DATE= 11/18/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222884
TITLE=U-S/CUBA RECORDS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE RELEASE OF PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED U-S GOVERNMENT
DOCUMENTS INDICATES THE U-S DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DEVELOPED A NUMBER
OF PLANS TO UNDERMINE CUBAN LEADER FIDEL CASTRO DURING THE EARLY
1960'S. AS V-O-A'S BILL RODGERS REPORTS, THE DOCUMENTS WERE
RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY AN INDEPENDENT FEDERAL AGENCY
REVIEWING RECORDS RELATED TO THE 1963 ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT
JOHN F. KENNEDY.
TEXT: THE ASSASSINATION RECORDS REVIEW BOARD HAS RELEASED SOME
15-HUNDRED PAGES OF PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED MILITARY RECORDS
RELATED TO U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA FROM 1962 TO 1964. BOARD
MEMBER ANNA NELSON SAYS THESE DOCUMENTS REVEAL THAT MILITARY
PLANNERS PROPOSED A NUMBER OF WAYS TO UNDERMINE CUBA'S COMMUNIST
GOVERNMENT.
///NELSON ACT///
I THINK WHAT THEY SHOW IS A GOVERNMENT-WIDE PLAN TO
DESTABILIZE CUBA AND AN EFFORT TO REMOVE CASTRO AS HEAD
OF GOVERNMENT OF CUBA.
///END ACT///
AMONG SOME OF THE PROPOSED MEASURES WAS A SCHEME TO DISTRIBUTE
FAKE PHOTOGRAPHS IN CUBA OF FIDEL CASTRO ACCOMPANIED BY TWO
ATTRACTIVE WOMEN SITTING AT A FOOD-LADEN TABLE AS A WAY TO
UNDERMINE CUBAN MORALE. ANOTHER MORE SERIOUS PROPOSAL WAS TO
BLOW UP A U-S SHIP IN GUANTANAMO BAY AND BLAME IT ON CUBA'S
COMMUNISTS AS A MEANS TO PROVOKE A U-S MILITARY INTERVENTION.
MS. NELSON -- A HISTORIAN AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON --
SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE IDEAS WERE N-E-V-E-R
CARRIED OUT.
///NELSON ACT///
WHILE THEY THOUGHT UP A LOT OF THINGS, AND THEY DO SOUND
PRETTY SCREWEY (CRAZY), THEY NEVER DID THEM. THERE WERE
CLEARLY WISER HEADS ABOVE, SOMEWHERE.
///END ACT///
MS. NELSON IS ONE OF FIVE MEMBERS OF THE ASSASSINATION RECORDS
REVIEW BOARD, WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1992 BY CONGRESS TO OVERSEE
THE IDENTIFICATION, REVIEW AND RELEASE OF RECORDS RELATED TO THE
1963 ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY. THE MANDATE OF THE
REVIEW BOARD IS TO MAKE THE RECORD SURROUNDING THE MURDER AS
COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE. MS. NELSON SAYS THE EVENT HAS TO BE LOOKED
AT IN A BROADER HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
///NELSON ACT///
WE FEEL THE ASSASSINATION TOOK PLACE IN A LARGER
HISTORICAL CONTEXT. FIRST OF ALL THERE WAS THE COLD WAR
ITSELF, AND SECONDLY THERE WAS THIS ISSUE OF CUBA WHICH
KEEPS REARING ITS HEAD.
///END ACT///
HOWEVER, SHE ADDS THERE IS NO INDICATION THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT WAS
INVOLVED IN THE ASSASSINATION. THE REVIEW BOARD PLANS TO
CONTINUE ITS WORK -- AND WILL BE RELEASING MORE PREVIOUSLY
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS IN THE COMING MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
18-Nov-97 5:34 PM EST (2234 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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