Hi. I've heard a lot in the news about sleeper cells, terrorist cells, spy cells, etc. but I'm not knowledgeable about what a cell is. I understand that it's a group of people, but what are the key structural points about cell anatomy. That is to say, what types of roles that people play make up a covert cell. I've heard that there are "cut-outs" who are intermediaries between the cell and contacts not in the cell. I've also heard that there are leaders in cells who try to organize the members of the cell in such a way that members only know those that they have a need to know. But I'd like to learn more about it. I'm fascinated about covert cell structure. I'd like to learn more about them. If anyone has any insights into the working of covert cells please leave me a message on this forum. What I'm trying to do is piece together a functional map illustrating all the different possible positions in a cell, and observing cell connectivity with partnering cells. So far the most relevant information about cells that I have been able to come across is Wikipedia's definition and history of covert cells.

Covert cell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's a list of some of my research goals:
- identify all roles played by individuals who participate in covert cells
- identify hierarchy or arrangement of network connectivity between cells
- identify who knows who else in cells (that is who knows who and who does not know others)
- formulate life cycle of participants in cell and map the flow of information or work done

If you've got any ideas please let me know. I'm just basically trying to determine the mode of operation of cells, and the specifics as to who does what when.

I'd appreciate your insight. Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,
wsbg

Fr_Chuck

This is the main issue with it, there is normally no partnering of various cells, often members in one will not know who the others are, for everyones protection. Only some of the ones above will know.

Think of it this way, let is say that they bought over various groups and placed them in the "various industry" thoughout america.

These groups may work and grow for years, buying homes, cars and being your next door neighbor on the riding lawn mower. He is in contact with perhaps 6 other members of his cell. One may work at a hardware store, another at the utility company, another may even work for a police department. Well though thier jobs, they often have access to all sorts of data, and access to all sorts of places that could be attacked.

Remember many may have been in place for years.

In other places, not in America where they may already be in place, they would work on a need to know basis, only knowing one person above them and so on. And normally willing to die before they tell anyone.

And to tell someone anything would mean your parents, your children, your wife, your brothers and sisters would all be killed. So anyone confessing to the US, has to be taken with some concern, since they would die before that.

Personal opinoin, based on various readings, also the Wikipedia you do realise has no real value for information, facts there are merely entered by people, Heck they even have me listed as one of the major religious leaders within the Independent Catholic movement.

weshouldbegood

I've been able to find out more information about this subject from Jefferson Mack's book entitled "Running a Ring of Spies" (Paladin Press).

He notes that some various functions in a cell are as follows:

Service agent - person who performs specific tasks for the group, such as distributing propaganda

Case officer - person who runs other members who do the dirty work, generally a lying deceptive scumbag

Recruiter - either the case officer himself or a surrogate he controls

Access Agent - a person who has personal contacts with targets. For example, a case officer would ask an access agent to get information on when and where a target is going to be.

Primary Agent - a person with the end product (such as the information that is being sought).


... the picture given of a cell in this book is one that's very grim, dark, and manipulative. The portrayal of the recruit makes them look like total losers that are either greedy, ideological, forced into it (blackmail), or in a rut (financially for example)