USAID IN CUBA: CODE NAMES AND COUNTER SURVEILLANCE

TRACEY EATON | MAY 10, 2021

Original Article: USAID in Cuba

For decades now, the U.S. government has carried out
democracy projects aimed at undermining Cuba’s socialist government. One deal
that has always intrigued me was the $15.5 million, three-year contract awarded
to Creative Associates International in October 2008. The fact that Creative
Associates ran the program from a secret
base in Costa Rica added to the allure.
In 2014, the Associated Press scooped everyone with revelations that Creative
Associates had set up a secret
Cuban Twitter. USAID protested
the story. Still, the AP report triggered a flurry of interest and an
Office of Inspector General investigation
soon followed.
But ZunZuneo was only the tip of the iceberg, making up $1.7 million of the
$5.3 million in projects that Creative Associates funded. A review of 22
Creative Associates reports from 2008 to 2012 provides fresh insight into the
NGO’s sprawling program and illustrates its dogged efforts to recruit young
people and members of Cuba’s counterculture.
“Travelers” and “consultants” from at least 10 different countries in the
Americas and Europe took part in the program. Projects and people were
identified by code. USAID sent in supplies using via diplomatic mail service,
coordinating closely with the embassy staff.
Download the Creative Associates documents here.
Some of the details I found interesting are below: