Guerrilla Warfare

by Mchealn Daugherty
Table of Contents Successful Implementations of Guerrilla Warfare Ground Techniques of Guerrilla Warfare The IRA Understanding the Enemy Guerrilla Commanders Guerrilla Formations Guerrilla Units The Flying Column Defence and Attack Methods Guerrilla Equipment Arms and Explosives The Barrack Buster Semtex Traitors Theories of Guerrilla Warfare Psychological Aspects of Guerrilla Warfare

Guerrilla is a Spanish word meaning little war. Small nations or revolutionary bodies can only defeat the occupying forces, who are superior in human resources and arms, as well as economic and material resources, by means of guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla warfare has been employed to overthrow colonialism, to launch civil wars, and by Communist and Western powers in the Cold War. Up until World War II, guerrilla warfare was largely ignored in military textbooks. Today, its implications cannot be ignored. Many countries, (e.g., Britain) even have specific brigades set up to combat guerrilla warriors. Even when the urban guerrilla applies proper tactics, errors still occur. But, one can make every effort to diminish the margin of error. Carlos Marighella, a leader of guerrilla freedom fighters in Brazil in the late 1960s, 1 listed in his training guide the Seven Deadly Sins of Urban Guerrilla Warfare: The first sin of the guerrilla is inexperience. The urban guerrilla, blinded by this sin, thinks the enemy is stupid, underestimates the enemy's intelligence, thinks everything is easy and, as a result, leaves evidence that can lead to disaster. Because of his inexperience, the urban guerrilla may also overestimate the forces of the enemy, believing them to be stronger than they really are. Allowing himself to be fooled by this presumption, the urban guerrilla becomes intimidated and remains insecure and indecisive, paralyzed and lacking in audacity. The second sin of the urban guerrilla is to boast about the actions he has undertaken and to broadcast them to the four winds. The third sin of the urban guerrilla is vanity. The guerrilla who suffers from this sin tries to solve the problems of the revolution by actions in the city, but without bothering about the beginnings and survival of other guerrillas in other areas. Blinded by success, he winds up organizing an action that he considers decisive and that puts into play the entire resources of the organization. Since we cannot afford to break the guerrilla struggle in the cities while rural guerrilla warfare has not yet erupted, we always run the risk of allowing the enemy to attack us with decisive blows. The fourth sin of the urban guerrilla is to exaggerate his strength and to undertake actions for which he, as yet, lacks sufficient forces and the required infrastructure. The fifth sin of the urban guerrilla is rash action. The guerrilla who commits this sin loses patience, suffers an attack of nerves, does not wait for anything, and impetuously throws himself into action, suffering untold defeats.

Guerrillas Should be Volunteers Importance of Communication Reaching out to the Masses Inside Cadres The Internet Conclusion

The sixth sin of the urban guerrilla is to attack the enemy when they are most angry. The seventh sin of the urban guerrilla is to fail to plan things, and to act spontaneously.

