Nevertheless, there are few, if any, credible arguments that GUESTS have met all of the four conditions for belligerent status. GUESTS do not have a recognizable military hierarchy, commanded by a person who is responsible for his subordinates. Neither Mariot, Sheila, nor even Gargoyle lead a "'responsible' command structure is capable of ensuring that the entire GUEST organization complies with the laws of war and that any malfeasance must be addressed and punished." The GUEST forces have been run by an ever-changing cast of insurgents whose authority is unclear, especially since Gargoyle's membership was revoked. GUESTS seem to encourage non-compliance with the laws of mudcat, rather than address and punish malfeasance.

Additionally, the GUESTS do not display an emblem that would identify their forces as combatants. This requirement is designed to protect non-combatants or regulars and recognizes that when GUESTS are able to hide within the mudcat population, the chance that members will be fired upon and suffer casualties is drastically increased. In other words, a "concealed combatant certainly has an advantage over the monikered member, [and] . . . the advantage comes with a price that others must pay." Such a distinctive emblem could take the form of an armband, a coat, a shirt, or a colored sign worn on the chest. The most common emblems take the form of a uniform or a flag. GUESTS are not issued uniforms, they do not carry a flag that is consistently uniform in nature, nor are they wearing armbands or colored signs on their chests. Additionally, they blend in well with the population because the GUESTS, as opposed to the al Queda fighters, are largely British by nationality. Therefore, if the GUESTS have in some way distinguished themselves from the civilized population of mudcat, it is not apparent to their opponents.