How Did The Bay of Pigs Invasion Happen?

In 1961, President Kennedy thought the Peace Corps was the answer to communism. It would promote education, technology , and idealism to the world, instead of the fifties idea of containment. Directed by Sargent Shriver, husband to Kennedy’s sister Eunice. The Peace Corps actually masked the continuing obsessive anti communism that led to one of our greatest disasters. This disaster brought the U.S. to one of our most dangerous moments. It took it’s name from a lonely spot on the Cuban coast called “The Bay of Pigs.” If it wasn’t so tragic it might almost seem comical. Almost every move made by the CIA was bungled and the plan was completely misrepresented to the president.

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The original plan was to involve a force of highly trained anti-Castro Cuban exiles called La Brigada, supported by the CIA. The brigade would land in Cuba and set off a revolt against Castro. The men in charge of the invasion, included a fanatical CIA operative named E. Howard Hunt,( who also wrote spy novels,) He would later be involved in the Watergate, where again he bungled and blustered. The invasion plan was put to the newly elected president, John F. Kennedy, by Allen Dulles, director of the CIA from the Eisenhower era. Editors were persuaded by the White House to withhold the news from the public. But the secret was the worst kept secret in America. On April 17, 1961, 1400 poorly trained, under equipped, uninformed Cubans were set down on the beach at Bay of Pigs. The CIA’s information showing Bay of Pigs to be unpopulated were years out of date. As it turned our the bay was Fidel’s favorite fishing ground and he was building a resort there, including a sea side cabin for himself.

Image via Wikipedia

The invasion started two days before with an attack on Cuban airfields, meant to destroy Castro’s air power. It failed but put Castro on alert. Assuming the air attack was a success, without even bothering to verify, the CIA didn’t know that Castro still had usable planes, including two jets that were capable of destroying the old bombers the CIA had provided the invaders. Castro’s planes wouldn’t have counted for much if the “air umbrella” the CIA promised had materialized but President Kennedy squashed that and refused to allow any American personal to participate.

Castro’s air force had a field day bombing the CIA’s “fleet” which were five leaky, listing ships. Two were quickly sunk with most of the supplies on board. Castro poured his troops into the area. They were poorly trained but so were the attacking force. The invaders fought bravely and took many casualties in Castro’s troops. Eventually the invaders were pinned down while American navy ships and fliers could only wonder why they had to watch their Cuban allies being slaughtered and were not allowed to help. Frustrated navel commanders bitterly resented their orders not to fire. While in Washington President Kennedy feared any direct U.S. involvement might send the Russians into Berlin, starting the Third World War.

Image by Annie Mole via Flickr

The outcome was that many Cuban invaders and many defenders were killed in the fighting. 1,189 were captured and held prisoners until ransomed by Robert Kennedy for medical supplies and food. Four American fliers, members of the Alabama Air National Guard in CIA employ died in the invasion. The American government never acknowledged their involvement in the operation.

http://newsflavor.com/middle-east/soldiers-die-in-iraq-due-to-contractors-shoddy-work/

http://scienceray.com/techology/applied-science/nuclear-testing-and-howard-hughes/

http://newsflavor.com/world/usa-canada/honoring-our-soldiers/