Especially during the past 70 years 1st world militaries have concentrated on developing what they call counter intelligence and counter insurgency models to combat the need for freedom oppressed peoples around the world have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate.
For 3rd and 4th world liberation fighters the abstracts of time, space and will are emphasized over the logistic and production power industrialized nations rely on in developing their theories of total warfare. We see that a power tool was created and as a result colonized countries around the globe were able to throw off those chains of military conquest and free themselves in
It is these models of counter insurgency and counter intelligence programs developed by the military that should be of particular interest to Xicano and Indigenous activist today. One of the main reasons this is true is the increasing use of military models, mentality and theory by the police on U.S. soil when interacting with non combatants (civilians). So while the we don't have the Army patrolling the streets of this country the police who do patrol, watch and gather information are being trained by the military to run the same types of programs here we are in other counties.
Militarization doesn't just mean weaponry it also speaks directly to attitude and scope of powers. According to Kristian Williams author of 'Our Enemies in Blue: police and police power in the United States' militarizing the police 'affects not only police paraphernalia, but the police mission, the roles of violence and intelligence, police ideology, rhetoric, training, and organization' (p. 197). By examining the list directly below we can see how this happening now in our society.
Peter Kraska a scholar on militarization defines the process in this way, 'militarization...can be defined in its broadest terms as the soical process in which society organizes itself for the production of violence or the threat thereof' (Williams). Kraska makes the following list:
1. A blurring of external and interanl securtiy fucntions leading to a targeting of civilian populations, internal 'security' threats, and a focus on aggregate populations as potential interal 'insurgents'.
2. An avoidance of overt or lethal violence, with a greater emphasis placed on information gathering and processing, surveillance work, and less than than lethal technologies..
3. An ideology and theoretical framework of militarism that stresses the effective problem solving requires state force, technology, armament, intelligence gathering, aggressive suppresion efforts, and other assorted activities commensurate with modern military thinking and operation.
4. Criminal justice practices guided by the idlologcal framework of the militarism, such as the use of special-operations paramilitary teams in policing and corrections, policing activities that emphasize military tactics such as drug, gun, and gang suppression, and punishment models based on the military boot camp.
5. The purchasing, loaning, donation, and use of actual material products that can be characterized as militaristic, including a range of military armaments, transportation devices, surveillance equipment, and military-style garb.
6. A rapidly developing collaboration, at the highest level of the governmental and corporate worlds, between the defense industry and the crime control industry.
7. The use of military language within the political and popular culture, to characterize the social problems of drug, crime and social disorder.
One of the main ways to gather information is the use of undercover agents below are some suggestions for individuals involved in political work today.
Remember: A typical way for a professional undercover agent to initially contact a suspect (group or individuals) is to be introduced by a non-professional informer already known but not suspected by the suspects.
Here are a few ways undercover agents may tip their hands:
Seeking information they do not need under “need to know” rules.
Trying to get people to repeat incriminating statements made at an earlier meeting (so they can be recorded). If you are suspicious, say you were just joking when you made the earlier remark.
Repeatedly casting suspicion on others without basis. This maybe a smoke screen to keep suspicion off themselves.
Undercover cops many times will show an extremely shallow understanding of the issues. An undercover cop may know only what they have been briefed on. Some, however, are good talkers and can sound knowledgeable without really know an issue in depth.
Making boisterous demands for action and belittling more timid members of the group. Because many cops have authoritarian, even violent personalities they may reveal this inadvertently.
Showing extreme nervousness, such as looking around constantly during an action. They may be looking for surveillance or back up teams.
Slipping away to phone or meet supervisors or control agents. Such meetings may be brief, in a car or at a public parking lot maybe at a department store. Long meetings, such as ‘debriefing’ might be held in motel rooms.
Constantly ‘managing’ the conversation to guide it in directions they wish.
Mentioning another person’s name when you refer obliquely to that person. For the record, since the agent is probably recording the conversation likewise the next two.
Working the time, date and/or location into conversations.
Explicitly stating the incriminating things in response to vague comments from you and others.
Manipulating conversations to try and get some kind of affirmation form you in response to their incriminating statements.
Regularly asking about other individuals - particularly supposed leaders.
Initiating conversations back to illegal acts or conspiracies when the conversation moves on to legal and unrelated matters.
Claiming to be a recovering alcoholic. This gives them excuses not to drink with you and possibly slip up on their covers while under the influence.
Playing different roles with different people calculated to appeal specifically to each individual’s vulnerabilities or strengths. An infiltrator may play the role of just the kind of person you need in your current mental state.
Setting up a phony ‘hit’ to enhance their credibility. They may arrange a number of illegal acts while witnessed by people they wish to entrap or whose confidence they want.
(“Ecodefense – A field guide to Monkeywrenching”)
