In Search of Enemies - A CIA Story - John Stockwell

[126] IN SEARCH OF ENEMIE S
and watched Captain Bento hold muster on his commandos. There
were seven whites and fifteen blacks. Later they formed into a large
squad and practiced very basic infantry maneuvers, attacking an
imaginary enemy position near the beach. At least the blacks did,
running a few yards and diving into prone positions at the roared
commands of one of the Por~uguese. The whites stood near the
trucks and watched.
From previous experience I felt I could project the effectiveness
and shortcomings of the African soldiers, but I wondered about the
Portuguese. Were they fit? For commandos they were doing a lot of
slouching around. And what was their military experience? Years of
chasing poorly armed FNLA guerrillas through the bush wouldn't
prepare them for conventional warfare, or give them the skills to
handle heavy mortars, artillery, rockets, and armored vehicles.
Doubtless they would learn fast and make good soldiers, if we had
a year to get them ready. We had only weeks if we were going to halt
the MPLA before the November independence date.
A lone Panhard armored car, slightly larger than a jeep, roared
up and stopped, locking its wheels and sliding comically in a swirl
of dust. A young white jumped out and stood by the building, posing.
I decided that we had better not count too heavily on the Portuguese
commandos saving northern Angola for us.
Roberto drove in from the airstrip and shook my hand distractedly.
He had on slacks, a light jacket, and a beige golf cap. I barely
had time to get a glass of water before he ushered me into one of the
new Volkswagen minibuses and we drove away. With us were three
whites: a tall, broad Portuguese named Chevier; a heavy-set man
dressed in a uniform complete with major's insigna, parachute wings,
and a red beret; and Falstaff. Falstaff later told me that Chevier had
been the chief of the Portuguese intelligence service in Luanda during
the years of struggle against the black nationals. Now, like Colonel
Castro, he was lending his ability and knowledge of the MPLA
to the FNLA cause. According to Falstaff, the one in utilities was
a Brazilian army major, apparently there as an observer. And what
were Falstaff and a Brazilian major doing in Ambriz? Falstaff ducked
this question, changing the subject. But the answer was obvious.
Brazil was not uninterested in the Angolan outcome.
There was a delay of thirty minutes at the motor pool, where
Roberto inspected vehicles, counted spare parts, measured gasoline,