

they will have to carry proselytism for the instructional struggle in a

clandestine manner.

• Our psychological war team should prepare in advance a hostile

mental attitude among the target groups so that at the decisive

moment they can turn their furor into violence, demanding their

rights that have been trampled upon by the regime.

• These preconditioning campaigns must be aimed at the political

parties, professional organizations, students, laborers, the

masses of the unemployed, the ethnic minorities and any other

sector of society that is vulnerable or recruitable; this also

includes the popular masses and sympathizers of our

movement.

• The basic objective of a preconditioning campaign is to create a

negative "image" of the common enemy, e.g.:Describe the managers of collective government entities as

trying to treat the staff the way "slave foremen" do.

The police mistreat the people like the Communist

"Gestapo" does.

The government officials of National Reconstruction are

puppets of Russian Cuban imperialism.

Our psychological war cadres will create compulsive

obsessions of a temporary nature in places of public

concentrations, constantly hammering away at the themes

pointed out or desired, the same as in group gatherings; in

informal conversations expressing discontent; in addition

passing out brochures and flyers, and writing editorial

articles both on the radio and in newspapers, focused on the

intention of preparing the mind of the people of the

decisive moment, which will erupt in general violence.

In order to facilitate the preconditioning of the masses, we

should often use phrases to make the people see, such as:

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.

• The foreign advisers and their counseling programs are in

reality "interveners" in our homeland, who direct the

exploitation of the nation in accordance with the objectives of

the Russian and Cuban imperialists, in order to turn our people

into slaves of the hammer and sickle.

3. Selection of Appropriate Slogans

     The leaders of the guerrilla warfare classify their slogans in

accordance with the circumstances with the aim of mobilizing the masses in

a wide scale of activities and at the highest emotional level.     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.

     If a lack of organization and command is noted in the enemy

authority, and the people find themselves in a state of exaltation, advantage

can be taken of this circumstance so that our agitators will raise the tone of

the rallying slogans, taking them to the most strident point.

     If the masses are not emotionally exalted, our agitators will continue

with the "partial" slogans, and the demands will be based on daily needs,

chaining them to the goals of our movement.

     An example of the need to give simple slogans is that few people

think in terms of millions of cordobas, but any citizen, however humble he

may be, understands that a pair of shoes is necessary. The goals of the

movement are of an ideological nature, but our agitators must realize that

food - "bread and butter," "the tortilla and red beans" - pull along the people,

and it should be understood that this is their main mission.

4. Creation of Nuclei

     This involves the mobilization of a specific number of agitators of the

guerrilla organization of the place. This group will inevitably attract an equal

number of curious persons who seek adventures and emotions, as well as

those unhappy with the system of government. The guerrillas will attract

sympathizers, discontented citizens as a consequence of the repression of the

system. Each guerrilla sub-unit will be assigned specific tasks and missions

that they should carry out.

     Our cadres will be mobilized in the largest number possible, together

with persons who have been affected by the Communist dictatorship,whether their possessions have been stolen from them, they have been

incarcerated, or tortured, or suffered from any other type of aggression

against them. They will be mobilized toward the areas where the hostile and

criminal elements of the FSLN, CDS and others live, with an effort for them

to be armed with clubs, iron rods, placards and if possible, small firearms,

which they will carry hidden.

     If possible, professional criminals will be hired to carry out specific

selected "jobs."

     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.

     The designated cadres will arrange ahead of time the transportation of

the participants, in order to take them to meeting places in private or public

vehicles, boats or any other type of transportation.

     Other cadres will be designated to design placards, flags and banners

with different slogans or key words, whether they be partial, temporary or of

the most radical type.

     Other cadres will be designated to prepare flyers, posters, signs and

pamphlets to make the concentration more noticeable. This material will

contain instructions for the participants and will also serve against the

regime.

     Specific tasks will be assigned to others, in order to create a "martyr"

for the cause, taking the demonstrators to a confrontation with the

authorities, in order to bring about uprisings or shootings, which will cause

the death of one or more persons, who would become the martyrs, a situation

that should be made use of immediately against the regime, in order to create

greater conflicts.5. Ways to Lead an Uprising at Mass Meetings

     It can be carried out by means of a small group of guerrillas infiltrated

within the masses, who will have the mission of agitating, giving the

impression that there are many of them and that they have popular backing.