Part I. Successful Implementations of Guerrilla Warfare

"The Marxist-Leninist doctrine on class struggle and the dictatorship of the proletariat affirms the role of violence in revolution, makes a distinction between unjust, counter-revolutionary violence and just, revolutionary violence, between the violence of the exploiting classes, and that of the masses."General Vo Nguyen Giap Guerrilla warfare was instrumental in the ousting of the French by the Communist Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap just after World War II. Guerrilla warfare was also used in Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam. In the Vietnam War, the United States and the South Vietnamese government were defeated by local guerrillas (Viet Cong) aided by North Vietnamese troops. In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge waged guerrilla warfare to win control of the nation and, after being ousted by the Vietnamese army, again resorted to it until as late as 1999. In Algeria, guerrilla warfare against the French occupied forces began in 1954, and brought Algeria its independence by 1961. Greek nationalists in Cyprus also carried on guerrilla warfare against the British from 1954 until that country gained independence in 1959. In the 1960s, Palestinians began using guerrilla warfare to combat occupied Israeli forces. The Palestinian Liberation Army (PLA) was formed in 1964 as the military component of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Their struggle, which continues today, has been recognised by both the United Nations and by the Arab peoples at the Rabat Conference. By 1974, Yasir Arafat was recognised at the UN General Assembly as the representative of the Palestinian people (Resolution 3210), and Palestinian independence was announced in Geneva in November 1988. Moreover, the Declaration of Principles in 1993 and the Cairo Agreement of 1994 instituted Palestinian autonomous areas in Gaza and Jericho. Perhaps the best known guerrilla warfare success story is that of Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara, who in 1956 launched a guerrilla war in Cuba against the government of Fulgencio Batista. Only three years later, Batista fled the country and Castro assumed control. This gave enormous encouragement not only to the possibilities of guerrilla warfare, but to the success of socialism. Since the 1959 Revolution, Cuba has had free education from primary school to university level. In that time period, its illiteracy rate dropped from 23 percent to 1.9 percent. Cuba also has the best public health system in Latin America. Its citizens enjoy free healthcare and its infant mortality rate is the lowest in the world (7.1/1000 births; the US is 7.3/1000 births). Life expectancy since 1959 has risen

from age 59 to age 75. Cuba would later show again its masterful grip on guerrilla warfare when it defeated American invaders at the Bay of Pigs (Playa Girn) in 1961. In less than 74 hours guerrillas defeated over 1500 armed, trained invaders from the United States. In addition to being a profound victory for the working class, it shattered the myth of the imperialist United States invincibility. Imperialism relied on cannons and tanks, we began with a revolutionary people.Fidel Castro, Report to the 2 Cuban People on the Victory at Playa Girn, April 23, 1861. In Nicaragua, the Sandinist National Liberation Front (FSLN), a group named for Augusto Cesar Sandino, a former revolutionary leader in the 1930s, was formed in 1962 to oppose the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza Debayle. In 1979 the Sandinistas launched an offensive from Costa Rica and Honduras that toppled Somoza. They established a junta that nationalised such industries as banking and mining. In one year, Nicaraguans went from being ruled by a strict right-wing dictatorship to being controlled by the working class. From 1980 until the signing of peace accords in 1992, the FMLN led what was widely regarded as one of the most capable guerrilla armies (the other being the Irish Republican Army) in the Western Hemisphere. In El Salvador 1979, a junta of military and civilians overthrew the corrupt government, and promised reforms. When these reforms were not met, opposition parties banded together under the party name Federacin Democrtico Revolucionario, of which the Farabundo Mart National Liberation Front (FMLN) guerrillas was the largest group. Inspired by Nicaragua's socialist revolution, the FMLN used guerrilla techniques to gain control of areas in the north and east of El Salvador, and blew up bridges, destroyed power lines and burned coffee plantations essentially stifling the country's economy. In April 1990, United Nations-mediated negotiations began between the government and the FMLN, and finally, on 16 January 1992, a compromise was signed and a ceasefire took effect. The FMLN became an opposition party, and the government agreed to various reforms, including dismantling the death squads and replacing them with a national civil police force, distributing land to the people, and investigating human rights violations.

The IRA
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) perfected the use of guerrilla warfare. Irish history is rich with it use. The Irish first used guerrilla tactics against the invading Normans who were better armed, and had the benefit of wearing armour. The armies of Irish guerrilla leader Art Og MacMorrough Kavanaugh were able to twice defeat the armies of Richard II of England through guerrilla tactics. Armies under the command of Hugh ONeill, one of Irelands most notorious guerrilla tacticists, were able to repeatedly defeat large English armies for over nine years until ONeills defeat at Kinsale the first and last time in which he used open positional, rather than guerrilla, warfare.

