The Cuban Project

The Cuban Project, also known as "Operation Mongoose" is the general name for CIA covert operations and plans initiated by President John F. Kennedy on November 30, 1961 which authorized aggressive covert assault on Communism in the Cuban Republic. The operation was led by Air Force General Edward Lansdale and came into being after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.

Related Topics:
Operation Mongoose - CIA - John F. Kennedy - November 30 - 1961 - Communism - Cuban Republic - Air Force - General - Edward Lansdale - Bay of Pigs invasion

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The goal of The Cuban Project was to "help Cuba overthrow the Communist regime", overthrow its leader Fidel Castro, and aim "for a revolt which can take place in Cuba by October 1962".

Related Topics:
Fidel Castro - 1962

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The Cuban Project was created based on the assumption that Communist controls inside Cuba were severe and that the regime was serving as a Communist leader in the Americas. There was also evidence that the repressive measures of the Communists, together with disappointments in Castro's economic dependency on the Communist formula, had resulted in an anti-regime atmosphere among the Cuban people which made a resistance program a distinct and present possibility. As such, the United States designed their covert plan to fuel the growing anti-regime spirit to provoke an overthrow of the government and/or assassination attempts on Castro. Historically, just as the Americans had overthrown their own unwanted leaders through a revolution from within, the Americans were hopeful that the Cubans would undergo the same process with a little persuasion from the actions of The Cuban Project. They hoped that their covert operation would set this insurgency in motion from within, as it had been in the United States' history. American policy makers wanted to "help the people of Cuba overthrow the Communist regime from within Cuba and institute a new government with which the United States can live in peace."

Related Topics:
Americas - United States - Insurgency

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The U.S. Department of Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff saw the project's ultimate objective to be to provide adequate justification for a U.S. military intervention in Cuba.

Related Topics:
Department of Defense - Joint Chiefs of Staff

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They requested that the Secretary of Defense assign them responsibility for the project, but the Attorney General Robert Kennedy retained effective control.

Related Topics:
Secretary of Defense - Attorney General - Robert Kennedy

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Over thirty different plans were considered under The Cuban Project, some of which were carried out. The plans included the use of American Green Berets, destruction of the Cuban sugar crop, mining of harbors and even the possible creation of rumors that Jesus would return to Cuba after the Communist Party of Cuba was overthrown.

Related Topics:
Green Berets - Sugar - Harbors - Rumors - Jesus - Communist Party of Cuba

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The Cuban Project played a significant role in the events leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The Cuban Project's six-phase terrorist schedule was presented by counter-insurgency specialist Air Force General Edward Lansdale on February 20, 1962. Lansdale outlined the coordinated program of political, psychological, military, sabotage, and intelligence operations as well as assassination attempts on key political leaders. Each passing month since his presentation, a different method was in place to destabilize the Communist regime; including poor publicity for Castro, arming militant opposition groups, establishing guerilla bases throughout the country and finally culminating in an October military intervention in Cuba. Many individual plans included making Castro's beard fall out, sending Castro a poisoned wetsuit, and placing explosive seashells in Castro's favorite places to go diving.The operation, directed by Lansdale, was overseen by the Attorney General Robert Kennedy. President John F. Kennedy was briefed on the operation guidelines on March 16, 1962.

Related Topics:
Cuban Missile Crisis - 1962 - Edward Lansdale - February 20 - Political - Psychological - Military - Sabotage - Intelligence - Assassination - Diving - Robert Kennedy - John F. Kennedy - March 16

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The Cuban Project was originally designed to culminate in October 1962 with an "open revolt and overthrow of the Communist regime." This is of course at the peak of the Cuban Missile crisis whereupon the United States and the Soviet Union come alarmingly close to nuclear war over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

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The operation was suspended on October 30, 1962, but three of ten six-man sabotage teams had already been deployed to Cuba,

Related Topics:
October 30 - 1962

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and on November 8, 1962, one six-man CIA team blew up a Cuban industrial facility.

Related Topics:
November 8 - 1962

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The Cuban Project did not emerge sucessfully, if anything the covert plan helped strengthen Fidel Castro?s popularity in Cuba.

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