POLICY QUESTIONS, OPERATION MONGOOSE
Agency: JCS
Originator: OSD
Document date: 3/12/62
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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Date: 08/04/98

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1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION

FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY :

JCS

RECORD

NUMBER

202-10001-10181

RECORDS SERIES

: FOIA SERIES

AGENCY FILE NUMBER

DOC 182

Released under the John

F. Kennedy

assassination Records

Collection Act of 1992

144 USC 2107 Notel.

Case#:NW 54214 Date:

D9-13-2017

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR

OSD

FROM

TO

TITLE

: POLICY QUESTIONS, OPERATION MONGOOSE

DATE

: 03/12/62

PAGES

: 2

SUBJECTS : MONGOOSE

DOCUMENT TYPE

: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION

•TOP SECRET

RESTRICTIONS : 1B, 1C

CURRENT STATUS

RELEASED WITH DELETIONS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 07/30/98

OPENING CRITERIA

COMMENTS : Reviewed by OSD, CIA,

State.

EXEMPT PER E.Ö. 13526

SEC 3.3(b) SAXS

DATE EXEMPTED: MAR

2016

IS RE-REVIEW DATE: 31 DZC 2937

OKAY TO TRELEASE AS PREDACTED W/CIA CONCURRENCE

[R]

- ITEM IS RESTRICTED

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

WVASHINGTON 28. D.C.

219

12 March 1962

-SENSITIVE

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SPECIAL GROUP (AUGMENTED)

From: Brig. Gen. Lansdale SL

Subject: Policy Questions, Operation Mongoose

The Deparment or State nas no objection to the

release or declassification of this document in full

under the provisions of the JFK Assassination Records

Collection Act of 1992 (PL102-526)

30/98

As Operation Mongoose goes into the approved activities of Phase I,

a number of policy questions bave started to arise. Current problems,

needing resolution, are listed below. It is requested that the Special

Group (Augmented) provide guidance, as a matter of some urgency.

Use of U.S. military installations. CIA desires to train small

groups vi Cuban nationals on the U.S. Air Force Bombing Range, Avon

Park, Florida, immediately. Defense reports that the proposed area

is adequate for this training, but that such training of covert agents

who will be introduced ultimately into Cuba represents a security problem

and a departure from past security procedures, due to the fact that U.S.

Government sponsorship will be apparent to trainees. Capture and

interrogation of any of these covert agents could result in exposure

(in international news media) of U.S. official involvement in efforts to

unseat the present Communist Cuban regime. A policy determination

is needed as to whether or not agents to be infil

trated into Cuba should

be trained on U.S. Government installations.

There are other U.S. military installations and properties, in

the Southeastern U.S. and Caribbean areas, which CIA would like to use

for similar training and operational purposes in the future.

policy determination could cover all uses of identifiable U.S. Government

properties for training and deployment of Cuban nationals for covert

infiltration into Cuba.

Reviewed on

OBJECTION

2. Arming of Cuban guerrillas. CIA needs a policy determination on

the supplying of arms and equipment to deserving Cuban guerrillas, as

OSO: No

24V0L98

they are located, assessed, and request help. Such requests are starting

SACHS NOGATON AM surface, as the intelligence-collection effort is increased, and it is

RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT

cats 4/23198

LTS 104

223211

55

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logical that the number of requests will increase as the operation

proceeds. There is a need for clearly defining the limits of arming

guerrillas (for self-defense, for training, for purposes short of

open actions in revolt), to permit operational judgment to be used

by designated operations officers, in Phase I.

3. Use of U.S. military personnel and eguipment. CIA has

equested Defense assistance in air and sea capabilities, including

supplying equipment and supplying U.S. military crews to operate

the equipment. Included in these requests are 2 LSD's (or similar

ships) to lie off the coast in support of CIA maritime operations, with

U.S. Navy crews of 200-300 depending upon the missions, 3 USAF

cargo aircrait with "sheep-dipped" USAF crews for air re-supply,

2 amphibious aircraft with "sheep-dipped'' USAF crews, and 2 sub-

marines for black broadcast operations. (This is in addition to CIA

requests for 6 PT type boats, 3 Helio aircraft, 2 82-foot Coast

Guard cutters, and arms, communications equipment, etc.). Again,

where U.S. military personnel and equipment are involved in Phase

there is need for a policy determination which will permit operational

judgment to be used by designated

operations officers, as well as a

need for rules of engagement.

1,214

Distribution:

Copy:

1

2

3

-'

-

7

-

To:

General Taylor d

The Attorney General

Secretary Rush/ Deputy Under Secretary Johnson

Secretary McNamara/Deputy Secretary Gilpatric

General Lemnitzer (through General Craig

Mr. McCone (through MI. Helms/MI. Harvey)

Chief of Operations

TOF SEE

2

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