Chapter 30: The Turbulent Sixties, 1960-1969 (#1)
Download 25.08 Kb.
|
| Containing Castro: The Bay of Pigs Fiasco
growing ties between the Soviet Union and Fidel Castro’s regime the Eisenhower administration had been training a group of Cuban exiles in Guatemala since March 1960 as part of a CIA plan to topple the Castro regime operation depended heavily on a broad uprising of the Cuban people some viewed it as an immoral act that would discredit the United States the president decided to proceed April 17, 1961 – 1,400 Cuban exiles moved ashore at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba Kennedy – insisted on cover action, canceling at the last minute a planned American air strike on the beachhead with air superiority, Castro’s well-trained forces had no difficulty in quashing the invasion killed nearly 500 exiles and forced the rest to surrender within 48 hours President Kennedy – took personal responsibility for the failure showed no remorse for arranging the violation of a neighboring country’s sovereignty – only regret at the outcome Kennedy – continued to harass the Castro regime, imposing an economic blockade on Cuba, supporting a continuing series of raids by exile groups operating out of Florida, and failing to stop the CIA from experimenting with bizarre plots to assassinate Fidel Castro Containing Castro: The Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban missile crisis – Soviets engaged in a massive arms buildup in Cuba, ostensibly to protect Castro from an American invasion Kennedy – stern warning against the introduction of any offensive weapons, believing their presence would directly threaten American security Khrushchev – building sites for 24-medium range (1,000 mile) and 18-intermediate range (2,000 mile) missiles claimed his purpose was purely defensive American U-2 planes finally discovered the missile sites Kennedy – decided to seek a showdown gathered a special group of advisers to consider the way to respond initial preference for an immediate air strike – gradually gave way to discussion of either a full-scale invasion or a naval blockade ruled out diplomacy – rejecting a proposal to offer the withdrawal of obsolete American Jupiter missiles from Turkey in return for a similar Russian pullout in Cuba proclaim a quarantine of Cuba – to prevent the arrival of new missiles threaten a nuclear confrontation to force the removal of those already there United States would invade Cuba and dismantle the missiles by force October 22 – president informed the nation of the existence of the Soviet missiles for the next six days, the world hovered on the brink of nuclear catastrophe some 16 Soviet ships continued on course toward Cuba – while the American navy was deployed to intercept them 500 miles from the island Florida – nearly a quarter million men were being concentrated in the largest invasion force ever assembled Khrushchev sent Kennedy a long, rambling letter offering a face-saving way out Russia – would remove the missiles in return for an American promise never to invade Cuba second Russian message raised the stakes by insisting that American Jupiter missiles be withdrawn from Turkey Kennedy – refused to bargain, Khrushchev had endangered world peace by putting the missiles in Cuba secretly, and he must take them out immediately ignoring the second Russian message – Kennedy sent a cable to Khrushchev accepting this original offer in reality, John F. Kennedy – was not quite so ready to risk nuclear war president preferred that the missile swap be done privately – there was a deal through the United Nations involving “the removal of both the Jupiters and the missiles in Cuba” Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in return only for Kennedy’s promise not to invade Cuba the crisis was over now know the Soviets had nuclear warheads in Cuba for short-range tactical launchers designed to be used against an American invading force – an invasion could have been disastrous peaceful resolution of the Cuban missile crisis became a personal and political triumph for John F. Kennedy Kennedy and Khrushchev agreed to install a “hot line” to speed direct communication between Washington and Moscow in an emergency shift from confrontation to conciliation Soviets – embarked on a crash program to build up their navy and to overtake the American lead in nuclear missiles surpassed the US in ICBMs ensuring the escalation of the arms race Download 25.08 Kb. Share with your friends:
|