Operation Mongoose

[Charles Collins]

In “Live by the Sword” by Gus Russo, he stresses just how driven the Kennedy brothers (especially Bobby) were in their efforts to depose Castro. Here is an enlightening quote from the book:


Bill Harvey was assigned to coordinate Mongoose from the CIA headquarters in Langley...

... Harvey’s handwritten notes of an early meeting with Robert Kennedy underscore the determination involved: “Top priority in U.S. Gov’t. . . All else is secondary. . . Nothing to stand in way of getting this done.”43

If Castro was involved in the assassination (a big if), then it appears to me it was self defense.

[Walt Cakebread]

In “Live by the Sword” by Gus Russo, he stresses just how driven the Kennedy brothers (especially Bobby) were in their efforts to depose Castro. Here is an enlightening quote from the book:


Bill Harvey was assigned to coordinate Mongoose from the CIA headquarters in Langley...

... Harvey’s handwritten notes of an early meeting with Robert Kennedy underscore the determination involved: “Top priority in U.S. Gov’t. . . All else is secondary. . . Nothing to stand in way of getting this done.”43

If Castro was involved in the assassination (a big if), then it appears to me it was self defense.

Castro was not involved in the coup d' etat......    In fact Richard Case Nagell suspected that Castro had learned about the plot and tried to foil the plot.

[Gary Craig]

[Charles Collins]

Another quote from Russo’s book:


On October 6, 1962, thousands of troops were positioned, along with support equipment and planes, prepared to implement military OPLANS being considered by the President. In charge of the operation was Admiral Robert “Denny” Dennison, Commander in Chief of the North Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT). The plans called for everything from small amphibious landings, to a full-scale invasion by over 18,000 U.S. troops. On October 10, the White House obtained permission from the British government to use the Bahamas as an invasion base camp. D-Day was to be October 20, 1962.134

[Colin Crow]

Oswald would be a perfect Castro assassination patsy to deflect attention towards the USSR, just wondering.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Oswald would be a perfect Castro assassination patsy to deflect attention towards the USSR, just wondering.

Why would someone "patsy" a person to connect him with Castro and then deflect attention towards Moscow? Isn't that working at cross purposes?

As I mentioned elsewhere, if Oswald was "patsied" then what was the benefit? If they wanted to blame Castro to justify an invasion then why did the WC clear Havana? They cleared Moscow, they cleared domestic communists, they cleared everyone. They said Oswald alone killed JFK. Why? They couldn't determine what his motivations were, whether notoriety or politics or anger or whatever. Nobody helped him, he did it alone.

Why didn't they use this as a sort of "Reichstag fire" event? To consolidate power, to go after Castro or enact a "Red Scare"? Nothing happened. It wasn't used at all.

[Charles Collins]

Oswald would be a perfect Castro assassination patsy to deflect attention towards the USSR, just wondering.

Interesting thought Colin. The fact that LHO did go to the Soviet Union and stay there for almost three years certainly did deflect some of the suspicion away from Cuba. But at that point in time Cuba was dependent upon the USSR. And, only a year or so after the Cuban Missile Crisis, there was little distinction between Cuba and the Soviet Union in the minds of many Americans. But, IF Castro was even aware of LHO’s plan beforehand, that thought might have entered into his mind. The patsy idea is more than just a little stretch for me however.

[Joe Mannix]

Why would someone "patsy" a person to connect him with Castro and then deflect attention towards Moscow? Isn't that working at cross purposes?

As I mentioned elsewhere, if Oswald was "patsied" then what was the benefit? If they wanted to blame Castro to justify an invasion then why did the WC clear Havana? They cleared Moscow, they cleared domestic communists, they cleared everyone. They said Oswald alone killed JFK. Why? They couldn't determine what his motivations were, whether notoriety or politics or anger or whatever. Nobody helped him, he did it alone.

Why didn't they use this as a sort of "Reichstag fire" event? To consolidate power, to go after Castro or enact a "Red Scare"? Nothing happened. It wasn't used at all.

My guess is that the Soviets knew that the CIA station in Miami was behind the assassination and let LBJ know. It was best for all to blame the dead patsy.