Irish guerrilla warfare owes much to Fintan Lalor, whose writings laid the basis for what would later be called Fenianism. The Lalors were able to fight off the English for 400 years; and even when they were finally overbourne and their leaders executed or transplanted to Co Kerry, they managed to get back to the centre of Ireland and re-occupy their lands. The IRA British campaign of the 1920s is also worth mentioning. They were responsible for the great Liverpool dock fires, including one spectacular that could be seen from the Tyne to the Tees and managed to destroy over 1000,000 [pounds sterling] worth of produce, buildings and machinery. Quite a number for 1921. Another operation in the Tyneside area destroyed gas mains and cut off the towns lights. The IRA has never been defeated, and came close to completely toppling the British economy with its successful British campaign in the 1980s and 1990s. They managed to cause several major disruptions to commuter trains, subways, key highways, and one of Britain's premier horseracing events (in which 60,000 people had to be evacuated just minutes before the Grand National steeplechase at Aintree, northwest England). This particular call was a hoax, some were not it kept the enemy in a state of suspense. Some of IRAs more infamous hits included real and hoax bombs at the famed Harrods department store; the Baltic Exchange bombing, and the Brighton Bombing that nearly succeeded in assassinating British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and would have if it had gone off at the expected time of detonation; a series of financial/economic bombings in London, including the Hong Kong Bank in London, the Shanghai Bank and the landmark NatWest Tower; and, other shopping centres including shopping complexes such as the one at Brent Cross. All of which caused great financial stress because hundreds of extra police and mobile bomb squads were put on duty in London, many holiday shoppers stayed home, and several employees in London's Stock Exchange, which lies in the heart of the financial district, left their jobs. In the 1990s, the IRA also moved into the suburbs and caused disruptions at important events such as the explosion outside a concert in the historic cathedral town of St. Albans, as well as several small bombings at suburban shopping areas, such as Blackpool. In October of 1992, the IRA practically had the city of London under siege with bombings as well as bomb threats occurring weekly. The week of October 10, 1992, for example, included seven bombings; these included explosions near a bridge, a museum, Paddington Green police station and a pub. In 1993, the IRA successfully threw air services over London into chaos with repeated mortar attacks and bomb threats. Heathrow and Gatwick airports were frequently closed after coded telephoned bomb threats were received.

In 1996, at least 120 people were injured when a truck bomb exploded in central Manchester. This bomb successfully closed down the commercial district of Manchester for three days. The IRAs most memorable bombing, however, was Canary Wharf. On 9 February 1996, the IRA bombed London's Canary Wharf office block. Only two people died in that blast, in which a bomb had been left in an underground garage near the 52-story Canary Wharf Tower, but the explosion severely damaged an entire block in Londons financial district. Today the Real IRA (RIRA) continues to make life difficult for people in England. Although relatively smaller than the IRA of the 1980-90s (known as the Provisional IRA, or PIRA), what the RIRA lacks in numbers it makes up for in experience. Two of their better known hits are the BBC centre bombing, and the bombing of Britains MI6 building.

Part II. Ground Techniques of Guerrilla Warfare

All favorable environments, all facilities for human life tend to make man more sedentary. The opposite occurs in guerrilla warfare: the more facilities there are for man, the more nomadic and uncertain the life of the guerrilla fighter. In reality they follow the same principle. Everything that is favourable to human life with its accompanying communications, urban and semi-urban nuclei with large concentrations of people, terrain easily 3 accessible machinery, etc., place the guerrilla fighter at a disadvantage.Che Guevara Opportunities to exploit enemy weaknesses as well as to discredit enemy statements and/or actions must always be seized upon. However, the guerrilla revolutionary should never attack an objective he or she is not certain of winning. Operations, for the most part, should be confined to relatively small areas and conducted at key occasions to send a message (e.g., during elections held in occupied countries by occupied forces). It must also be remembered that when a guerrilla unit is forced into a passive position, its first duty is to extricate itself until such a time when the initiative can be regained. Understanding the Enemy The enemy is almost always stronger than the guerrilla fighters in terms of troop numbers, machinery and economics. Therefore, this type of warfare should seek not only to destroy the enemy straight on, but include many elements designed to hinder, distract and disperse enemy formations. The basic method is to attack in a violent and deceptive form, usually with limited numbers of troops. The basic premise is to weaken and disperse

