Pseudo-Terrorist Gangs

Pseudo-terrorist gangs are formed from commando/scout units to act the part of real terrorist groups in operational areas to attain these objectives:  

1.     To locate the terrorist group in a particular area, by pretending to be part of its force.

2.     To obtain information from the terrorist group on how it operates in command and political structure.

3.     To find out how it enters or is formed inside the country.

4.     To locate the terrorist group to destroy its force.

5.     To locate the terrorist group, and if it is of a large size, to call in a strike by the larger commando unit.

Pseudo-terrorist gangs are the most dangerous and unrewarding jobs in the new type of guerrilla warfare during the last thirty years. The trooper involved must be better than the regular NATO soldier, the paratrooper, the commando, or the elite special unit soldier.

The man should not be all of these, but a small part of each. He should be able to operate completely by himself. Many elite forces speak of operating in this manner, but in reality they depend on some contact, resupply, or fall-back area. In pseudo-terrorist gangs, there is none.

The trooper must be solely responsible for himself and his pseudo-terrorist gang. He must become that terrorist group.

The pseudo-terrorist (PT) gang members must be masters of surprise tactics.

The PT gang must conform to nothing in the mission except the objective.

The PT gang must press the terrorist group until there is no avenue of retreat except into the PT hide.

The PT gang must operate without the support of any regular army unit. It must realize this.

The PT gang must kill or be killed.

The PT gang must dodge, counterstrike, and pressure increasingly.

The PT gang must always move toward the terrorists’ main command structure.

The PT gang must always strain the terrorist group it is dealing with to the breaking point of point-to-point contact, in most cases fifteen feet or less.

The PT gang must be superior at the point of contact even at the risk of danger of encirclement by other terrorist groups.

The PT gang must always move as though it has nothing to lose, or the terrorist group will see that it is guarded and reluctant in its operations.

The pseudo-terrorist gang trooper must possess these qualities:

1.      A fertile imagination in schemes, ruses, counter-ruses, plots, and resources.

2.      A shrewd intelligence, to orchestrate every incident to his gang’s benefit. (Demonstrate loyalty to fellow troopers.)

3.      A steady confidence, unmoved by anxiety, and a continuous sense of humor.

4.      An apt memory to remember all the customs, cut-signs, and tricks that the terrorists use to detect him.

5.      An alert, sturdy, and tireless constitution, to endure all physical obstacles as part of a job without a light at the end.

6.      A rapid and accurate glance, which grasps immediately the defects and advan­tages, obstacles and risks presented by terrain, objective, or surprise contact with terrorists.

7.      No sentiments regarding the political situation at any time.

8.      An unquestionable ability to lie, even in the face of death, to protect the gang.

9.      The ability to act the part of the savage to the extreme, but not to let the circumstances turn him from decency.

Lacking such aptitudes, success in this profession is impossible. It is useless for anyone to rely on some other talent such as prior regular army experience, po­lice or security work, or elite unit service, or to flatter himself that, by taking pains or good fortune, he may expect to win the confidence of the turned terrorists in his gang. Reason and the facts deny such a presumption without fail.

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***Source*** This information was obtained from the book: AFRICAN MERC COMBAT MANUAL. By Chris Pessarra. Printed 1986, Paladin Press.