◆ SpookStack

Another critical question regarding Trinidad versus Zapata was raised by someone on the committee asking if Secretary Rusk had been briefed on the Cuba plan prior to 10 March 1961. Whether the respondent to this question was General Cabell or Mr.Bissell is not known: but the answer indicated a belief that Rusk had been briefed "on some elements of the plan, but not on the military 43/ details." - In fact, on 22 January 1961, Rusk had been thoroughly briefed on all aspects of the planned Cuban operation, including the paramilitary operation with emphasis on the criticality of air attacks to eliminate Castro's air and naval opposition and to provide continuing support for the Cuban Brigade throughout the course of the action. Among others, Mr. Bissell, General Lemnitzer, Secretary McNamara, and Attorney General Kennedy had been present during the course of that meeting. Inasmuch as that was the first comprehensive briefing that had been given to the Kennedy administration's senior personnel-- the President would receive a less detailed briefing on 28 January 1961--it was unfortunate, particularly in view of Rusk's subsequent testimony, that neither Bissell nor Cabell (nor Dulle.s if he was present during this testimony) recalled ·44/ that Rusk had been briefed in depth. With reference to Rusk's role in the cancellation of the D-Day strike, one of the CIA witnesses specified that when they had gone to the Department of State to discuss the importance of retaining the D-Day strike but failed to