OPERATION MONGOOSE
In 1961 Operation Mongoose was a plan against Cuba to help overthrow Communists from power, including Fidel Castro. This was the prime focus for John F. Kennedy’s administration. Policy makers in the United States wanted a new government so the U.S. can live in peace.The CIA used mass propaganda in Cuba and most of latin America via radio broadcasts and handing out leaflets. This operation costs about $4.4 million. This covert operation was funded by the “Bender Group”. This group was developed to provide a secret route U.S. businessmen could trade with Cuba. Many different propositions were made on how best to discredit Fidel Castro. These ideas were meant to negatively influence Castro’s behavior and appearance. One scheme was to spray a compound similar to LSD in his broadcast studio, but the chemical was to unstable to be put into action. Another idea was to lace a box of Castro’s cigars with a chemical to cause disorientation. The list goes on and on. Every avenue was explored on how to overthrow Castro. The official plan of action setup by Operation Mongoose is as follows.
- Basic Action Plan Inside Cuba
- Political Support Plan
- Economic Support Plan
- Psychological Support Plan
- Military Support Plan
- Sabotage Support Plan
- Intelligence Support Plan
This plan of action was setup to take place in this six phase plan.
- Phase I, Action, March 1962. Start moving in.
- Phase II, Build-up, April-July 1962. Activating the necessary operations inside Cuba for revolution and concurrently applying the vital political, economic, and military-type support from outside Cuba.
- Phase III, Readiness, 1 August 1962, check for final policy decision.
- Phase IV, Resistance, August-September 1962, move into guerrilla operations.
- Phase V, Revolt, first two weeks of October 1962. Open revolt and overthrow of the Communist regime.
- Phase VI, Final, during month of October 1962. Establishment of new government.
The Cuban Missile Crisis is a direct result of these actions taken by the United States government.
OPERATION NORTHWOODS
In 1962 the U.S. government devised a plan to start war with Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. First thing was to make the Cuban government look like the bad guy by using the United Nations forum to develop an international image as rash and irresponsible. Next was to use CIA operatives to stage and commit acts of terrorism against the U.S. military and U.S. citizens blaming it on the Cuban government to justify war. The possible actions to carry out this plan were to assassinate Cuban immigrants, attacking Cuban refugee boats on high seas, hijacking airplanes to be shot down or appear to be shot down, sinking a U.S. ship, and coordinating violent terrorist attacks in U.S. cities. The CIA had many scenarios layed out to attempt to provoke war with Cuba. Operation Northwoods was never actually put into action. The plan was authorized by the Joint Chief of Staff, but was later rejected by John F. Kennedy.