FIDEL IS FLYING HIGH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70-00058R000200110120-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 1999
• Sequence Number: 120
• Publication Date: October 8, 1961
• Content Type: NSPR

OCT 8 1961
Approved For Release 1999/09/16 : CIA-RDP7
STATINTL
Fidel 1,: Flying HigIL
Cuban Communist dictator.
Fidel Castro's MIG-17 jet
fighter planes are flexing
their muscles closer to Flor-
ida shores these days, appar.
ently to show that the beard.
ed bandit can thumb his nose
at the United States from the
air without getting into any
serious trouble.
United States defence of-
ficials have been. keeping a
close eye on the maneuvers
of Castro's jets over the Flor-
ida Straits and are speculat-
ing on reasons for the in-
creasing show of boldness.
The MIGs, believed to be
flown by Cuban air force of-
ficers trained recently in.
Czechoslovakia, have been
detected flying toward the
United States at altitudes of
more than 33.MO feet. They
turn back to Cuba after
reaching a distance approx-
imately 30 miles from the
Florida coast.
The United States Navy
and Air Force are making no
effort to Intercept the MIGs,
since the planes are not
violating any U.S. air space.
They are being carefully
tracked, however, and should.
any of them stray within the
three-mile ldnit of the United
States they will be forced
down.
Castro rrlportedly now has
about a ?Iozett . operational
By HAL HE:N`I)RIX
MIGs, with at least that
many more in stages of as-
senrblY in Cuba. Flight crews
and ground personnel have
been schooled in Czecho.,lo-
vakia, and 'Czech technical
assistance is given now in
Cuba.
Mean,chile, as Castro's So-
vietbailt war machine. cony
tinites to grow in she and
training, the great debate
continues in Washington
about whether President.
Kennedy should invoke the
Trading With the Enemy Act
against the Caribbean Com-
munist satellite.
. Should the act be applied,
all trade with Cuba would be
barred. U.S. sales to Cuba.
now limited to medical sup-
plies and foodstuffs, amount
to about 20 million dollars a
year. Cuban exports to this
country, mainly tobacco and
and fruits, amount to about
1 W million a year,
There are strong voices in
Washington for and against
the presidential action. Those
against it appear to be stick-
ing steadfastly to the un-
realistic idea that the us.
inter-American policies must
he based on a popularity poll
formula.
Allen Duties. who is retir-
ing as head of the Central ln?
telligence Agency, reported.
ly is among the latest to join
the New Frontier officials
who oppose a tougher policy
on Cuba. For Dulles, whose.
agents played a major role
in the-ill-fated Cuban inva-
sion last April, his present
Posture is indeed a strange
back-flip.
Dulles now has advised
President. Kennedy that the
United States should not cut,
off all trade with Castro. He
contends that a complete em-
bargo would hurt the United
States more. with public opin.
ion in Latin America than
the good that would come
of it.
* -*
This view is in direct op-
position to that held by the
Defense. Department, which
is keeping an eye on the
aforementioned MIG fighters
over the Caribbean. Pefense i
officials state flatly that the
United States would be the
big gainer by imposition of t
a total embargo against
t?:!Iirq.
\Approved For Release 1999/09/16 : CIA-RDP70-00058R000200110120-4