Fifth column probably is like the present ‘commandos’ and ‘mariners’ who fight fast and only on a specific target and withdraw from there quickly without trace.

The fifth columns of the past were, I suppose, might have fought like the modern day ‘guerillas’, on the one hand, and the units of commandos and marines, on the other.

A few historians are in the opinion that as flying columns in the 20th century are hailed as patriots and war heroes by the public in the present, the present day ‘freedom fighters’, such as ‘guerillas’ and ‘banned religious fanatics’, may be hailed or even worshipped, as patriots and heroes by the coming generations!