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ee Oe eer ee G. THE MIAMI OPERATING BASE ~ 1. ‘The confused relationships between WH/4 headquarters and the forward operating base in the Miami area were a signifi- cant factor in the over-all performance ofthe project mission. The base was activated in late April 1960 and was put in Miami mainly because it was the chief center of Cuban refugees in the United States. 2. From the beginning, the DD/P and his associates took -a firm stand against allowing this base to become more than a _ small support organization, and until September 1960 the base _ did little except carry on liaison with the Cuban exile organi- zations and U.S. law enforcement agencies. For example, there was only one paramilitary officer at the base during this period. 3. ‘The DD/P's Chief of Operations wrote in June 1960: "T recognize your need for some operational personnel in the Miami area to service and conduct certain actiyities there. I am firmly opposed, however, to the growth of an organization which would represent a second headquarters or intermediate echelon there." At this same time, the DD/P's Assistant for Covert Action empha- sized that the function of the forwara operating base should be one of coordination, with command remaining in Headquarters. 4, In August the DD/P wrote that he was worried about Miami and wanted to be sure that “we are not duplicating there any functions that are being performed in Headquarters. For