Using the tactics of a force of 200-300 agitators, a demonstration can be

created in which 10,00-20,00 persons take part.

     The agitation of the masses in a demonstration is carried out by means

of sociopolitical objectives. In this action one or several people of our

convert movement should take part, highly trained as mass agitators,

involving innocent persons, in order to bring about an apparent spontaneous

protest demonstration. They will lead all of the concentration to the end of it.

     Outside Commando. This element stays out of all activity, located so

that they can observe from where they are the development of the planned

events. As a point of observation, they should look for the tower of a church,

a high building, a high tree, the highest level of the stadium or an

auditorium, or any other high place.

     Inside Commando. This element will remain within the multitude.

Great importance should be given to the protection of the leaders of these

elements. Some placards or large allusive signs should be used to designate

the Commando Posts and to provide signals to the sub-units. This element

will avoid placing itself in places where fights or incidents come about after

the beginning of the demonstration.

     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.

     Our key agitators should avoid places of disturbances, once they have

taken care of the beginning of the same.

     Defense Posts. These elements will act as bodyguards in movement,

forming a ring of protection for the chief, protecting him from the police and

the army, or helping him to escape if it should be necessary. They should be

highly disciplined and will react only upon a verbal order from the chief.

     In case the chief participates in a religious concentration, a funeral or

any other type of activity in which they have to behave in an organized

fashion, the bodyguards will remain in the ranks very close to the chief or to

the placard or banner carriers in order to give them full protection.

     The participants in this mission should be guerrilla combatants in

civilian clothes, or hired recruits who are sympathizers in our struggle and

who are against the oppressive regime.

     These members must have a high discipline and will use violence only

on the verbal orders of the one in charge of them.

     Messengers. They should remain near the leaders, transmitting orders

between the inside and outside commandos. They will use communication

radios, telephones, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, or move on foot or

horseback, taking paths or trails to shorten distances. Adolescents (male and

female) are ideal for this mission.

     Shock Troops. These men should be equipped with weapons (Knives,

razors, chains, clubs, bludgeons) and should march slightly behind the

innocent and gullible participants. They should carry their weapons hidden.

They will enter into action only as "reinforcements" if the guerrilla agitators

are attacked by the police. They will enter the scene quickly, violently andby surprise, in order to distract the authorities, in this way making possible

the withdrawal or rapid escape of the inside commando.

     Carriers of Banners and Placards. The banners and placards used in

demonstrations or concentrations will express the protests of the population,

but when the concentration reaches its highest level of euphoria or popular

discontent, our infiltrated persons will make use of the placards against the

regime, which we manage to infiltrate in a hidden fashion, an don them

slogans or key words will be expressed to the benefit of our cause. The one

responsible for this mission will assign the agitators ahead of time to keep

near the placard of any contrary element. In that way, the comandante will

know where the agitators are, and will be able to send orders to change

slogans and eventually to incite violence if he wishes.

     Agitators of Rallying Cries and Applause. They will be trained with

specific instructions to use tried rallying cries. They will be able to use

phrase such as "WE ARE HUNGRY, WE WAND BREAD," and "WE

DON'T WANT COMMUNISM." There work and their technique for

agitating the masses is quite similar to those of the leaders of applause and

slogans at the high school football or baseball games. The objective is to

become more adept and not just to shout rallying cries.

6. Conclusions

     In a revolutionary movement of guerrilla warfare, the mass

concentrations and protest demonstrations are the principle essential for the

destruction of the enemy structures.MASSIVE IN-DEPTH SUPPORT THROUGH

PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS

1. Generalities

     The separate coverage in these sections could leave the student with

some doubts. Therefore, all sections are summarized here, in order to give a

clearer picture of this book.

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

     Armed propaganda in small towns, rural villages, and city residential

districts should give the impression that our weapons are not for exercising

power over the people, but rather that the weapons are for protecting the

people; that they are the power of the people against the FSLN government

of oppression.

4. Armed Propaganda Teams

     Armed Propaganda Teams will combine political awareness building

and the ability to conduct propaganda for ends of personal persuasion, which

will be carried out within the population.

5. Cover ("Facade") Organizations     The fusion of several organizations and associations recognized by the

government, through internal subjective control, occurs in the final stages of

the operation, in close cooperation with mass meetings.

