CBS News reported that the U.S. military is laying “the groundwork for potential action around Cuba,” citing an internal U.S. Army Reserve message reviewed by the outlet. Antiwar.com’s John Weeks relayed CBS’s account, noting the message asked subordinate commands to assess the feasibility of providing specified units to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) within 90 to 120 days.
What CBS says the Army asked for
According to Antiwar.com’s summary of the CBS report, the assessment sought timelines for standing up multiple support formations: a combat sustainment support battalion, an engineer battalion, an expeditionary sustainment command, a medical brigade, a forward resuscitative and surgical detachment, and a military police brigade.
Antiwar.com characterized these as covering logistics, transportation, maintenance, fuel and supplies, engineering, medical treatment and emergency surgery, as well as security, detention, and law-enforcement support. That is the outlet’s analysis, not a stated U.S. objective.
The memo didn’t name Cuba
Per Antiwar.com, the internal message itself did not mention Cuba. CBS, however, cited U.S. officials who told the outlet the assessment request was centered on Cuba. SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility includes 31 countries and 12 dependencies across Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, per Antiwar.com’s description.
Context and caveats
Antiwar.com linked the timing to remarks it attributed to Donald Trump at the United Nations and to other geopolitical claims. Those assertions were presented by Antiwar.com; they were not part of CBS’s memo reporting and are not verified here.
Bottom line: CBS says an Army Reserve readiness assessment is underway for SOUTHCOM, and U.S. officials told the outlet the focus is Cuba. The internal message itself, per Antiwar.com, did not name the country.