the enemy to the point of complete withdrawal or annihilation. It must be remembered that the oppressor will spend time inciting the masses against the guerrillas, as well as seeking out and extinguishing guerrilla bases. Both actions must be anticipated and broken by counter-attacks. In regular warfare, the tactical method is to destroy the enemy by concentrated numbers of soldiers at a decisive time and place. Guerrilla warfare, however, employs many small battles rather than one grand blow. The guerrilla tactic is to exhaust the enemy by breaking down its endurance psychologically, physically and economically. Another tactic the enemy will use is that of labelling the guerrilla fighter as a 'criminal' or a 'terrorist.' The guerrilla, however, differs from the common criminal as a benefits personally from his or her actions, and attacks indiscrimminately without distinguishing between the exploiters and the exploited. The urban guerrilla follows a political goal, and only attacks the government, the big businesses and the foreign imperialists. Guerrilla Commanders A good leader must correctly estimate the situation and all military and political factors. All guerrilla units must have political and military leadership. This is true regardless of the source or size of such units. Remember quality over quantity. The best leaders are those with strong convictions unyielding in their policies, resolute, loyal, sincere and dedicated. They should be well-educated in revolutionary technique, very self-confident, able to establish authority and trust, able to cope with counter-propaganda, and able to always put the struggle first and foremost. Guerrilla commanders must be keenly aware of not only the terrain, but of local political issues. They must also be fully up-to-date on the present enemy status, and able to initiate quick and sometimes necessary modifications in troop dispositions. Moreover, careful planning is required regardless of the size of the unit involved; well-allocated assignments and duties based upon skills and dedication levels are extremely important. It must also be remembered that the element of surprise is imminent in guerrilla warfare. Commanders must often make quick decisions during hostilities initiating expedience of operations whilst preserving the necessary secrecy of the plan. There can be no procrastination in the execution of plans during guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla Formations The small size of most guerrilla groups makes it advantageous for them to appear and disappear in the enemy's

rear. When guerrillas engage a stronger enemy, they should withdraw; when the enemy advances then guerrillas should harass and hinder, when the enemy stops or lets down its guard, guerrillas should strike. Guerrillas disperse in order to promote mass movements over a wide area; but, Guerrillas should concentrate when the enemy is advancing upon them, and there is opportunity to fall upon him and destroy him. Guerrilla formations will more often than not need to act independently. Therefore, command cannot be too highly centralised as it could hamper the scope of guerrilla action. At the same time, guerrilla activities, to be most effective, must be well co-ordinated so that troops are operating in ways to best suit individual talents as well as personal knowledge of terrain. In essence, the command must be centralised for unified strategy and decentralised for tactical purposes involving independent activity. Guerrilla Units A guerrilla base may be defined as an area, strategically located, in which the guerrillas can carry out their training duties. As to the matter of military responsibilities, those of the guerrillas are to exterminate small forces of the enemy; to harass and weaken large forces; to attack enemy lines of communications; to establish bases capable of supporting independent operations in the enemy's rear and to force the enemy to disperse its strength. The battalion unit is better organised and better equipped than the smaller units. The guerrilla unit next in size to the battalion is the regiment. In an independent guerrilla regiment, there may be ten men per squad, three squad per platoon, three platoons per company, three companies per battalion, and three battalions to the regiment. Two of such regiments form a brigade. Each of these units has a commander, a vice-commander, and a political officer. Responsibilities may include protecting the community in addition to securing information of the enemy, arresting traitors and preventing the

dissemination of enemy propaganda. The IRAs Long Term Armed Struggle also allows for unknowns and new recruits to be initiated within a cell formation. Each cell consists of four people, and is controlled militarily by the Commanding Operations officer (of that brigade), and advised by the commanding Intelligence officer. The cells have no control over weapons and explosives, which should be under complete control of the commanding officers. See also: Training for Guerrilla Warfare The Flying Column In Ireland, an independent detachment is called a Flying Column. It is under higher command, but capable at the same time of carrying out its own field of operations. A Flying Column operates within an allotted territory and gets its reserves and replacements from the local population. It is responsible for its own security, intelligence, weapons and equipment; although it also must pass along intelligence data to higher commands. The Flying Column should be as small as operationally possible, and consist of battle teams and column commanders. Each volunteer in a Flying Column is expected to take part in combat. The task of the Column is to get as near as possible to the intended target, and then use surprise and shock tactics to win.

