Treachery and Deceit: Parallels in Tribal and Terrorist Warfare?

The use of treachery (a deliberate betrayal of trust) and deceit (the ensnaring by guile) are generally overlooked aspects of warfare, whether in tribal or state societies.­ What distinguishes treacherous attacks from other forms of ambush is the necessity of peaceful social interaction between attacker and victim immediately prior to the assault. This article examines the cross-cultural evidence for its use in tribal societies, and relates the implications of these findings to the apparent use of treachery and deceit in a number of guerrilla/terrorist conflicts, including the Al Qaeda attacks of 11 September 2001.