[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/gjqvdPR.png?1[/img][/center] The United States government today ceased all diplomatic ties to the country of Cuba. Ambassador Butler and his Havana staff had already fled the country once revolutionaries entered the capital. President Batista and the government in exile are working out of Miami, helping any refugees who find their way to this country. We are willing to accept any refugees from the island and grant them political asylum. Furthermore we have placed a trade embargo on the country. The illegal dictatorship of Castro will not be allowed to export anything to the United States, and we will not send any supplies or material to help prop up Castro's sham government. I urge our NATO allies to follow suit and cancel any and all trade agreements they have with the country. -- Dean Acheson, Secretary of State [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/dYtQ3PR.png?1[/img][/center] EXECUTIVE ORDER 881014 To: General G. Marhsall, SECDEF; General O. Bradley, CJCS; A general increase in military strength is being hereby ordered. As much as I now regret dismantling our military strength after the war, threats from hostile nations both near and far require us to be ready. Secretary Marshall has looked over the numbers and would agree that an across the board increase of at least 30% for men, material, and equipment would be desirable. We need airmen, seamen, marines, and soldiers along with everything from boots and canned food all the way up to jets and aircraft carriers. These directives are to be carried out immediately. I understand this won't happen overnight, but I have faith and confidence in you two men and your abilities to boost our military power back to the mighty colossus it was during the war. General Bradley was kind enough to survey the commanders of our four most important theaters and was able to find out what they need. Included with the orders of production are general orders the men are to carry out for the foreseeable future. Admiral Fechteler, US Atlantic Fleet Requests: At least five more aircraft carriers, ten submarines, and another one hundred landing craft. Also more canned peaches for his sailors. Orders: Increase naval patrols in and around Cuban waters. Any Cuban boats headed for America are to be turned back at once, any smugglers violating the terms of the embargo are to be arrested and sent to the United States. The Communist government have already started protesting about our naval base at Guantanamo Bay. We will keep the base open and keep a steady stream of battleships and aircraft cruising to and from the area. General Handy, US European Command Requests: At least three more divisions of men to supplement his numbers. At least two more armored divisions, and another Air Force division. Also his troops have been complaining about diseases from ladies of the night in Germany. He requests four hundred thousand prophylactics for his troops. Also a campaign warning of the dangers of unsafe relations with unsavory women, posters, advertising in the magazines the troops read as well as the films they watch. Let's hope the men don't tucker themselves out on the German women and become too weak to fight off the German men. Orders: Business as usual, all eyes peeled towards the East. Admiral Radford, US Pacific Fleet At least another dozen aircraft carriers operating out of Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines respectively. General MacArthur has commandeered the Seventh Fleet to boost his occupying force in Japan, so I'm commissioning the creation of another fleet out of new and refitted ships for use in the Pacific. Another division of Marines would help the Admiral's fighting numbers as well. General MacArthur, SCAP The general's list is long and lengthy, more men, better equipment, stricter training regiments. The training regiments seem to be the most important, due to the general's report of his occupying force in Japan growing soft and content with the docile and welcoming Japanese people. General Bradley approved the training and if it is a success will also be used in Germany to keep our forces in shape and ready to fight. Whatever else MacArthur says he needs send to him. I know the general has his foibles, but he is our eyes and ears in the Pacific. Nobody knows that region better than he does. The defense of Japan, South Korea, and Formosa should be among our chief items of concern. I believe I've bothered you gentlemen enough for one day. As I said before, this won't be quick or easy, but it will be necessary to get our armed forces back on par with the rest of the powers in the world. Good luck to both of you. Sincerely, -- HST [CENTER][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/bRBur27.png[/IMG][/CENTER] TOP SECRET CONFIDENTIAL: FOR DISTRIBUTION ONLY TO POTUS CC: CJCS, SECDEF, SECSTATE [B]OPERATION: CLOSE SHAVE[/B] Mr. President, Our sources in Havana have identified a potential in with the Castro government. José Ramón Fernández, the head of the Cuban Revolutionary Army (CRA) is one of Castro's closest advisers and also the man who controls the real means of change in the country. While the revolutionaries are loyal to Castro and Guevara, Fernandez is also a close third to them. Our sources also say that Fernandez is greedy and has eyes for control of the country himself. If our sources are indeed correct then Fernandez should have at least enough of a following to do damage to the revolutionary cause in Cuba. In the event of an attempted coup by Fernandez breaks out into full-scale civil war, you may have no choice but to send in the Marines to help stop it and take control of the country until democratic elections can be held. The details of CLOSE SHAVE are as follows 1. Using our contacts in the army, we reach out to Fernandez and promise him control of the country once the Castro regime has been dissolved. The promise is based on his willingness to bring about a coup that would imprison/execute Castro and Guevara, the return of property to Cubans and any other landowning foreigners, as well as install a democratically elected leadership inside the country. 2. If Fernandez turns us down, reach out to a subordinate and offer the same deal. 3. PROJECT REBAR: A side project of CLOSE SHAVE, REBAR will deal with spying and procuring blackmail on Castro, attempts at sabotaging his moves at president, and any other general plans that may involve damaging Castro and his regime . 4. Lay down any groundwork for a potential paramilitary invasion of Cuba using the steady stream of refugees coming out of Cuba. Most refugees are migrating to Miami, so a Miami staging area for the CIA seems like the most prudent of actions. In summation, CLOSE SHAVE in its current stage is an excellent proposal to covertly destroy the illegal Castro regime that has take over the country. With your approval, we would start to install all the proposed plans as soon as possible. With a communist country setting up base only ninety miles away from our shores, time is of the essence and we suggest moving as quick as possible. Sincerely, RADM Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, Director of Central Intelligence --- Move forward with CLOSE SHAVE -- HST [b]Summary[/b] 1. US cuts off all diplomatic ties to Cuba and places a trade embargo on the country 2. The US is increasing its military capabilities and sending men, ships, and aircraft around the world where needed 3. OPERATION: CLOSE SHAVE, a plan to topple the Castro government, is approved