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PBSUCCESS
By the fall of 1953, US policymakers, including CIA officials, were searching for a new overall program for dealing with Arbenz. The Guatemalan leader had moved even closer to the Communists. He had expropriated additional United Fruit Company holdings, legalized the Guatemalan Communist Party, the PGT, and suppressed anti-Communist opposition following an abortive uprising at Salamá. In response, the National Security Council authorized a covert action operation against Arbenz and gave the CIA primary responsibility.[1]
The CIA plan, as drawn up by ’s Western Hemisphere Division, combined psychological warfare, economic, diplomatic, and paramilitary actions against Guatemala. Named PBSUCCESS, and coordinated with the Department of State, the plan’s stated objective was “to remove covertly, and without bloodshed if possible, the menace of the present Communist-controlled government of Guatemala.” In the outline of the operation the sixth stage called for the “roll-up” of Communists and collaborators after a successful coup.[2]
Dulles placed in charge of PBSUCCESS and sent a senior DDP officer, to establish a temporary station (LINCOLN), to coordinate the planning and execution of PBSUCCESS. Other key Agency figures involved were and Chief of the Staff. Department of State Assistant Secretary of State for from the Office of Affairs, and State liaison to the Agency, also played major roles.
Training
Although assassination was not mentioned specifically in the overall plan, the Chief of at requested a special paper on liquidation of personnel on 5 January 1954. This paper, according to the chief, was to be utilized to brief the training chief for PBSUCCESS before he left to begin training Castillo Armas’ forces in Honduras on 10 January 1954. A cable from the following day requested 20 silencers (converters) for .22 caliber rifles. Headquarters sent the rifles.[3] The chief also discussed the training plan with the agent SEEKFORD on 13 January 1954, indicating that he wanted Castillo Armas and the PBSUCCESS officer to train two assassins. In addition, he discussed these “assassination specialists” with Castillo Armas on 3 February 1954.[4]
The idea of forming assassination teams (“K” groups) apparently onginated with Castillo Armas in 1952. Adapting Castillo Armas’ concept, the chief routinely included two assassination specialists in his training plans.[5]
CIA planning for sabotage teams in early 1954 also included creating a “K” group trained to perform assassinations. The main mission of the sabotage teams or harassment teams, however, was to attack local Communists and Communist property and to avoid
- ↑ NSC Policy Paper, 19 August 1953, FRUS 4:1083.
- ↑ See to “Guatemala—General Plan of Action,” Box 5 (TS) and Special Deputy for PBSUCCESS, memo for the record, “Program for PBSUCCESS,” 12 November 1953, Box 135 (C). See also, memo to , “Summary of Directives and Instructions on PBSUCCESS.” 5 November 1953, Box 142 (S). does not specially mention assassination either.
- ↑ opened 9 December. See to Headquarters, 5 January 1954, Box 1 (S) and to Headquarters 6 January 1954, Box 1 (S). Sec also 38 to Headquarters, 9 March 1954, Box 13 (S); to Headquarters, 4 January 1954, Box 1 (S).
- ↑ See the chief to Chief 7, “CALLIGERIS Briefing Notes,” 3 February 1954, Box 147 (S). Sec also, Chief, memo for “Cost of Support for PBSUCCESS,” 27 September 1954, Box 43 (S). He listed the 20 silenced rifles. See also to Headquarters, 6 January 1954, Box 75 (S) and 2 to Headquarters, 21 January 1954, Box 1 (S).
- ↑ To Report #5, “ ,” 18 September 1952, Box 73 (S) and chief, memo for the record, “PM Conference Held at ” 13 February 1954, Box 74 (S). See also to Headquarters, 4 January 1954, Box 1 (S). The Headquarters Registry copy of the pouch manifest for, 8 January 1954, Box 97 (S) lists the manual “A Study of Assassination.” A handwritten note on the original manifest says the pouch was carried to by . The actual assassination study is in Box 145 (S).
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