Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare

Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare
AuthorJohn Kirkpatrick
TranslatorEdgar Chamorro
LanguageEnglish
SubjectHow "Armed Propaganda Teams" could build political support in Nicaragua for the Contra cause through deceit, intimidation, and violence
Publication date
Late 1983
Publication placeUnited States
Pages90

Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare (Operaciones sicológicas en guerra de guerrillas) was a manual written by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for the Nicaraguan Contras, who were involved in a civil war with the Nicaraguan government. It was revealed by the Associated Press on October 15, 1984. The ninety-page book of instructions focused mainly on how "Armed Propaganda Teams" could build political support in Nicaragua for the Contra cause through deceit, intimidation, and violence.[1] The manual also discussed assassinations.[2] The International Court of Justice case Nicaragua v. United States found that the publication of this manual had "encouraged acts ... contrary to general principles of humanitarian law."[3] However, the CIA claimed that the purpose of the manual was to "moderate" the extreme violence already being used by the Contras.[4]

  1. ^ LeoGrande, William M. (1 February 2000). "Peace Offensive". Our Own Backyard: The United States in Central America, 1977–1992. University of North Carolina Press. p. 363. ISBN 0-8078-4857-3.
  2. ^ Kepner, Timothy J. (Spring 2001). "Torture 101: The Case Against the United States for Atrocities Committed by School of the Americas Alumni". Dickinson Journal of International Law. 19: 487. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Footnote 105
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference icj-cij.org was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "International Law PSCI 0236 > International Law PSCI 0236 > Introduction". middlebury.edu. Retrieved 2006-09-05.[permanent dead link]