Historical+Event-Bay+of+Pigs

Following World War II, anti-communist fervor spread through America and its government, which adopted a policy of containment in order to prevent the spread of communism, particularly from Russian influences. McCarthyism and the Korean War were prime examples of these anti-communist sentiments and evidence of the actions willing to be taken to rollback communism. The communist government of Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, was of particular concern due to its close proximity to the United States and because of Castro’s relationship with Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev (“Bay of Pigs” __JFK Library__). In March of 1960, a CIA plan was approved by President Eisenhower to overthrow the communist government of Cuba, eventually resulting in the President Kennedy's Bay of Pigs Invasion, infamous for its high casualties and cause of embarrassment for the United States (“Bay of Pigs” __Bay of Pigs Museum__). The basic plan for the Bay of Pigs invasion included two air strikes against Cuban air bases and a 1400-man land assault. "The success of the plan depended on the presumption that the Cuban population would join the invaders." Once Castro was defeated, the American-friendly United Revolutionary Front would send leaders over to establish a provisional government in Cuba. (“Bay of Pigs”  __JFK Library__). An anti-Castro force of Cuban exiles was trained in Panama, Guatemala, and Nicaragua for nine months in preparation of the invasion (“Bay of Pigs” __Bay of Pigs Museum__).
 * Bay of Pigs **

On April 17 1961, the ground troops arriving in the beaches along the Bay of Pigs immediately came under heavy fire. 20,000 of Castro’s troops advanced the beach, already aware of plans for the invasion due to prior news reports and they vastly outnumbered the small Brigade 2506 of only 1,400 (“Bay of Pigs”   __JFK Library__). A lack of support from the Cubans and the strength of Castro’s army led to the crushing defeat of the American organized exile-army in less than 72 hours (Sierra). The loyalty that the Cuban population had for their communist government was underestimated in the CIA’s plan. The American ideal at the time that communism was a horrible form of government was blinding to the fact that it could be right for the people of Cuba. Fidel Castro said in a speech shortly after the invasion, “  it is absurd for Mr. Kennedy to take it into his head to tell us what kind of government he wants us to have here. (“Speech by Castro”).

In response to media coverage of the invasion, where American participation became apparent, President Kennedy called off a second air strike, which might have crippled Cuban air forces and given an advantage to Brigade 2506. Also, additional ground troops were not sent in, leaving the Brigade severely outnumbered. (“Bay of Pigs” __Bay of Pigs Museum__). “** Fidel Castro **   turned out to be a far more formidable foe and in command of a far better organized regime than anyone had supposed. His patrols spotted the invasion at almost the first possible moment. His planes reacted with speed and vigor. His police eliminated any chance of sabotage or rebellion behind the lines. His soldiers stayed loyal and fought hard” (Sierra). Because Kennedy took an indecisive stance during the Bay of Pigs invasion, 400 soldiers in the brigade were killed and 1100 captured. The incident was an embarrassment for Kennedy and the United States and led to worsened relations with Cuba and the Soviet Union (“Bay of Pigs” __Bay of Pigs Museum__). "If Kennedy had not been thoroughly defeated by Castro on the beaches in 1961, Nikita Khrushchev almost certainly would not have dared to precipitate the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962--the crisis which, in the words of former CIA Director William E. Colby, pushed the world "as close to Armageddon" as it had ever come" (Wyden 7).