Cryptonym: MONGOOSE
Source of definition provided above. "CIA units in Washington and Miami had primary responsibility for implementing MONGOOSE operations, which included military, sabotage, and political propaganda programs."
104-10301-10000: Excerpts, Draft History: John A. McCone, the Sixth Director of Central Intelligence
In late November, 1961, the President announced at a White House meeting that Edwards Lansdale had begun to study possible actions to overthrow the Castro regime. See 104-10301-10001, page 5: David Phillips writes that Task Force W was formed on 3/8/62.
32202043:Operation Mongoose Sabotage Proposals
A list of sabotage operations and proposed targets in Cuba under Operation Mongoose offered to the Special Group Augmented in 1962. http://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/jfk/NARA-July2017/JFK-July_2017_Release-Formerly_released_in_part/DOCID-32202043.PDF
32204642:Operation Mongoose-Sabotage Actions
A second more extensive list of sabotage operations and proposed targets in Cuba under Operation Mongoose sent from William K. Harvey to Edward G. Lansdale. http://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/jfk/NARA-July2017/JFK-July_2017_Release-Formerly_released_in_part/DOCID-32204642.PDF See 157-10011-10006, p. 16: "Occurrence: One infiltration team introduced into Oriente Province on 6/4-5/62 reported that Cuban security measures made operations in that area difficult. Raul Castro on June 25 reported that the four had been arrested and two had been captured, but to this date the report is not accepted as fact. The defector, (Assistant Commercial Attache Pedro Luca Roig, from the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City, see 124-90138-10133) has begun to provide names of other Cuban G-2 personnel abroad. Effective 7/1/62 Brig. Gen. B. T. Harris, US Army will replace Brig. Gen. Craig as DOD operations representative.
Lansdale testified that he "never took up assassination with either the Attorney General or the President." Helms testified (at p. 148) that "he believed the assassination activity was permissible and that it was within the scope of authority given to the Agency. McCone and other Kennedy Administration officials disagreed..."
157-10002-10102: Minutes of the Mtg. of the Special Group on Operation Mongoose
9/6/62 memo on a portion of a President's Special Group meeting that discussed Operation Mongoose. "(General Carter) mentioned specifically the possibility of producing crop failures by the introduction of biological agents which could appear to be of natural origin. Mr. (McGeorge) Bundy said that he had no worries about any such sabotage which could clearly be made to appear as the result of local Cuban disaffection or a natural disaster, but that we must avoid external activities such as release of chemicals, etc., unless they could be completely covered up..."
10/30/62 memo from D. J. Brennan to William Sullivan, re info given confidentially to the "liaison agent": "On Friday, October 26, 1962, the Attorney General, in a meeting with John McCone and other officials, very strongly expressed his displeasure concerning ineffective U.S. intelligence operations against Cuba. He particularly 'chewed out' William K. Harvey, CIA official who has been directing that agency's operations against Cuba. In view of this development and because McCone has also been critical, several CIA officials expect that Harvey eventually will be removed from his present position. The tirade directed against him by the Attorney General was so severe that McCone felt it would appropriate to remove Harvey from Washington D.C. for a few days. As of October 30, 1962, Harvey was absent and the Liaison Agent was informed that he was at Fort Bragg conferring with military officials. The above is particularly significant since CIA again may be a target of criticism for not producing adequate intelligence information on Cuba."
HSCA Segregated CIA Collection (staff notes)/NARA Record Number: 180-10142-10036
Harvey orders agent teams into Cuba during the missile crisis. RFK takes "a great deal of exception" and McCone orders the mission halted. On October 30, the Special Group Augmented orders an end to all sabotage operations, which effectively marks the end of Operation MONGOOSE. Also see 157-10014-10242, p. 525: "October 30, 1962: Memo to DDCI outlining Presidential Directive to CIA; no provocative actions by refugee groups; estop Alpha-66; stop Mongoose ops; no contact with Press. MISSING." - Apparently, this document could not be found. Also see Walter Elder's memo - https://drive.google.com/file/d/130AHy6uQqc2xyjXLt_NR26HYpabn0k1Z/view - page 77: "A climax of sorts occurred at a meeting of the Special Group Augmented during which the Chairman (RFK) asked a specific question, noting that he had ten minutes in which to hear the reply and wanted a crisp answer within that period. Mr. Harvey was not forthcoming, and (RFK) left the meeting after ten minutes expressing strong dissatisfaction with things in general and Harvey in particular. After this meeting it was clear to McCone that Harvey had broken his lance and would have to be replaced. In due course, he was replaced." Also see 157-10005-10236, p. 90 - Gen. Edward Lansdale's testimony that quotes Elder's letter verbatim, with ensuing discussion.
32204714:CIA, Operation Mongoose, NSC, Anti-Castro Activities
A letter from Edward Lansdale reporting the phasing out of Operation Mongoose and in which he commends some of the CIA Officers related to the operation. http://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/jfk/NARA-July2017/JFK-July_2017_Release-Formerly_released_in_part/DOCID-32204714.PDF
104-10102-10224: OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR CONTINUING OPERATIONS AGAINST CUBA
11/27/62 memo from C/TFW William K. Harvey to DDP Richard Helms: Harvey proposed "a gradual but substantial reduction in the expenditures and personnel of Task Force W. Consideration of the re-positioning of Task Force W within the Clandestine Service, possibly as a major component of the WH Division under different direction. The abolition of the operational Mongoose mechanism."
MONGOOSE relied "on the use of Cuban exiles and dissidents in Cuba" to overthrow the government. The work of the agents infiltrated or recruited before or during MOONGOOSE did not cease at the end of that operation. "Rather, it continued until it was eliminated by Cuban security organizations."
https://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/RFKOH-MDT-01.aspx
Interview with General Maxwell Taylor, 10/22/69, page 5: "One of the conclusions that came out of the Bay of Pigs was that the Executive Departments were just not able to organize anything as complex as the invasion of Cuba. We had no idea that invasions like that were going to become commonplace..."