6. Control of Mass Demonstrations

     The mixture of elements of the struggle with participants in the

demonstration will give the appearance of a spontaneous demonstration,

lacking direction, which will be used by the agitators of the struggle to

control the behavior of the masses.

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

     The purpose of this appendix is to complement the guidelines and

recommendations to the propagandist-guerrillas expressed under the topic of

"Techniques of Persuasion in Talks and Speeches," to improve the ability to

organize and express thoughts for those who wish to perfect their oratorical

abilities. After all, oratory is one of the most valuable resources for

exercising leadership. Oratory can be used, then, as an extraordinary

political tool.

2. The Audience

     Oratory is simultaneous communication par excellence, i.e., the orator

and his audience share the same time and space. Therefore, every speech

should be a different experience at "that" moment or particular situation

which the audience is experiencing and which influences them. So the

audience must be considered as "a state of mind." Happiness, sadness, anger,

fear, etc., are states of mind that we must consider to exist in our audience,

and it is the atmosphere that affects the target public.

     The human being is made up of a mind and soul; he acts in

accordance with his thoughts and sentiments and responds to stimuli of ideas

and emotions. In that way there exist only two possible focuses in any plan,

including speeches: the concrete, based on rational appeals, i.e., to thinking;

and the idealized, with emotional appeals, i.e., to sentiment.

     For his part the orator, although he must be sensitive to the existing

mass sentiment, he must at the same time keep his cold judgment to be able

to lead and control effectively the feelings of an audience. When in the

oratorical momentum the antithesis between heart and brain comes about,

judgment should always prevail, characteristic of a leader.3. Political Oratory

     Political oratory is one of the various forms of oratory, and it usually

fulfills one of three objectives: to instruct, persuade, or move; and its method

is reduced to urging (asking), ordering, questioning and responding.

     Oratory is a quality so tied to political leadership that it can be said

that the history of political orators is the political history of humanity, an

affirmation upheld by names such as Cicero, Demosthenes, Danton,

Mirabeau, Robespierre, Clemenceau, Lenin, Trotsky, Mussolini, Hitler,

Roosevelt, etc.

4. Qualities in a Speech

     In general terms, the most appreciated qualities of a speech, and

specifically a political speech in the context of the psychological action of

the armed struggle, are the following:

• Be brief and concise

A length of five minutes [line missing in Spanish text]...that of

the orator who said: "If you want a two-hour speech, I'll start

right now; if you want a two-minute one, let me think awhile."

• Centered on the theme

The speech should be structured by a set of organized ideas that

converge on the theme. A good speech is expressed by concepts

and not only with words.

• Logic

The ideas presented should be logical and easily acceptable.

Never challenge logic in the mind of the audience, since

immediately the main thing is lost - credibility. As far as

possible, it is recommended that all speeches be based on a

syllogism, which the orator should adjust in his exposition. For

example: "Those governing get rich and are thieves; theSandinistas have enriched themselves governing; then, the

Sandinistats are thieves." This could be the point of a speech on

the administrative corruption of the regime. When an idea or a

set of guiding ideas do not exist in a speech, confusion and

dispersion easily arise.

5. Structure of a Speech

     Absolute improvisation does not exist in oratory. All orators have a

"mental plan" that allows them to organize their ideas and concepts rapidly;

with practice it is possible to come to do this in a few seconds, almost

simultaneously with the expression of the word.

     The elements that make up a speech are given below, in a structure

that we recommend always putting into practice, to those who wish to more

and more improve their oratorical abilities:

• 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.

• Purpose or Enunciation

The subject to be dealt with is defined, explained as a whole or

by parts.

• 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 toour thesis, immediately adding proof or facts that sustain such

arguments.

• Recapitulation or Conclusion

A short summary is made and the conclusions of the speech are

spelled out.

• 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.

6. Some Literary Resources

     Although there exist typically oratorical devices of diction, in truth,

oratory has taken from other literary genres a large number of devices,

several of which often, in an unconscious manner, we use in our daily

expressions and even in our speeches.

     Below we enunciate many of their literary devices in frequent use in

oratory, recommending to those interested moderate use of them, since an

orator who over-uses the literary device loses authenticity and sounds

untrue.

