TO ARMS CUBANS! WE MUST CONQUER OR DIE BY SLAVERY!

FREEDOM FIGHTERS LAND AT THE BAY OF PIGS

Bahia de Conchinos, Cuba (JFK+50) On April 17, 1961, a force of 1400 freedom fighters landed at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba.  The exile force, Brigade 2506, was led by Jose Miro Cardona*, head of the anti-Castro Cuban Revolutionary Council.

On the eve of the invasion, Jose Cardona said...

"To arms Cubans!  We must conquer or we shall die choked by slavery."

The brigade came under heavy fire from Fidel Castro's army as they hit the beach.  The invasion, intended to overthrow Castro's communist regime, was hampered by bad weather and a shortage of ammunition.  

President John F. Kennedy, fearing his country's involvement in the invasion would become publicly known and possibly escalate into a nuclear war with  the Soviet Union, cancelled a second planned air strike.

In regard to the CIA's view going in, Jim Rasenberger writes that the CIA "almost certainly" expected the President to eventually make US military support available to the brigade.

And what if the invasion had succeeded?  Clayton Fritchey believes the United States "would have been an occupying force in Cuba faced with...house to house" fighting in Havana which would have brought resentment of the United States in Latin America.

Rasenberger concludes....

"The peculiar truth may be that the result Kennedy got was the VERY BEST he could have desired.  If he achieved this result accidentally, then he was lucky.  If he achieved it intentionally...then he deserves a place as one of the most coldly calculating presidents in history."

Despite Mr. Rasenberger's conclusion, the decision to approve the invasion has been listed as one of the Top Ten presidential mistakes of all time.

*Jose Miro Cardona (1902-1974) was born in Havana, Cuba & graduated from the Havana University Law School.  JMC became one of the island's best criminal lawyers before moving to Miami 8 months before Castro came to power.

SOURCES

"Jose Miro Cardona", www.historyofcuba.com/

"The Brilliant Disaster, JFK, Castro and America's Doomed Invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs," Jim Rasenberger, Scribner, New York, 2011.

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Showing Bay of Pigs

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BAY OF PIGS INVASION LAUNCHED 52 YEARS AGO

April 17, 2013

BAY OF PIGS INVASION LAUNCHED 52 YEARS AGO

Washington, D. C. (JFK+50) A force of 1400 Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs on southern coast of Cuba 52 years ago today, April 17, 1961.

The exile force, known as "Brigade 2506", trained in Guatemala and led by Jose Miro Cardona, head of the anti-Castro Cuban Revolutionary Council, came under heavy fire from Fidel Castro's army as they hit the beach.

The invasion, planned by the United States Central Intelligence Agency, had been approved during the Eisenhower years and was also supported by the new Kennedy administration.

The invasion, the purpose of which was to overthrow communist dictator Fidel Castro, was hampered by bad weather and a shortage of ammunition.

The CIA plan called for 2 air strikes on Castro's air bases.  The 1st strike failed and left most of the Cuban Air Force intact.

JFK, fearing United States involvement in the invasion would become publicly known, cancelled the 2nd planned air strike.

20,000 of Castro's forces were then able to kill 100 of the invaders and capture 1200.  These POWS were held for 20 months while the Kennedy administration worked for their release.

On December 29, 1962, in Miami's Orange Bowl, President and Mrs. Kennedy welcomed the exiles to the United States.

           President and Mrs. Kennedy
                      Miami, Florida
                  December 29, 1962
                  JFK Library Photo

President Kennedy publicly accepted full responsibility for the failure and the Bay of Pigs has been included in the TOP TEN of presidential mistakes.

In one of the best and most recent accounts of the Bay of Pigs, "Brilliant Disaster," Jim Rasenberger writes...

"Long before his death, John Kennedy's presidency was transformed by the Bay of Pigs.  There were...tactical changes (such as) tightening  of the inner circle, increasing reliance on (Bobby Kennedy), the skepticism regarding the advice of military and intelligence advisers...and broader policy changes that escalated the Cold War."

As far as JFK's role in the Bay of Pigs, Rasenberger writes that President Kennedy "could not easily halt the operation (but saw) the potential for serious repercussions if he went ahead."

And in regard to the CIA's view going in, Rasenberger asks....

"Did the CIA (expect) the president to eventually make US military support available to the brigade?"

He answers...

"Almost certainly."

Further insight is provided by a quote from Nobel Laureate Gunnan Myrdal who described JFK's position this way...

"If Kennedy had called (the invasion) off, he would have been ruined politically at home, but if he had engaged American forces to salvage a failing covert operation, he would have been ruined abroad."

But what if the invasion had succeeded?

Clayton Fritchey believes the United States "would have been an occupying force in Cuba faced with...house to house" fighting in Havana which would have brought resentment of the United States in Latin America.

Interestingly, Rasenberger concludes....

"The peculiar truth may be that the result Kennedy got was the VERY BEST he could have desired.  If he achieved this result accidentally, then he was lucky.  If he achieved it intentionally...then he deserves a place as one of the most coldly calculating presidents in history."

