Bibliography Analysis

Lansdale, Edward. United States of America. National Security Agency. Memorandum for the Special Group. Washington D.C.: Office of the Secretary of Defense, 1962. Web. <http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/620725 Review of Op. Mongoose.pdf>.

            This primary source serves the purpose of documenting the discussion on the effectiveness of the first phase of Operation Mongoose.  It begins by stating the purpose of “Phase I,” including gathering hard intelligence on Cuba, figuring out a way to attack Cuba with reasonable U.S. support (this is where Operation Northwoods came into being), and maintaining normalcy within overt operations as not to arise suspicion.  After these requisites were stated, Lansdale writes that the operation was within the “noise” and “visibility” limits imposed prior to the beginning of Mongoose.  Lansdale then goes into greater detail on CIA involvement in the intelligence gathering aspects of Operation Mongoose.  Under the political section of the operation, an unexpected conference came up.  This is the Punta del Este conference, and is mentioned as an important turning point in isolating Cuba and Castro specifically.  Lansdale does not, however, go into any more detail on this conference.  I have also researched it, and I have found little conclusive information on this conference.  Lansdale was an expert on psychological warfare in Vietnam, so he goes into great detail under the “Psychological” title.  He discusses covert propaganda in the U.S. as well as Cuba, and is the basis of Operation Northwoods.  There are several more titles as the document continues, for example “Economics,” and “Intervention Planning.”  Finally, there is a projection into “Phase II” of Operation Mongoose.  Most of the suggestions moving forward are relatively mild, but one, the precursor to Operaion Northwoods, involved “[Using] a provocation and overthrow the Castro-Communist regime by U.S. military force.”  This document is mostly factual, but what I can say is that, knowing what comes out of this review of Phase I, it marks the calm before the storm.  It has a subtle undertone necessitating more extreme measures.  These are in fact focused on during Phase II of Operation Mongoose, as well as Operation Northwoods.  The extreme nature of the following operation astounds me.

Annotated Bibliography Entries

Weiner, Tim. "Declassified Papers Show Anti-Castro Ideas Proposed to Kennedy." New York Times. (1997): n. page. Web. 12 Jan. 2012.

           

Tim Weiner has written a few articles on Operation Northwoods and Mongoose, following the release of these documents.  It is basically a summary of the content of these operations, focusing mostly on the assassination attempts prior to Northwoods.  Weiner does, however, make clear that JFK did deny these possibilities.

Cuba. The National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba. Statement by the National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba. Havana: The National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba, 2001. Web. <http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/documentos/2001/ing/d030801i.html>.

           

            This is a great article and a response to the release of Operation Mongoose and Northwoods documents.  The National Assembly expressed their disgust towards these possible actions, and focus on the covert ops—illegal—tactics the U.S. had considered.  This includes faking an attack by “Cuban nationals” and shooting down a plane from Cuba to the U.S.

Craig, William H. United States. Department of Defense. Memorandum for the Chief of Operations, Cuba Project. Washington D.C.: Department of Defense, 1962. Web. <http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/620219 Memo for the Chief of Ops..pdf>.

            This is the basis of all my information on Operation Northwoods.  It is the primary document discussing possible actions, many of which are quite extreme.  It also contains a discussion of these operations.  This is easily one of my favorite documents ever.

Bamford, James. Body of Secrets:Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency. 1st ed. 1. New York City: Random House, 2001. Print.

            Bamford is one of the forerunners in conspiracy theories.  This book is all about the NSA, and includes an in depth discussion of Operation Northwoods.  It was release after the Mongoose documents, which gives another aspect to his analysis.  It’s going to be a key book in my research.

"Osama Bin Laden: Legality of killing questioned"

“Osama Bin Laden: Legality of killing questioned”

By Aidan Lewis

            Regarding the killing of Osama Bin Laden, Aiden Lewis, the author, asserts that because of the ever-changing narrative of the assassination the legality of the Navy Seals’ actions has come into question.  In the article, Benjamin Ferencz suggests that one of the key issues is whether the actions within the compound in Abbottabad were legal, and if the choice the Seals made was truly in self-defense.  He also states that it would be better to have capture Bin Laden and send him to court.  On the other hand, there is the argument of “Appropriate action.”  The U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder upholds that the raid was labeled a “kill or capture mission” and therefore lawful.  The next area of argument is whether the U.S. had a “Proportionate response.”  This is a grey area in the legal process, as no one knows what exactly took place in the compound.  The section of the article in which Lewis makes his point of view clear is under the heading “Setting precedents.”  Lewis asserts that the Seals encroached on international land without that country’s permission, which is illegal.  In the end, however (and as time has told), it is improbable that there will be any serious legal case against the actions of the U.S. 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13318372