Documents obtained by CNN reveal that the Missouri National Guard referred to Americans in Ferguson as 'emeny forces' and adversaries' in briefings as they prepared to quell protests.

The internal briefing documents, secured under a Freedom of Information Act request, reveal that the National Guard, called in to Ferguson under already tense circumstances, used heavily militarized language to describe protesters, many of whom were merely lawfully executing their First Amendment rights.

The documents highlight that the guard was worried "adversaries" would use phone apps and police scanners to find out about and compromise operational security. Guard higher ups also expressed concern that protesters may use "militants tactics".

"Counterintelligence operations are directed at supporting an information campaign. Their audience does not require the information to be accurate and is easily swayed," one document reads.