     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:

     Anaphora, or repetition of a word at the beginning of each sentence,

e.g., "Freedom for the poor, freedom for the rich, freedom for all." In the

reiteration, repetition is of a complete sentence (slogan) insistently through

the speech, e.g., "With God and patriotism we will overcome Communism

because...:     Conversion is the repetition at the end of every phrase, e.g.:

"Sandinismo tries to be about everyone, dominate everyone, command

everyone, and as an absolute tyranny, do away with everyone."

     In the emphasis, repetition is used at the beginning and at the end of

the clause, e.g., "Who brought the Russian-Cuban intervention? The

Sandinistas. And who is engaged in arms trafficking with the neighboring

countries? The Sandinistas. And who is proclaiming to be in favor of

nonintervention? The Sandinistas."

     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."

     Use of synonyms, repetition of words with a similar meaning. For

example: "We demand a Nicaragua for all, without exceptions, without

omissions."     Among the figures of speech most used in oratory are:

     Comparison or simile, which sets the relationship of similarity

between two or more beings or things. For example: "Because we love

Christ, we love his bishops and pastors," and "Free as a bird."

     Antithesis, or the counter-position of words, ideas, or phrases of an

opposite meaning. For example: "They promised freedom and gave slavery;

that they would distribute the wealth and they have distributed poverty; that

they would bring peace, and they have brought about war."

     Among the logic figures are the following:

     Concession, which is a skillful way to concede something to the

adversary in order to better emphasize the inappropriate aspects, through the

use of expressions such as: but, however, although, nevertheless, in spite of

the fact that, etc. For example: "The mayor here has been honest, but he is

not the one controlling all the money of the nation." It is an effective form of

rebuttal when the opinion of the audience is not entirely ours.

     Permission, in which one apparently accedes to something, when in

reality it is rejected. For example: "Do not protest, but sabotage them." "Talk

quietly, but tell it to everyone."

     Prolepsis is an anticipated refutation. For example: "Some will think

that they are only promises; they will say, others said the same thing, but no.

We are different, we are Christians, we consider God a witness to our

words."

     Preterition is an artifice, pretending discretion when something is said

with total clarity and indiscretion. For example: "If I were not obligated to

keep military secrets, I would tell all of you of the large amount ofarmaments that we have so that you would feel even more confidence that

our victory is assured."

     Communication is a way to ask and give the answer to the same

question. For example: "If they show disrespect for the ministers of God,

will they respect us, simple citizens? Never."

     Rhetorical questions are a way in which one shows perplexity or

inability to say something, only as an oratorical recourse. For example: "I

am only a peasant and can tell you little. I know little and I will not be able

to explain to you the complicated things of politics. Therefore, I talk to you

with my heart, with my simple peasant's heart, as we all are."

     Litotes is a form of meaning a lot by saying little. For example: "The

nine commanders have stolen little, just the whole country."

     Irony consists of getting across exactly the opposite of what one is

saying. For example: "The divine mobs that threaten and kill, they are

indeed Christians."

     Amplification is presenting an idea from several angles. For example:

"Political votes are the power of the people in a democracy. And economic

votes are their power in the economy. Buying or not buying something, the

majorities decide what should be produced. For something to be produced or

to disappear. That is part of economic democracy."

     The most usual plaintive figures of speech are:

     Deprecation or entreaty to obtain something. For example: "Lord, free

us from the yoke. Give us freedom."     Imprecation or threat, expressing a sentiment in view of the unjust or

hopeless. For example: "Let there be a Homeland for all or let there be a

Homeland for no one."

     Commination, similar to the previous one, presents a bad wish for the

rest. For example, "Let them drown in the abyss of their own corruption."

     The apostrophe consists of addressing oneself towards something

supernatural or inanimate as if it were a living being. For example:

"Mountains of Nicaragua, make the seed of freedom grow."

     Interrogation consists of asking a question of oneself, to give greater

emphasis to what is expressed. It is different from communication, since it

gives the answer and is of a logical and not a plaintive nature. For example:

"If they have already injured the members of my family, my friends, my

peasant brothers, do I have any path other than brandishing a weapon?"

     Reticence consists of leaving a thought incomplete, intentionally, so

that mentally the audience completes it. For example, "They promised

political pluralism and gave totalitarianism. They promised political

pluralism and gave totalitarianism. They promised social justice, and they

have increased poverty. They offered freedom of thought, and they have

given censorship. Now, what they promise the world are free elections..."