NCJ Number
58944
Date Published
1975
Length
70 pages
Annotation
THIS ANALYSIS OF THE THREAT OF URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE IN THE UNITED STATES CONCLUDES THAT SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON KEY CITIES COULD DISRUPT THE ECONOMY AND POSSIBLY DESTROY THE GOVERNMENT.
Abstract
REVOLUTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO EFFECT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK OF A COUNTRY. WORLD WAR II WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TEMPORARY DEMISE OF IDEOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONS AND THE RESURGENCE OF GUERRILLA WARFARE. AFTER THE WAR, GUERRILLA WARFARE WAS ADOPTED BY REVOLUTIONARIES AS A PRIMARY MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING THEIR GOALS. IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY, REVOLUTIONS ARE GENERALLY LED BY MIDDLE-CLASS INTELLECTUALS RATHER THAN BY PEASANTS, AND DEVELOPING NATIONS ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO REVOLUTIONS THAN MORE STABLE INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. FURTHERMORE, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO REVOLUTIONS THAN POLICE STATES. REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS BEGIN IN SECRECY AND REQUIRE MILITARY-TYPE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE EFFECTIVE. IN CARRYING OUT URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE, WHICH INCLUDES TERRORIST BOMBINGS, POLITICAL KIDNAPPINGS, AND AIRCRAFT HIJACKINGS, SIMILAR TACTICS ARE EMPLOYED REGARDLESS OF THE OBJECTIVE OF WARFARE. THREE STRATEGIES COMMON TO GUERRILLA WARFARE MOVEMENTS ARE: (1) DEMONSTRATE STRENGTH IN THE MOVEMENT; (2) GAIN PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE CAUSE; AND (3) DISCREDIT THE ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT. TYPES OF URBAN GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS AND POSSIBLE DEFENSES AGAINST URBAN GUERRILLAS ARE EXAMINED. THE THREAT OF URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE IN THE UNITED STATES IS ASSESSED IN RELATION TO ECONOMIC DISRUPTION AND NUCLEAR TERRORISM. COUNTERGUERRILLA OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE EXPLORED, WITH CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO POLICE FORCES, INTELLIGENCE, SECURITY, THE JUDICIOUS APPLICATION OF FORCE, COOPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND NEWS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE PRESERVATION OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS. NOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)