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Cryptonym: IGNITE

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Definition:
IGNITE was a Oriente infiltration team of AMDENIM-1's (Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria) in 1964. It was a new operation to infiltrate the AMSPARK team leader and also to establish a ratline and legal resident radio operator capability in north eastern Oriente.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
A dispatch on June 24, 1964, stated that AMDENIM-1 was pleased with "the launching of the IGNITE team, which was the new operation to infiltrate the AMSPARK Team Leader. The good after action report provided by the P/A who accompanied the Team on the ship further offset his doubts about JMWAVE's Maritime capabilities. The delay in the IGNITE Team's coming on the air which was caused by the alert for AMBANG-1 (Manuel Ray Rivero) did not help his morale during this period."

A cable on June 30, 1964, mentioned that the maritime operation IGNITE IV had been successful, and "Roina towing Dragon returning home base."

A dispatch in August, 1964, stated that AMDENIM-1 was "very relieved" on July 1st with the safe return of the IGNITE team, which he had recruited, after a few close escapes following Manuel Ray's promise to return to Cuba in May had apparently created vigilance among Cuba's security forces. The dispatch added that AMDENIM-1 was "just as concerned that operations in Oriente be carried forward as vigorously as possible and would consider the loss of the IGNITE Team a severe set back to the possibility of KUBARK (CIA) ever being prepared to do anything in Oriente." There was also a reference to ANDENIM-1 efforts to monitor and control the IGNITE team being disrupted because of the presence of three MDC members, who were exfiltrated with the team. A MDC member had "been recruited and developed to accompany AMSEED/3 (Dionisio Pastrana Moreno) on the next IGNITE operation as guide." A-1's noted knowledge of and contacts in Oriente Province backed "up the IGNITE operation in its efforts to establish a ratline and legal resident radop capability in north eastern Oriente." This dispatch was written by Norman D. Kiggins (probably Robert Wall) for Theodore Shackley.

A cable on September 11, 1964, stated that the exfiltration of the two-man IGNITE-V team on the north Oriente coast had been successful.
Sources:

104-10172-10101: DISPATCH: PROGRESS REPORT ON AMDENIM-1 - PERIOD 1 OCT 63-31 MAY 1964

06/24/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: Page 3: ..."9. With the AMSPARK area now fully alerted it became necessary to locate a guide for a different entry point in Oriente. Subject was provided with a number of leads among fishermen refugees and quickly sorted them out and came up with AMBIG-3 (Ricardo Adelis Cobos) who had previously been cleared and then not used due to the press of other business. The new guide was quickly recleared and put with AMSEED-3 (Dionisio Pastrana Moreno) and for the most part kept busy with training and other preparations. Subject was pleased with the continued effort to create an operation in Oriente, but he was disappointed that AMSPARK-2 was even temporarily out of the act as this removed from the center of activity the man to whom he felt closest. The launching of the IGNITE team, which was the new operation to infiltrate the AMSPARK Team Leader, pleased him. The good after action report provided by the P/A who accompanied the Team on the ship further offset his doubts about JMWAVE's Maritime capabilities. The delay in the IGNITE Team's coming on the air which was caused by the alert for AMBANG-1 (Manuel Ray Rivero) did not help his morale during this period. The raid by AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa) at Pilon was of course an infringement on Oriente which really upset him..."

104-10234-10173: CABLE: MIAMI HERALD 30 JUN HEADLINE "FIDEL'S SISTER FLEES CUBA, DENOUNCES HIM".

06/30/64: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Pages 2-3: ...D. PM. 1. IGNITE Team and three MDC infiltrees recovered from target area. All in good condition... A. Training...B. Maritime: Op IGNITE IV successful. Roina towing Dragon returning home base..."

104-10173-10196: DISPATCH: AMDENIM-1 PROGRESS REPORT 1-31 JULY 1964

08/17/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: Page 2: "b. AMDENIM/1 (Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria) was very relieved on 1 July to learn that the IGNITE Team which he recruited was safely out of the target area following their several close escapes due to the vigilance created by Manolo Ray's promise to return to Cuba by 20 May 1964. His relief was not entirely for the personal welfare of the men in that he is just as concerned that operations in Oriente be carried forward as vigorously as possible and would consider the loss of the IGNITE Team a severe set back to the possibility of KUBARK (CIA) ever being prepared to do anything in Oriente. As time goes on he becomes more and more the most knowledgeable man in exile on Oriente and the man with the biggest potential following in Oriente. His efforts to keep track of the IGNITE Team's plans and retain some semblance of control over the Team have been further disrupted by the presence of the three MDC (Movimiento Democrata Cristiano) members who were exfiltrated with the IGNITE Team. It has been agreed that it would not be advisable for them to be aware of his association with the 'company' thus he has been cut out of debriefing where they were present and now is unable to see AMSEED/3 (Dionisio Pastrana Moreno) in his safehouse because one of the MDC people has been recruited and developed to accompany AMSEED/3 on the next IGNITE operation as guide...6. PLANS: Subject's main value to KUBARK is his local knowledge of and abundant contacts in Oriente Province, the Cuban mother of revolution...It is this capability which backs up the IGNITE operation in its efforts to establish a ratline and legal resident radop capability in north eastern Oriente. His contacts, in other words would be exploitable by either IGNITE or whatever other team was used to develop clandestine capability in Oriente...(handwritten: Norman D. Kiggins for) Andrew K. Reuteman" (Theodore Shackley).

104-10226-10436: CABLE-SITREP 11 SEP 64, INTELLIGENCE HIGHLIGHTS

09/11/64: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: ..."WEEKLY SUMMARY PM/MARITIME OPS...(B) Evening 6 Sep: Exfil two-man IGNITE-V team north Oriente coast successful..."

104-10173-10195: DISPATCH: AMDENIM-1 PROGRESS REPORT THROUGH 15 SEPTEMBER 1964

09/24/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: ..."2. As reported in Reference A Progress Report, Subject was advised that he would not be utilized directly in the preparation of the IGNITE Team for infiltration into Oriente due to the presence of a former MDC member on the team, and the inadvisability of having the MDC aware of AMDENIM-1's (Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria) association with JMWAVE. This was done partly in anticipation of the Case Officer's PCS in September so that the new IGNITE Case Officer would not have to deal with AMDENIM-1, inasmuch as it had already been decided that he would be handled by someone else. Thus AMDENIM-1 was not advised until the IGNITE Team had departed the WAVE area. When he got the word that they were gone without his blessing, according to AMDENIM-13, he blew his top and said this is the end, meaning his long and incomparable service to JMWAVE was now over because he had been unjustly cut off from infiltrees whom he had personally recruited and developed. The irony of the situation was that the infiltree team leader, AMSEED-3 (Dionisio Pastrana Moreno), had requested AMDENIM-1 be cut out because he was 'primarily interested in his own welfare and not Cuba.' The Case Officer didn't particularly agree with AMSEED-3 and recognized the old Cuban game of stick your buddy if it will help yourself, but saw an opportunity to make the handling of both AMDENIM-1 and the people he recruited much easier after the Case Officer's departure...3...Responsibility for not having him at the final briefing for the IGNITE Team was taken completely by the Case Officer, with no mention of AMSEED-3's sentiments, which should remain the case. This shove in a direction he was unwilling to go voluntarily, along with no word about his claim, was undoubtedly the low spot in the month..."

Contributors:
Gavin McDonald

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