Defence and Attack Methods

Defence

Good intelligence prepares the guerrilla against being taken unaware. The guerrilla must often move fast and/or think fast. He or she should be alert, physically fit and not dependent on alcohol or other substances. The guerrilla must be able to survive alone, choose the movement over personal issues, and be able to resist tortuous physical or psychological interrogation tactics. In essence, the best defence measures are education, self-survival, the ability to put loyalty to the movement above all, willingness to act fast when called upon, and endurance. Attack The guerrilla does not arbitrarily choose this or that mission. What seems to be a simple action may often be more significant than meets the eye. Moreover, the inexperienced guerrilla must be gradually introduced into actions and operations. He or she begins with small missions and tasks until completely experienced. It is important to know as much as possible about the enemys strengths and weaknesses. The guerrillas most important weapon is surprise. The element of surprise must then be combined with mobility to achieve the greatest possible effect at the most opportune time and place. When guerrillas attack, they are attacking for three key reasons: to drain the enemy of either troops or resources, to lead and incite the people to deplore enemy occupation, and to break down the enemys administration. The guerrilla must also be able to stage successful retreats and subsequently return to the attack at crucial moments. At the same time, the attack must be of his or her own making; attacks initiated by the enemy must be avoided. To the greatest extent possible, attacks should also be well-planned and well-rehearsed. Measures should be taken to ensure that cells fully understand individual responsibilities.

Guerrilla warfare means that the fighters must choose their targets wisely, fight on their own terms, and know when to retreat. The guerrilla must learn to deceive the enemy and cover his or her tracks, as well as know when to use the important tactic of shock value. A Guerrilla unit must never attack unless back up formations are in place and each detachment is individually self contained enough to survive with arms and supplies in their possession.

Guerrilla Equipment
Ideally, guerrilla equipment should be based upon the nature of duties assigned. The weapons, however, are often not what the guerrillas want, and therefore the best must be made of what is available for their use at a given time. Unlike orthodox warfare, a guerrilla cache is usually acquired gradually rather than on demand. Arms and Explosives Guerrilla equipment is not limited to weapons and ammunition. It extends to communication materials (newspapers, pamphlets; and modern guerrilla warfare would also include computers to use as propaganda outlets via newslists and websites), transportation availability and accessibility, facilities for propaganda work, and safe houses. It is also important to establish safe armouries for the manufacture and repair of rifles and for the production of cartridge, hand grenades and bayonets. Further, for destruction of railway tracks, bridges, and stations in enemy-controlled territory, it is necessary to gather together demolition materials. A trained demolition unit is essential to each regiment. Explosives are often used to make up for arms deficiencies. Barrack busters are made with fertilisers; and todays commercial explosive of choice is Semtex. The Barrack Buster The Mark 15 Barrack Buster mortar, which contains ammonia nitrate, is believed to have been developed by an expert along Irelands South Armagh-Louth border. It is comprised of six gas cylinder tubes, each packed with 20kg of explosives, which are welded to the trailer of a flatbed lorry before being fired over a perimeter wall using a remote control mechanism.

