261. Memorandum from CA/PRG to CA/C/PMG, Central Intelligence Agency, February 21

[Facsimile Page 1]

SUBJECT

  • Background of Counter-Guerrilla Warfare Task Force Report

1. For your background information, the following is a brief run-down on the background and genesis of the Counter-Guerrilla Warfare Task Force’s Report, “Elements of U.S. Strategy to Deal with ‘Wars of National Liberation’.”

2. Mr. Robert Komer of Mr. McGeorge Bundy’s staff at the White House told me that the idea for a task force on the problems of countering Communist insurgency was discussed by Mr. Rostow with Mr. Bundy early in February 1961, that it was included in a “list of planning actions” prepared by Mr. Bundy, and that it was approved by the President in mid-February, 1961. Mr. Komer believes that this was done orally, without formal record, and that Mr. Bundy notified Mr. Bissell by phone.

3. Mr. Alfred T. Cox told me he believed that Mr. Bissell’s Counter-Guerrilla Warfare Task Force was constituted at the initiative of the informal “luncheon group” comprising Messrs. Bissell, McGhee, Rostow and Nitze. He believed that this was done to forestall Defense Department action on the 1 February 1961 Presidential NSC directive which required “that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with other interested agencies, should examine means for placing more emphasis on the development of counter-guerrilla forces.” This directive was communicated to [Facsimile Page 2] the Secretary of Defense by Mr. McGeorge Bundy on February 3, 1961 as NSAM no. 2.

4. The Counter-Guerrilla Warfare Task Force was established under the chairmanship of Mr. Bissell, with General Lansdale (Defense), Mr. Rostow (White House), and Mr. Ramsey (State) as the other members. Mr. Cox was designated as secretary. The members participated as individuals and did not bind their organizations.

5. According to Mr. Cox, the Defense Department deferred action on NSAM no. 2 pending a report by Mr. Bissell’s task force. The Defense Department had, however, in the meantime been acting in this general [Typeset Page 933] field in response to NSAM no. 56 (June 28, 1961) on inventorying paramilitary assets; NSAM no. 57 (June 28, 1961) on the division of responsibility for paramilitary operations; NSAM no. 88 (September 5, 1961) on Latin American counter-guerrilla training; NSAM no. 110 (October 25, 1961) on FY 1963 paramilitary budgetary requirements; and NSAM no. 114 (November 22, 1961) on counter-subversion training for friendly police and armed forces.

6. There had been other, previous initiatives in the counter-guerrilla field, notably on August 1960 report by a State-JCS Counter-Guerrilla Study Group, but there were no definitive organizational or doctrinal recommendations or decisions.

7. The Counter-Guerrilla Warfare Task Force initially solicited and received written contributions from Defense, State, and CIA, which, at Mr. Foster Collins’ request, I attempted to integrate into a single document around March 1961. Mr. James Cross was subsequently taken on as a consultant to redraft the document. Mr. Rostow redrafted Mr. Cross’ paper. I redrafted Mr. Rostow’s redraft, reorganizing it, strengthening its provisions on covert activities, counter-guerrilla paramilitary tactics, and civic action, and inserting Mr. Bissell’s paper on offensive counter-measures. My revision reflected my understanding of the views of Brigadier General Lansdale on his Philippine experience and Civic Action, the views of Mr. Frank A. Lindsay on guerrilla and counter-guerrilla tactics, and the thoughts of Mr. Paul Sakwa on the importance of vitalizing a country’s political processes and opening political [Facsimile Page 3] communication channels for the airing and redress of popular grievances as prerequisites to other reforms. I also incorporated Mr. Henry Ramsey’s thoughts on the importance of an effective OISP civil police program to supplement the military counter-guerrilla measures. The sections on Covert Programs were essentially my own. In my rewrite, I preserved as much of Mr. Rostow’s language as possible and attempted to conform my various insertions to his rather informal and colorful style. The resulting draft was circulated on 20 November 1961 and was the basis for the final 8 December 1961 version, which added conclusions and recommendations and made some very minor changes in the basic text.

[name not declassified]
CA/PRG
  1. Background and genesis of the “Counter-Guerrilla Warfare Task Force Report.” Secret. 3 pp. CIA Files, Job 8300D30R.