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🇨🇺 Cuba /Conflict & Security

CIA's "Operation Generous" Revealed: A Plot Against Cuba

From Granma · (1d ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Newly declassified documents reveal details of the CIA's "Operation Generosa," a covert plan approved by President Eisenhower in March 1960 to destabilize Cuba.
  • The operation, led by CIA Deputy Director Richard Bissell, aimed to organize subversive actions, including potential assassinations and sabotage of Cuban media and communication systems, prior to a mercenary invasion.
  • CIA agent Howard Hunt visited Cuba to assess the political situation and proposed specific actions, including the assassination of Fidel Castro and the destruction of key infrastructure, to be coordinated with counter-revolutionary groups.

Newly uncovered documents from the archives of the newspaper Revolución shed light on the insidious nature of U.S. aggression against Cuba, specifically detailing the CIA's "Operation Generosa." Approved by President Eisenhower on March 17, 1960, just days after the tragic explosion of the La Coubre ship, this operation was a clear escalation of covert actions aimed at undermining the sovereignty of the Cuban people.

ojos y oídos

— N/ADescribing the need for secrecy within the CIA to prevent 'eyes and ears' from accessing project information.

The plan, orchestrated by CIA Deputy Director Richard Bissell from a clandestine location dubbed "Quarter Eyes," was designed to sow chaos and prepare the ground for a mercenary invasion. Bissell's objective was to organize subversive actions that would distract from the main invasion force being trained in Guatemala. The operation's secrecy was paramount, with access restricted to a select few officials operating under false identities and highly classified documents.

CIA agent Howard Hunt's reconnaissance mission to Havana in April 1960 yielded a chilling set of proposals. These included the assassination of Fidel Castro, the destruction of Cuban radio and television transmitters, and the disruption of microwave communication systems, all to coincide with the planned invasion. Hunt also advised against any large-scale popular demonstrations against Castro until the military situation was decided, revealing a cynical disregard for the will of the Cuban people.

only for your eyes

— N/AClassification level of documents related to the operation.

To execute these terroristic plans, the CIA manipulated leaders of five major counter-revolutionary movements into forming a united front in exile, the Cuban Revolutionary Front. Within Cuba, the operation relied on a clandestine movement coordinated by "Francisco," identified as Dr. Oscar Salas Marrero. Bissell envisioned a prolonged infiltration and supply of arms, but reports of hostile fire during weapons drops indicated that the counter-revolutionary elements were already being detected and resisted by the Cuban people.

top secret

— N/AClassification level of documents related to the operation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Granma in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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