Bay of Pigs Top Secret CIA Documents Released and Published Online

Online, August 3, 2011 (Newswire.com) - BACM Research/PaperlessArchives.com has announced the publishing of never before available to the public CIA documents covering the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.

The CIA on August 1, 2011 made available several volumes of its formerly Top Secret official history of the Bay of Pigs invasion titled, "Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation." This CIA Bay of Pigs official history was compiled between 1974 and 1984. Three volumes of this five volume report were not available to the public until August 1, 2011. One volume became publicized in 2005. The fifth volume is still Top Secret and has not been released by the CIA.

1,582 pages of the CIA Bay of Pigs Official History can be downloaded for free at: http://www.paperlessarchives.com/bay_of_pigs_cia_history.html

Twelve years after the failed invasion, CIA director William Colby commissioned CIA historians to produce an official history of the operation. On August 8, 1973, Colby's direction to the CIA history staff was that he wanted a report that would, "develop accurate accounts of certain of CIA's past activities in terms suitable for inclusion in Government-wide historical and declassification programs, while protecting intelligence sources and methods." Nine years later, CIA historian Jack Pfeiffer completed the task in five volumes. Pfeiffer conducted interviews with many CIA operatives and officials. He and his staff had access to thousands of pages of CIA documents.

Highlights from the currently available CIA history on the Bay of Pigs include:

Details of planned and actual use of air power during the operation.

The negotiations with and cooperation by Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama in the invasion.

Coverage of numerous controversial Bay of Pigs episodes including the role of Adlai Stevenson, the cancellation of the "Second Strike," the US Navy's air combat role on 19 April 1961, and the record of action and decisions of the principals most closely involved in the operations.

The role of Vice President Richard Nixon. The report shows that Nixon intervened in the planning of the invasion on behalf of William Pawley. A top Republican Party and Nixon campaign contributor, Pawley was a wealthy businessman who owned enterprises in Cuba. Pawley had previously been ambassador to Brazil and Peru.

One volume refers to a November 15, 1960 meeting of the Task Force overseeing the invasion planning. This meeting was convened to prepare a briefing for President-elect John Kennedy. The minutes of the meeting seem to show the Task Force was having doubts that the operation would succeed. The report quotes the minutes, "Our original concept is now seen to be unachievable in the face of the controls Castro has instituted." The report further accounts, "Our second concept (1,500-3000 man force to secure a beach with airstrip) is also now seen to be unachievable, except as a joint Agency/DOD action." According to the CIA official history, this opinion was never shared with Kennedy.

The available Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation volumes can be downloaded for free at:

http://www.paperlessarchives.com/bay_of_pigs_cia_history.html

About the Bay of Pigs - Operation Zapata Invasion

During the administration of President Dwight Eisenhower, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) developed plans to use Cuban exiles to overthrow the Fidel Castro government. The plans called for the involvement of the United States to remain hidden. Less than three months after succeeding Eisenhower, President John F. Kennedy on 4 April 1961, approved the Operation Zapata Cuba invasion plan. On April 17, 1961, 1,300 Cuban exiles trained in Guatemala landed on Cuba's southern coast, Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) in Las Villas Province. It was hoped that the invasion would be accompanied by a popular uprising in Cuba. Fidel Castro received warnings of the pending invasion and had ample time to prepare for the action. The operation collapsed by its third day. One-hundred and eighteen members of the invasion force were killed, 114 Cuban exiles and 4 American aircrew members. President Kennedy took public responsibility for the failure. CIA Director Allen Dulles and his staff resigned in September 1961.

About BACM Research

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