(no subject)
Sean Sparks
PolySci Journal
10.31.06
This is a summary of what I've gathered from the various documents on the Bay of Pigs incident. The Bay of Pigs invasion happened in April of 1961, and started on April 15th with the bombing of Cuba by what appeared to be defecting Cuban air force pilots. In the morning of that Saturday, three Cuban military bases were bombed by bombers. In apparent chaos and confusion, a small force of US trained soldiers began to move.
When looking at a modern map of Cuba it is obvious that the troops would have problems in the area that was chosen for them to land at. The area around the Bay of Pigs is a swampy marsh land area which would be hard on the troops. The Cuban forces were quick to react and Castro ordered his forces into the air to stop the invading forces.
Off the coast was the command and control ship and another vessel carrying supplies for the invading forces. The Cuban air force made quick work of the supply ships, sinking the command vessel the Marsopa and the supply ship the Houston. With some of the invading forces' ships destroyed, and no command and control ship, the logistics of the operation soon broke down as the other supply ships were kept at bay by Casto's air force. As with many failed military adventures, one of the problems with this one was with supplying the troops. After about three days of fighting, Castro pushed back the troops of the United States forces back to their point of insurgence at Playa Giron.
The truth of the matter is, the project was doomed from inception. The United States underestimated the amassed forces loyal to Castro, and the weapons and strategic knowledge he had at his command. After the fact, blame was passed around internally while the US denied any involvement whatsoever. Eventually, during JFK's presidency, the truth of the matter came out, and he had to answer a lot of difficult questions.
Why was the United States meddling in Cuban affairs? What economic interests fueled the decision? What political interests? Was the United States really threatened by the appearance of communism in the Caribean, or was it simply a matter of protecting investments?
By the 1950s trade with Latin America accounted for a quarter of American exports, and 80 per cent of the investment in Latin America was also American. The Americans had a vested interest in the region that it would remain pro-American. When Castro came to power in 1959, the major opponents in America to him, as with Guatemala, were the business interests who were losing out as a result of his polices. The major pressure for the Americans to do something came, not only from the Cuban exiles in Florida, but from those businesses. Today, the tables are turned and businesses are loosing out because of the American embargo against Cuba. On top of this, the Cuban government is also home to one of the most respected medical health care programs in the world, despite the anti-communist suggestions of the United States.
PolySci Journal
10.31.06
This is a summary of what I've gathered from the various documents on the Bay of Pigs incident. The Bay of Pigs invasion happened in April of 1961, and started on April 15th with the bombing of Cuba by what appeared to be defecting Cuban air force pilots. In the morning of that Saturday, three Cuban military bases were bombed by bombers. In apparent chaos and confusion, a small force of US trained soldiers began to move.
When looking at a modern map of Cuba it is obvious that the troops would have problems in the area that was chosen for them to land at. The area around the Bay of Pigs is a swampy marsh land area which would be hard on the troops. The Cuban forces were quick to react and Castro ordered his forces into the air to stop the invading forces.
Off the coast was the command and control ship and another vessel carrying supplies for the invading forces. The Cuban air force made quick work of the supply ships, sinking the command vessel the Marsopa and the supply ship the Houston. With some of the invading forces' ships destroyed, and no command and control ship, the logistics of the operation soon broke down as the other supply ships were kept at bay by Casto's air force. As with many failed military adventures, one of the problems with this one was with supplying the troops. After about three days of fighting, Castro pushed back the troops of the United States forces back to their point of insurgence at Playa Giron.
The truth of the matter is, the project was doomed from inception. The United States underestimated the amassed forces loyal to Castro, and the weapons and strategic knowledge he had at his command. After the fact, blame was passed around internally while the US denied any involvement whatsoever. Eventually, during JFK's presidency, the truth of the matter came out, and he had to answer a lot of difficult questions.
Why was the United States meddling in Cuban affairs? What economic interests fueled the decision? What political interests? Was the United States really threatened by the appearance of communism in the Caribean, or was it simply a matter of protecting investments?
By the 1950s trade with Latin America accounted for a quarter of American exports, and 80 per cent of the investment in Latin America was also American. The Americans had a vested interest in the region that it would remain pro-American. When Castro came to power in 1959, the major opponents in America to him, as with Guatemala, were the business interests who were losing out as a result of his polices. The major pressure for the Americans to do something came, not only from the Cuban exiles in Florida, but from those businesses. Today, the tables are turned and businesses are loosing out because of the American embargo against Cuba. On top of this, the Cuban government is also home to one of the most respected medical health care programs in the world, despite the anti-communist suggestions of the United States.