23. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter 1

SUBJECT

  • Cuban/Angolan Covert Action Program2

Here is a status report on the above subject:

—[number not declassified] CIA stations and bases have been informed of this program and tasked. [number not declassified] stations [Page 59] have forwarded specific plans for covert action exploitation, most of which have been approved for immediate implementation. These plans involve media placements, stations’ briefings of cooperative liaison and other senior government officials, and a variety of supporting operations such as mailing materials to foreign leaders and opinion makers; the use of organizations to issue statements on Angola; and sending [less than 1 line not declassified] to visit UNITA-controlled areas in Angola for on-the-spot reporting.

CIA Headquarters has prepared a major article for placement in [less than 1 line not declassified] to serve as the linch pin in the media campaign; sent a comprehensive fact sheet on the Angolan situation for use by media assets (in English, French and Spanish); provided two summaries of press items, and sent to the field several tailored articles for local media placement.

—[4 lines not declassified] A wide range of briefings has been arranged. [4½ lines not declassified]

—A major problem in developing momentum for this campaign has been a delay in our planned primary placement in a major [less than 1 line not declassified] newspaper. [3 lines not declassified]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 13, Cuba, 11/77–2/78. Secret. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
  2. For documentation on U.S. covert action regarding Angola and Cuba, see Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XVI, Southern Africa.