◆ SpookStack

M. SECURITY 1. The assault on Cuba is generally acknowledged to have been a poorly kept secret. It could hardly have been other- wise, considering the complexity of the operation and the number of people involved, both Cuban and American. The inspection team did not make a detailed study of the security aspects of the operation but came across many weaknesses in the protection of information and activities from those who did not “need to - know." . 2. In general the Cubans who were in the operation do not seem to have had any real understanding of the need to keep quiet about their activities. Many of them knew mich more than they needed to know, and they were not compartmented from each other and from Americans to the extent that was neces- sary. For example, one wealthy Cubsn who was close to the operation was being contacted by at least six different staff employees. 3. Some agents were being handled by two or three different case officers at the same time, with confusing results and lack of control. Many of the agents who were sent into Cuba had known each other during training; for example, a dozen radio operators had been trained as a group. If one was arrested, he would know who the other ones were. One radio operator inside Cuba was aware of almost every paramilitary operation in Cuba from the beginning of the project. - 135--