Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia (41 page)

53
. U.S. Naval Institute, “Reminiscences of Admiral Horacio Rivero, Jr.,” 301.

54
. Barber, letter to Ryan, April 26, 1982, 3.

55
. U.S. Naval Institute, “Reminiscences of Admiral Horacio Rivero, Jr.,” 302–3.

56
. Attachment to Rivero, “Assuring a Future Base Structure.”

57
. Claude Ricketts, “Memorandum of Understanding Resulting from the CNO-First Sea Lord Discussions of October 31 and November 1,” memorandum to Chief of Naval Operations, 1960, NHC: 00 Files, 1960, Box 8, 5710.

58
. Bezboruah,
U.S. Strategy in the Indian Ocean
, 58–59; see also P. B. Ryan, “Diego Garcia,”
Proceedings
110, no. 9/979 (1984): 133.

59
. Bezboruah,
U.S. Strategy in the Indian Ocean
, 58. See also Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 1–3; Michael A. Palmer,
Guardians of the Gulf: A History of America’s Expanding Role in the Persian Gulf, 1833–1992
(New York: Free Press, 1992), 95; Ryan, “Diego Garcia,” 133; P. S. Mewes, letter to Mr. Gwynn, April 22, 1971, PRO.

60
. F. J. Blouin, memorandum for the Director, J-5, November 23, 1960, NARA: JCS, 4920, November 1960.

61
. Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 3.

62
. Barber, letter to Ryan, April 26, 1982. See also Ryan, “Diego Garcia,” 133.

63
. Black, memorandum to William Lang, April 15, 1961, NARA: R6330/490 ASD/ISA Decimal File, 1961, 680.1 January–March, 471.6-821, Box 27.

64
. Henry S. Rowen, memorandum for Bundy, Rostow, McGhee, Amory, Bissell, and Nitze, March 31, 1961, NARA: RG 330/490, ASD ISA Decimal Files 1961, 680.1 January–March, Box 27.

65
. Thomas H. Moorer, memorandum for Chief of Naval Operations, January 2, 1962, NHC: 00 Files, 1962, Box 12, 11000, 1.

66
. William P. Bundy, memorandum for Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, May 5, 1962, enclosure, NARA: RG 330/490, ASD ISA Decimal Files 1962, 680.1 January–July, Box 72:1–2.

67
. The following quotations come from a 1970 oral history interview conducted from Komer’s RAND Corporation office in Santa Monica, California.

68
. Robert W. Komer, Sixth Oral History Interview, Dennis J. O’Brien, interviewer, JFK, Boston, MA, January 30, 1970, 28.

69
. CINCPACFLT, memorandum to CINCPAC, August 13, 1964, NHC: 00 Files, 1964, Box 20, 11000/1A, Tab-B.

70
. Ibid.

71
. Paul H. Nitze, memorandum for record, October 2, 1962, NARA: RG 330/490, ASD ISA Decimal Files 1962, Box 106, UK 333 September–December.

72
. Joint Chiefs of Staff, “Decision on JCS 570/548, a Report by the J-5 on Base Rights in the Indian Ocean Area,” report, January 11, 1962, NARA 1962, 3930–3933.

73
.
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963
, vol. 19:
South Asia
, ed. Louis J. Smith (Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1996), 565.

74
. Ibid., 19:623–24.

Chapter Four
“Exclusive Control”

1
. David Halberstam,
The Best and the Brightest
, new ed. (New York: Modern Library, 2001), 42–44.

2
. Ibid., 48, 69–70.

3
. Ibid., 70.

4
. Tim Weiner, “Robert Komer, 78, Figure in Vietnam, Dies,”
New York Times
, April 12, 2000, A29.

5
. Robert W. Komer, Oral history interview, interviewer Joe B. Frantz, January 30, 1970, LBJ: AC 94-1, 1–2.

6
. Komer, Oral history interview, January 30, 2–3.

7
. Robert W. Komer, Oral history interview, interviewer Joe B. Frantz, August 18, 1970, LBJ: AC 94-1, 71.

8
. Weiner, “Robert Komer.” In the words of Halberstam, Komer, “anxious to show everyone in town how close he was to the President (six photographs of Lyndon Johnson on his office wall, a Saigon record), had gone around to dinner parties telling reporters that he had assured the President that the war would not be an election issue in 1968. It was not one of his better predictions.” Halberstam,
The Best and the Brightest
, 738.

9
. Komer, Sixth Oral History Interview, 29.

10
. Ibid., 28–34.

11
. Robert W. Komer, memorandum for the President, June 19, 1963, JFK: NSF, Komer, Box 422, India Indian Ocean (IOTF) 1963.