Semtex Semtex is extremely stable and thus difficult to explode accidentally. It has an elastic-like consistency. It is odorless for the most part (it does take on some low-level Nitrogen fumes when dormant) and is therefore difficult to detect by trained dogs and sensors. Moreover, small moulded shapes of Semtex have the capability of passing undetected through the x-ray luggage screening machines installed at airports. There are presently about 30 similar plastic explosives manufactured world-wide under different patents and names. The IRA have used the original military version of Semtex supplied by Libya, as well as perfected fertiliser-based homemade devices mixed with Semtex boosters to complete detonation. Semtex was used to accelerate the large bombs that were used at Canary Wharf and Manchester. See also: Guerrilla Weapons and Weapons Smuggling

Traitors
Instead of the ordinary army-type discipline, guerrilla discipline is less rigid on things such as marching synchronously or responding to called-out commands, and other non-thinking types of training. Guerrilla armies are volunteer, and therefore there is no need to create a sheep mentality. It is more important to guerrilla warfare that leadership recognise the individuality of the members and focus more on ensuring that fighters have high morale, know why they are fighting, and have unbreakable loyalty. However, because guerrilla armies are generally small, executions of traitors including symbolic executions must be conducted without hesitance in order to maintain strength and loyalty. Upon having to execute an alleged traitor, Che Guevara reflected: Echevarra could have been a hero of the Revolutionbut he was unlucky enough to commit crimes during the period and had to pay for his wrongdoing. He served as an example, in truth tragic but also valuable, so the 4 people would understand our need to make of the Revolution a pure event not contaminated [with corruption].

Part III. Theories of Guerrilla Warfare

The Psychological Aspects of Guerrilla Warfare Understanding and implementing the psychological aspects of guerrilla warfare are essential. In guerrilla warfare, more than in any other type of military effort, the psychological activities must coincide and be conducted simultaneously with the physical armed struggle itself. The troops should be politically educated and highly motivated. The capacity of the guerrilla to understand the reason for his or her struggle does indeed affect the ability to fight. It is also important that the combatant understand and puts to maximum use the obstacles of the oppressor, this means not only knowledge of the terrain and climate, but a keen understanding of the oppressors cultural aspects. Such knowledge enhances the revolutionary in both resisting and defeating the enemy. Additionally, educated revolutionaries will better implement some important guerrilla warfare techniques, including but not limited to electronic and written propaganda and information dissemination, refined weapons, jamming, EMI, electronic interference, radio, surveillance and various other countermeasures. Guerrillas Should be Volunteers Whoever betrayed the cause, or gave up the fight, or suffered the loss of spirit, it was seldom The People. We are the People.IRA Handbook A guerrilla group ought to operate on the principle that only volunteers are acceptable for service, those forced into service are the most likely to become traitors. A primary feature of guerrilla operations is their dependence upon civilians themselves to organise battalions and other units. Organisation therefore depends largely upon local circumstances more oppressed communities yield better fighters, particularly those communities which have experienced prejudice, discrimination, sectarianism, poverty and high unemployment. Guerrilla warfare is formed from the masses of the people, who organise guerrilla units directly from themselves. The people become freedom fighters and is the people who support those involved in the struggle, whether in combat or otherwise. People should contribute money in proportion to the money they have. Farmers should furnish a certain share of their crops to guerrilla troops, land for arms caches, and fertiliser for bomb-making. Dwellings in key areas should be offered as Safe Houses for guerrillas on the run. The Importance of Communication

