08/04/98 Page : 1 JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION Released under the John AGENCY RECORD NUMBER RECORDS SERIES AGENCY FILE NUMBER ORIGINATOR FROM TO TITLE DATE ~ PAGES SUBJECTS DOCUMENT TYPE CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTIONS CURRENT STATUS DATE OF LAST REVIEW OPENING CRITERIA COMMENTS HW 54214 Docld:324274917 Page 1 JCS 202-10001-10186 FOIA SERIES DOC 187 . Kennedy WSsassination Records oOllection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note}. ase#: NW 54214 Date: DOCUMENT INFORMATION OSD MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE SPECIAL GROUP ON OPERATION MONGOOSE 10/26/62 3 MONGOOSE MEMORANDUM TOP SECRET 1B RELEASED WITH DELETIONS 07/30/98 Bracketed portions withheld by the Joint Staff. Reviewed by OSD, CIA and State. NO JOINT STAFF OBJECTION TO DECLASSIFICATION (7 iia
7 = 2 — S$ 3 7 3S =) m ‘this document in full FK Assassination Records ie Jr e: of 1992 (PL102-626) ar, AL es sat HW. 54214 DocId: 32424917 Page 2 Operation MONGOOSE ~26 October 1962 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD SUBJECT: Minutes of Meeting of the Special Group (Augmented) on Operation MONGOOSE, 26 October 1962 PRESENT: Mr. McNamara, Mr. Gilpatric, General Taylor, General Lansdale, General Johnson; the Attorney General; Mr. Johnson, Mr. Martin; Mr. Bundy; Mr. McCone, Mr. Harvey; Mr. Wilson. 1. The meeting began with a discussion of the considerably- increased activity in the dispatch, and preparation for dispatch, of agent teams. As a result of this discussion, it was agreed that all plans for dispatch should be suspended pending further examination; instructions were issued during :he course of the meeting designed to recall the three teams already on the way. It was agreed that the first order of business with regard to these teams is to examine in detail the requirements toward which they could contribute. General Lansdale will arrange to get GEé= into contact with: (a) General Carroll, to examine what military requirements such agents could service; (b) similarly, the State Department for political intelligence requirements; (c) USIA for requirements peculiar to that Agency. After this examination, it. will then be decided what the best use of these agent assets actually should be. 2. Mr. McCone and Mr. Harvey said during the course of the discussion on agent teams, that the action taken had represented a unilateral decision by CIA and was not in response to specific military requirements. CIA had felt that this was within its sphere of responsibility, and particularly with respect to the first three teams had considered that it was a continuation of previously- « approved operations. Mr. McCone commented that internal security in Cuba is now far more stringent than it was two weeks ago, thereby making agent operations much more difficult; he felt, therefore, that agent activity on this scale will only be justified if the responsible depart pecifically require it for intelligence purposes, this connection, General Taylor brought out that ‘the Chiefs ° approved the use of submarines for agent dis atch but had not been asked to review the operation in broader conrext: THE: sige Chiefs | had concluded, however, that no revolt should be mulate Coop yk Foe :
oo Moy ‘A’ gnless and until the U.S. is ready to support it and that the j erailitary establishment does not wish to take over sabotage and similar operations at this time, although it should be prevared | jto do so if an invasion should be mounted. Mr. McCone Sea oes it_is.possible—that—ee-the-situat ion—develops,-CLA-Cuban- operations . - might movaundermibitaryeeontrol, but that such action is not oh indicated at this time. om * aw . , 3. Mr. Harvey m#de the point that the proposed agent dis- patches would not use up all existing assets. He said that in the event of invasion, a sizeable number of Cubans could be trained quickly. 4. The Attorney General and General Lansdale emphasized that the Cubans are entirely prepared. to make the necessary sacrifices 1f they are in support of an approved plan. The Cubans do want, however, assurances that such activities are in fact approved at a high Level, Da Mr. Bundy emphasized the importance of planning for the use of Cubans in political and civil activities during and after any military action. He felt that there should be established with- in the government some sort of "Office of Free Cuban Affairs," which probably should be placed within the Department of State. The activities of this office would be distinct from General Lansdale's operations but would be closely related to them. He pointed out that top priority should be given to selecting a man to head such an office. Mr. Bundy also said that he thought a subcommittee of the NSC Executive Committee should be established to deal with MONGOOSE affairs. ‘ 6. Mr. McNamara thought that MONGOOSE in the short-term should be considered in the context of (a) providing support for action designed to get rid of the missiles, and (b) support for a possible invasion, Ve Specific discussion took place on points raised in the paper distributed at the meeting, as follows: a, CIA should continue to develop the balloon propaganda facilities, although it was recognized that by the target date of 1 December this capability might no longer be needed because of other / methods of delivery, a } i t : seis b. No major acts of sabotage should be undertaken at this time. This decision will be reviewed in about a week. HW 542714 DBocld:32424917 Page 3
c. General Lansdale should develop further plans to “help the Cubans to help themselves." Mr. Morales-Carrion should be brought into this planning. d. Political planning for the post-Castro period will be assigned to the “Office for Free Cuban Affairs," . @. Establishment of USIA's new 50 KW transmitter in . .the Florida Keys should be expedited, 8. It was reiterated that General Lansdale is the focal point for all MONGOOSE activities, that he is charged with their overall management and that he should be kept informed of all significant plans and activities in connection with the project, omas A. Parrott Distribution The Attorney General Chairman, JCS DCI ; le! General Lansdale Oy see Crurpal t1¢lu 3-7 HW 54214 Docld: 32424917 Page 4