◆ SpookStack

~fl Sr:CRET its broadcasts into Cuba, Project JMATE could claim no similarly successful or continuing program of sabotage and disruption. In fact, one of the earliest and most thoroughly discussed sabotage programs against Cuba -- disruption of the Cuban petroleum industry -- was a complete and total bust. Being suggested even before President Eisenhower's authorization of the anti-Castro program, attempts to sabotage and inter- fere with the operation of Cuba's petroleum refineries '..~ continued until well into the middle 60's -- with at least one of the sabotage "experts" displaying the same notable lack of success, but excess of foolish- ness, that characterized his activities during Project external action groups. In addition, we feel that a great deal of the other sabotage were [sic] the results [sic] of tpe demolitions we suppJied to the various teams and other action groups in Cuba with which we were in contact. Approx~mately 10-15,000 lbs. of the over 100,000 Ibs. of material [sic] placed in the hands of internal assets were demolitions supplies for sabotage action. 35a/ The attack on the Santiago refinery was led by Rip Robertson, but'his exciting cable about the action greatly overemphasized the damage; and the plant op- erations were quickly restored to normal. At the time, however, the DCI reported it to the Special Group (Chester Bowles, Roswell Gilpatrick, and McGeorge Bundy) as a "successful" operation. 35b/ Robertson's cable is shown as Appendix E (p. 335). - 234 - reI' SECR~T