SOURCE

"The Brilliant Disaster, JFK, Castro and America's Doomed Invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs," Jim Rasenberger, Scribner, New York, 2011.

                         You Tube Video

JFK & KHRUSHCHEV EXCHANGE HEATED WORDS ON BAY OF PIGS INVASION

April 18, 1961


JFK & KHRUSHCHEV EXCHANGE HEATED WORDS ON BAY OF PIGS INVASION


As the invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs continues into its second day, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev has sent a message to President Kennedy warning that his "little war" against Cuba may result in an "incomparable conflagration between the US & Soviet Union."


JFK, who continues to deny any direct involvement by US forces in the invasion, responded by saying: 


"I trust that this does not mean the Soviet government, using the situation in Cuba as a pretext, is planning to inflame other areas of the world."


President Kennedy went on in his reply to say that while the US is not involved directly in the invasion:


"the people of the United States do not conceal their admiration for Cuban patriots who wish to see a democratic system in an independent Cuba.  The United States government can take no action to stifle the spirit of liberty."


In the 1st 24 hours of the invasion, Castro ordered 20,000 Cuban troops to the beach as his air force took control of the sky.*


*When the fighting ends, more than a hundred exiles were dead & the rest captured.  The Bay of Pigs "fiasco" has been listed as one of the "Top 10 Presidential Mistakes".  JFK publicly accepted responsibility a few days later & said to friends privately: "How could I have been so stupid (to authorize the invasion on the advice of the CIA)?"

    JFK Accepts Brigade's Flag in Miami 
    Photo by Cecil Stoughton
    December 1962
    JFK Library


April 18, 1956


GRACE KELLY WEDS PRINCE RAINIER


Broadway & Hollywood actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco today.


The 40 minute civil ceremony took place in the Palace Throne Room & was broadcast across Europe.


Miss Kelly made her Broadway debut in 1949 & got her "big break" in Hollywood playing Gary Cooper's wife in "High Noon".


She won an "Oscar" in 1954 for her role in "The Country Girl".


The prince & princess left Monaco this evening for a seven week Mediterranean honeymoon on Rainier's yacht.

          Grace Kelly (1956)
          Academy Awards Presentations


April 18, 1945


ERNIE PYLE KILLED IN PACIFIC WAR


The most popular war correspondent of World War II was killed today by Japanese machine gun fire on the island of Shima, off the coast of Okinawa.


Pyle had covered the North African campaign as well as the invasions of Sicily & Italy.


He arrived in Nomandy on June 7, 1944 following the D-Day invasion.


Pyle, famous for his coverage of the experiences of the enlisted men, won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished correspondence in 1944.


President Truman said that Pyle "told the story of the American fighting man as the American fighting men want it told."


Ernie Pyle will be buried in the National Memorial Cemetery in Hawaii.

            Ernie Pyle at Anzio (1944)
            2nd from right (front)


April 18, 1942


DOLITTLE LEADS FIRST AIR RAID ON TOKYO


Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle today successfully led an American air raid on mainland Japan.


16 B-25 bombers were launched 650 miles East of Japan from the aircraft carrier, USS Hornet.


Early reports indicate minor damage has resulted from the air raid, but nonetheless this attack will be a boost for American morale in the war in the Pacific.

          Lt. Col. James (Jimmy) Dolittle
          2nd from left
          April 18, 1942


April 18, 1906


SAN FRANCISCO HIT BY MAJOR EARTHQUAKE


The "City by the Bay" was hit by two tremors, back to back, this morning beginning at 5:12 a.m.


Reports indicate that thousands of buildings in the city have collapsed as a result.


Also, fires caused in the aftermath of the earthquake, have spread throughout the city.*


*The fires burn for 4 days.  By the time they die out, 700 people were dead, 250,000 were homeless, 28,000 buildings had been destroyed & $500 million in damage had been done.  Author & SF resident Jack London wrote: "Surrender was complete".


The estimated magnitude of the SF earthquake ranges from 7.7 to 8.25.

Damage to San Francisco from 1906 Earthquake


April 18, 1775


PAUL REVERE MAKES A "MIDNIGHT RIDE"


British troops under General Thomas Gage began a march late this evening to the towns of Lexington & Concord to confiscate powder & shot collected by American rebels.


General Gage has also expressed the hope that his troops will be able to capture rebel leaders Samuel Adams & John Hancock.


Rebel circuit riders, Paul Revere & William Dawes, were signaled from 2 lanterns hung in the tower of the Old North Church that the British troops were moving out of the city by the Charles River.


Revere, Dawes & others rode out ahead of the British to warn the countryside "to be up & to arms".


There seems to be a very good chance that there will be a confrontation between the rebels & Her Majesty's forces either in Lexington, Concord or both tomorrow morning.

"Listen, my children, and you shall hear

Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,

On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;

Hardly a man is now alive

Who remembers that famous day and year"

From "Paul Revere's Ride" 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow