Reader Ad Slot
Reader Ad Slot placeholder
If you would like to support SpookStack without paying out of pocket, please consider allowing advertising cookies. It helps cover hosting costs and keeps the archive free to browse. You can change this choice at any time.
CubanMissileCrisisCIA
Page 42
42 / 354
6. (Continued)
would conclude that in supporting Cuba the Soviets were not involving
themselves with a permanent liability; furthermore, there was an opportunity
of creating a viable and reasonably prosperous economy which, while not
a showcase, would always be an annoyance to the United States and a model
for all dissident groups in Latin America, _
DCI then referred to the 15th August paper of the Board of National
Estimates, subject, ''The Soviet Stake in Cuba't and read the summary of
this paper which is in numbered paragraph 7, page 3.
In support of the above DCI then briefly reviewed a chronology of
unevaluated reports on recent Soviet military aid to Cuba, 21 August, and
noted my reference to maps; location of the reported activities.
There was general agreement that the situation was critical and that
the most dynamic action was indicated,
There was discussion of various courses of action open to us in
case the Soviets place MRBM missiles on Cuban territory. There was also
discussion of blockades of Soviet and Bloc shipping into Cuba or alternatively
a total blockade of Cuba.
Throughout these discussions, it was abundantly clear that in the
minds of State, and Mr. Bundy, speaking for the White House, there is a
very definite inter-relationship between Cuba and other trouble spots,
such as Berlin. It was felt that a blockade of Cuba would automatically
bring about a blockade of Berlin; that drastic action on a missile site or
other military installation of the Soviets in Cuba would bring about similar
action by the Soviets with respect to our bases and numerous missile sites,
particularly Turkey and southern Italy. Also, there is a reluctance, as
previously, to the commitment of military forces because of the task
involved and also because of retaliatory actions of the Soviets elsewhere
throughout the world, :
McNamara expressed strong feelings that we should take every
possible aggressive action in the fields of intelligence, sabotage and
guerrilla warfare, utilizing Cubans and do such other things as might be
indicated to divide the Castro regime. McCone pointed out that all of these
things could be done, Efforts to date with agent teams had been disappointing.
Sabotage activities were planned on a priority basis and in all probability,
we would witness more failures than successes. To date we had exper~
ienced a very tight internal security situation and probably this would
become more so in the future,
Reveal the original PDF page, then click a word to highlight the OCR text.
Community corrections
No user corrections yet.
Comments
No comments on this document yet.
Bottom Reader Ad Slot
Bottom Reader Ad Slot placeholder
If you would like to support SpookStack without paying out of pocket, please consider allowing advertising cookies. It helps cover hosting costs and keeps the archive free to browse. You can change this choice at any time.
Continue Exploring
Explore This Archive Cluster
Broad Topic Hub
Topic Hub
letter
bureau
Related subtopics
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic