How many suicidal militamen do you think you could find?
Depends on what they thought they were fighting for, and how charismatic a leader I could dangle in front of them.
Not a new wrinkle (think of kamikaze pilots) but certainly one of limited value to leaders who cant recruit suicidal people. It is heavily cultural dependent.
Standard tactic taught in the old Soviet insurgency academy was to set your suicide device up with two switches. Tell the putz -- sorry, patriot -- that one of the switches activates a 30 second (or 60 second or ten minute) delay to give him time to escape the area. Tell him that the other switch is
only to be used in emergencies, since it immediately detonates the device.
Of course, both switches are on the exact same circuit: ie., no time delay, but there's no need to burden the spear-carriers with that knowledge.
Have your Head Insurgent In Charge memorize about three speeches, 1)concerning the Devotion To The Cause shown by the Recently Departed, as evidenced by his choice to Stay With The Device And Ensure The Success Of The Mission;
2) reminding all spear-carriers to remember which switch is which, and to be careful not to make a mistake (don't snicker during this one, it ruins the atmosphere); and
3) about the Dearly Departed almost getting snatched by The Opposition At The Last Moment And Heroically Going To His Reward to Prevent Capture And Interrogation.
Given your average insurgent, these three speeches in rotation can keep can keep you hip-deep in suicide bombers, not a one of whom is actually
planning on commiting suicide.
LawDog
