[Introductory text, as printed in the 1999 publication;]

The original document on which this one is based was a sabotage manual produced by the United States Central Intelligence Agency for distribution in Nicaragua in the 1980’s. It was hoped that if enough disenfranchised individuals undertook activities that subverted economic stability, the Leftist government would be more easily overthrown. The manual described itself as “a practical guide to... paralyzing the military-industrial complex... without having to use special tools and with minimal risk for the combatant.”

It continues, “Some might think that today’s armed struggle requires military supplies and economic resources only available to states or terorist bands... There is an essential economic infrastructure that any government needs to function, which can easily be disabled or even paralyzed without the use of armaments or costly and advanced equipment, with the small investment of resources and time.

The folowing pages present a series of useful sabotage techniques, the majority of which can be done with simple household tools such as scissors, empty botles, screwdrivers, matches, etc. These measures are extremely safe and without risk for  those who use them, as they do not require equipment, skill or specialized activities that can draw attention to the doer.

One combatant can perform many of them, without having to turn to collaborators or having to make a detailed plan beforehand. These are acts that can be done practically in an improvised way every time an occasion presnts itself. Our sacred cause needs to have more men and women join its ranks in order to perform these sabotage tasks. However, necessary caution should be taken, and only when the task requires it, should another person or persons participate in or have knowledge of a given act.”

While the original document was intended to facilitate subversion of the Nicaraguan government, the techniques may be applied to any other state or ‘military-industrial complex’ with which the individual is aggrieved. NB: not only are some of these activities illegal, but encouraging people to engage in them is also illegal. With this in mind, this text is presented as a snapshot of the cold war mentality of intelligence agencies, and not as a practical guide to acts of sabotage.

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