12
. Ibid.

13
. Robert W. Komer,
Maritime Strategy or Coalition Defense
(Cambridge, MA: Abt Books, 1984), xvi.

14
. Robert W. Komer, Fourth Oral History Interview, interviewer Elizabeth Farmer, October 31, 1964, JFK; Komer, Sixth Oral History Interview, 32.

15
. John F. Kennedy, letter to Robert S. McNamara, July 10, 1963, LBJ: NSF, Komer, Indian Ocean Dec 63-Mar 66 (including IOTF), Box 26, #75.

16
. Komer, Sixth Oral History Interview, 29.

17
. Dean Rusk, letter to Robert S. McNamara, August 17, 1963, JFK: NSF, Komer, Box 422, India Indian Ocean (IOTF) 1963, 2–3.

18
. Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 3–5; Bezboruah,
U.S. Strategy in the Indian Ocean
, 58–59.

19
.
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963
, 19:653–54.

20
. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to Secretary of State, August 26, 1963, NARA: RG 59/250/5/13/6, Subject Numeric Files 1963, Box 3745.

21
. Ibid.

22
. Robert W. Komer, letter to McGeorge Bundy, September 6, 1963, JFK: NSF, Komer, Box 422, India Indian Ocean (IOTF) 1963 [White House Memoranda].

23
.
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968
, vol. 21:
Near East Region Arabian Peninsula
, ed. N. D. Howland (Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 2000), 83–86.

24
. Ibid., 85.

25
. ADMINO CINCUSNAVEUR, telegram to RUECW/JCS, February 25, 1964, NHC: 00 Files, 1964, Box 20, 11000/1B.

26
. U.K. Colonial Office, “Defence Interests in the Indian Ocean,” memorandum, October 20, 1964, PRO.

27
. David Bruce, memorandum to Secretary of State, February 27, 1964, NHC: OAB, 00, 1964, Box 20, 11000/1B.

28
. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to Secretary of State, February 27, NHC: 00 Files, 1964, Box 20, 11000/1B, 1–2.

29
. John Pilger,
Freedom Next Time: Resisting the Empire
(New York: Nation Books, 2007), 25.

30
. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to Secretary of State, March 3, 1964, enclosure, “U.S. Defence Interests in the Indian Ocean,” NARA: RG 59/250/6/23/3–4, Subject-Numeric Files 1964–1966, Box 1638:2–3.

31
. “Defence Interests in the Indian Ocean” [author unknown], memorandum, 1965?. PRO: FO 371/184522, 37868.1965.

32
. UK Foreign Office 1966: para. 10–11.

33
. U.K. Foreign Office, “Steering committee on international organisations presentation of British Indian Ocean Territory in the United Nations,” September 8, 1966, PRO: para. 10–12.

34
. Alan Brooke-Turner, “British Indian Ocean Territory,” memorandum, March 18, 1966, UKTB. John Pilger says, “Winston Smith in George Orwell’s
1984
could not have put it better.” See Pilger,
Freedom Next Time
, 23.

35
. S. J. Dunn, “Shore up the Indian Ocean,”
Proceedings
110, no. 9/979 (1984): 131.

36
. U.S. officials suggested that facilities for the islands might include prepositioned military stockpiles; an air base for 2–4 air squadrons and supporting cargo
planes, troop carriers, air tankers, antisubmarine patrols, and air logistics operations; an anchorage for an aircraft carrier task force; a communications station; an amphibious staging area; a space tracking facility; fuel and ammunition storage; and secondary support anchorages and logistics runways. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to Secretary of State, March 3, 1964.

37
. Jeffery C. Kitchen, memorandum to the Secretary [of State], March 3, 1964, NARA: RG 59/250/6/23/3–4, Subject-Numeric Files 1964–1966, Box 1638, 3.

38
. USUN, telegram to RUEHCR/SECSTATE, May 30, 1964, NARA: RG 59/250/6/23/3–4, Subject-Numeric Files 1964–1966, Box 1551, 1–4.

39
.
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968
, 21:91–93; see also Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 10–11.

40
. Emphasis in original. A supporting document underlined this point further: “We have carefully chosen areas where there is a limited number of transients or inhabitants (e.g. 100–200 people).” See
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968
, 21:91, 93.

41
. Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 14.

42
. CINCUSNAVEUR, telegram to RUECW/CNO, August 4, 1964, NHC: 00 Files, 1964, Box 20, 11000/1B.

43
. Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 14.

44
. Robert Newton, “Report on the Anglo-American Survey in the Indian Ocean,” 1964, PRO: para. 25.