It is important to continuously educate and inculcate patriotism in not only the soldiers but civilians as well. To the greatest extent possible, political ideals must be clearly and repeatedly indicated to inhabitants of guerrilla zones, as well as supporters elsewhere. The oppressor is highly dependent upon lines of communication, and therefore, propaganda materials are very important. 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 organisations and mass meetings. The combatant-propagandist guerrilla is the result of a continuous program of indoctrination and motivation. In essence guerrillas must be educated both militarily and politically, as not only the burden of helping to achieve revolutionary freedom, but the burden of showing the people the importance and necessity of the movement, and increasing sympathy and support for the movement, lies in their hands. Moreover, counter-intelligence is equally important to intelligence. The guerrilla must guard his or her own security, as well as the security of the movement. This includes, gathering information on the enemy, denying information to the enemy and tracking down enemy agents. Group discussions, pickets, events, written commentaries (including now the use of the Internet) and public speeches should be utilised as often as possible to raise the spirit and improve the unity of guerrilla operations, as well as to educate and recruit. Such outlets can also be used to exercise social pressure on the weak members to incite them to action. Reaching out to the Masses Every guerrilla must be trained to be persuasive in communication and be able to tackle propaganda from the enemy. This means that a guerrilla armed unit in a rural town will not give the impression that arms are their strength over the people, but rather that they are the strength of the people and for the people. 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 the population feels that the weapons are, indirectly, their weapon to protect them and help them in the struggle against a regime of oppression. Inside Cadres The development and control of "front" (or facade) organisations is also important, and should be carried out through subjective internal control at group meetings. Established citizens should be recruited initially as "social crusaders". Their involvement with the guerrilla organisation itself should be gradually 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. After inoculation, the inside cadres should receive instruction in techniques of persuasion over target groups. It is essential that they be placed or recruited in organisations such as labour unions, youth groups, agrarian organisations and professional associations. Their task is to manipulate the objectives of the groups. The actual control of mass meetings in support of guerrilla warfare, however, should be 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, etc. Small groups, whose mission is that of agitating the masses by giving the impression that there are many of them and that they have a large popular backing, should also be strategically placed within communities and groups. The Internet The Internet is one newer commodity that has become extremely useful for guerrilla warfare. Uses include sending coded messages, disseminating information and educating the masses, recruiting, and providing forums for debates and thus inadvertently creating an outlet for news as well as propaganda. The enemy also relies heavily on the Internet, and therefore there must be computer units who know how to protect their own (to the greatest extent possible) with security software and virus protection, as well as those who know how to trace IP numbers, and even hack the enemies systems, or at the very least cause system failure. For example, in August 2000, the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) disrupted police and

government networks by bombarding them with more than 12,000 e-mails bearing anti-English slogans. The computer system of the Northern Constabulary was badly damaged by SNLA DOS (Denial of Service) and ping' attacks. Welsh nationalists and the Real IRA are also thought to have attempted this type of attack.

Conclusion
Guerrilla armies do not have the numbers or resources to defeat statesponsored forces in conventional warfare, therefore guerrilla tactics are used to wear down the enemy. The most effective means to do this is in the form of an armed struggle. Throughout history, constitutionalism and politics have always lead inevitably to compromise or betrayal. For example, although Canary Wharf was a turning point in the Irish Troubles, and forced the British government to negotiate, the PIRA would soon prematurely embark on a ceasefire and put their might behind a document (the Good Friday Agreement) designed to perpetuate partition of Ireland, and secure the British governments control in the British-created statelet Northern Ireland. Today the people of the North of Ireland are no closer to freedom than they were four years ago when the agreement was signed. The RIRA, however, continues to implement techniques of guerrilla warfare. The guerrilla warrior knows that capitalists have never allowed their power to be voted away regardless of any idealistic negotiated settlements with revolutionary forces; and Britain, for example, has never left any of its socalled colonies without an armed struggle. The fight must go on until the objectives are achieved. Copyright 2004 Ireland's OWN

Footnotes:
1

Marighella C. Mini-Manual of the Urban Guerrilla Copyleft: Marighella Internet Archive (marxists.org) 2002. Permission is granted to copy and/or distribute this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. June 1969. 2 Castro F, Fernndez. JR: Playa Girn. Pathfinder Press. NY. 2000. 3 Castaeda JG. Compaero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara. Alfred A Knopf. NY 1997. 4 Guevara E C. La guerra de guerrillas. Other sources: Personal accounts as well as information from the Mao Tse-Tung Archive, and guides from the Irish Republican Army and from the Cuban Revolution. If you would like to contribute to the article, or have information that would enhance its contents, please email me. Many thanks to those who have written and contributed to the this document.

Page last updated 10 Dec 2006 Ireland's OWN Logo by Eamann Website Design and Celtic Background by Mchealn Daugherty Copyright 2006 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.