45
. Robert H. Estabrook, “U.S., Britain Consider Indian Ocean Bases,”
Washington Post
, August 29, 1964, A1, A6.

46
. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to Department of State, August 28, 1964, NARA: RG 59/250/6/23/3–4, Subject-Numeric Files 1964–1966, Box 1638.

47
. U.S. Department of State, “Memorandum of Conversation, Islands in the Indian Ocean,” April 15, 1965, LBJ: NSF, Country File, Box 207, UK Memos vol. III 2/65–4/65.

48
. United Nations Declaration 1514 (XV), “Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,” December 14, 1960, sec. 6.

49
. E. H. Peck, “Defence Facilities in the Indian Ocean,” May 7, 1965, PRO.

50
. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to RUEHCR/Secretary of State, May 10, 1965. LBJ: NSF, Country File, Box 207, UK Memos vol. IV 5/65–6/65.

51
. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to RUEHCR/Secretary of State, May 15, 1965, NARA: RG 59/250/6/23/3–4, Subject-Numeric Files 1964–1966, Box 1638.

52
. Llewellyn E. Thompson, memorandum to the Secretary [of State], May 1, 1965, LBJ: NSF, Komer, Box 26, Indian Ocean, December 1963–March 1966.

53
.
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968
, 21: 97; Jeffery C. Kitchen, memorandum to the Secretary [of State], August 17, 1965, NARA: RG 59/250/6/23/3–4, Subject-Numeric Files 1964–1966, Box 1638, 1–3.

54
. See Marimootoo, “Diego Files.”

55
. James Calvert, memorandum for the Secretary of the Navy, September 29, 1965, NHC: 00 Files, 1965, Box 40, 5710/1–2.

56
. Pilger,
Freedom Next Time
, 25.

57
. The British Indian Ocean Territory Order 1965, statutory order, No. 1920, 1965.

58
. Pilger,
Freedom Next Time
, 24–25.

59
. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2066, “Question of Mauritius,” December 16, 1965.

60
. Robert W. Komer, memorandum to Jeffery Kitchen, 10 November 1965, LBJ: NSF, Files of Robert W. Komer, Box 26.

61
. James Calvert, memorandum for the Secretary of the Navy, January 10, 1966, NHC: 00 Files, 1966, Box 23, 5710.

62
. Thomas D. Davies, memorandum for the Secretary of the Navy, January 27, 1966, NHC: 00 Files, 1966, Box 32, 11000/1.

63
. Paul H. Nitze, memorandum for the Secretary of Defense, February 4, 1966, NHC: 00 Files, 1966, Box 32, 11000/1.

64
. Catherine Lutz suggested this might be called “casino militarism” (email to author August 2006). Investment banking and of course hedge funds—not so far removed from the world of the casino—also make good analogies.

65
. Nitze memorandum for the Secretary of Defense.

66
. Ibid.

67
. John T. McNaughton, memorandum for the Secretary of the Navy, February 19, 1966, NHC: 00 Files, 1966, Box 32, 11000/1.

68
. Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 20.

69
. The previous year McNamara had denied an initial Air Force request for funding. See
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968
, 21:94–96.

70
. Lyndon B. Johnson, Recording of Telephone Conversation between Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert McNamara, July 29, 1966, 10:51 AM, LBJ: Citation #10446, Recordings and Transcripts of Conversations and Meetings.

71
. Bandjunis,
Diego Garcia
, 20.

72
. Agreements governing every detail of an overseas military facility, from their use in times of war to peacetime criminal prosecution of soldiers, were standard practice for overseas bases and the specialty of the Kitchen’s Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs in the State Department.

73
. U.S. Embassy London, telegram to Secretary of State, November 16, 1966, NARA: RG 59/250/7/11/7, Central Foreign Policy Files 1964–1966, Political and Defense, Box 1695, Def UK-US.

74
. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, “Availability of Certain Indian Ocean Islands for Defense Purposes,” exchange of notes, December 30, 1966, 1–2.

75
. T. J. Brack, letter to Mr. Barratt and Mr. Unwin, April 20, 1971, PRO. Emphasis in original.

76
. “British Indian Ocean Territory,” memorandum, December 14, 1966, PRO, 2. Emphasis in original.

77
. Chalfont, letter to David K. E. Bruce, December 30, 1966, NARA: RG 59/150/64–65, Subject-Numeric Files 1964–1966, Box 1552.

Chapter Five
“Maintaining the Fiction”

1
. McCaffrey,
Military Power and Popular Protest
;
Monthly Review
, “U.S. Military Bases and Empire.”