US Cuban Relations Post Revolution

From WolfWikis

The Cuban revolution in 1959 marked the beginning of a rapid decline in United States and Cuban relations. In an effort to quarantine Communist influence in the Western Hemisphere, America’s policy shifted to overthrow Fidel Castro, either overtly or covertly. America’s anti-Castro policy accelerated on March 17th, 1960 with the CIA’s “A PROGRAM OF COVERT ACTION AGAINST THE CASTRO REGIME”. This document outlined the CIA’s directive of overthrowing Castro, it also set the stage for the future Bay Of Pigs invasion, saying “Work is already in progress in the creation of a covert intelligence and action organization within Cuba which will be responsible to the orders and directions of the "exile" opposition”(A PROGRAM OF COVERT...). This rapid decline nearly spiraled out of control in October of 1962 with the Cuban Missile Crisis.

TIMELINE:

January 8, 1959- Castro arrives triumphantly in Havana

March 16, 1960- A PROGRAM OF COVERT ACTION AGAINST THE CASTRO REGIME

April 15, 1961- American B-26 bombers disguised as rogue Cuban planes bomb Cuban airfields. Start of Bay of Pigs Invasion.

April 17, 1961- 1511 Cuban exiles arrive at the Bay of Pigs

April 18, 1961- Khrushchev to Kennedy about Bay of Pigs Kennedy's response

September 4, 1961- US ends all trade with Cuba The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

February 2, 1962- Possible Actions to Provoke, Harrass, or Disrupt Cuba

February 20, 1962- Operation Mongoose "In keeping with the spirit of the Presidential memorandum of 30 November 1961, the United States will help the people of Cuba overthrow the Communist regime from within Cuba and institute a new government with which the United States can live in peace."

March 13, 1962- Operation Northwoods unaccepted plan of inciting US-Cuban War

September 4, 1962- Kennedy on Cuba "the Soviets have provided the Cuban Government with a number of anti-aircraft defense missiles"

September 8, 1962- Russian document "For the purpose of strengthening of the Group of Soviet Forces in Cuba and increasing its ability to fight against enemy landing, we are sending you additional means: squadron of plane carriers IL-28 (6 planes and 6 nuclear bombs-407H)"

October 14, 1962- United States discovers long distance missile stations in Cuba. The next day the Chiefs of Staff of the American Military seriously consider a flash invasion of Cuba. Transcript notes of the meeting

October 19, 1962- Kennedy decides on a naval blockade of Cuba as opposed to direct intervention, but realizes this is only a temporary solution The Cuban Missile Crisis Record of Meeting

October 22, 1962- Kennedy publicly announces missile crisis and blockade. Tension between the nations still grows. "It shall be the policy of this Nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union." Kennedy's announcement

October 24, 1962- Department of State considers taking down missile sites in Turkey in exchange for Soviet Union taking down missile sites in Cuba. "Soviet reaction Cuban quarantine likely involve efforts compare missiles in Cuba with Jupiters in Turkey. While such comparison refutable, possible that negotiated solution for removal Cuban offensive threat may involve dismantling and removal Jupiters" Department of State telegram to Turkey. Meanwhile Khrushchev responds to Kennedy's blockade "You, Mr. President, are not declaring a quarantine, but rather are setting forth an ultimatum and threatening that if we do not give in to your demands you will use force. Consider what you are saying!" Letter From Chairman Khrushchev to President Kennedy, October 24, 1962

October 26, 1962- "It is thus that we, Soviet people, and, together with US, other peoples as well, understand the questions of war and peace. I can, in any case, firmly say this for the peoples of the socialist countries, as well as for all progressive people who want peace, happiness, and friendship among peoples." Khrushchev

October 27, 1962- "I therefore make this proposal: We are willing to remove from Cuba the means which you regard as offensive. We are willing to carry this out and to make this pledge in the United Nations. Your representatives will make a declaration to the effect that the United States, for its part, considering the uneasiness and anxiety of the Soviet State, will remove its analogous means from Turkey." Khrushchev

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1121309 “A PROGRAM OF COVERT ACTION AGAINST THE CASTRO REGIME”. Written by the 5412 Committee and authorized by Eisenhower, this document sets the stage for the United State's quest of ousting Fidel Castro.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040417030823/http://www.parascope.com/ds/articles/mongooseDoc2.htm "Possible Actions to Provoke, Harrass, or Disrupt Cuba" Internal document sent from General William Craig to General Edward Lansdale outlining other possible plans to sabatoge the Cuban government after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion.

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/faa.pdf The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 places trade embargo on Cuba

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/nikita2.htm Khrushchev message of possible peace

http://www.marxists.org/history/cuba/subject/cia/mongoose/c-project.htm February 20, 1962 Operation Mongoose. Secret plan in light of the failed Bay of Pigs operation that "aims for a revolt which can take place in Cuba by October 1962."

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/nikita.htm Letter From Chairman Khrushchev to President Kennedy, October 24, 1962

http://history-matters.com/archive/church/reports/ir/html/ChurchIR_0043a.htm Secondary source chronicaling failed assassination and defamation attempts on Castro by the CIA.

http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/621000%20Notes%20Taken%20from%20Transcripts.pdf Transcript notes of a meeting of head US military officials day after US discovers long distance nuclear missiles in Cuba.

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/forrel/cuba/cuba031.htm The Cuban Missile Crisis Record of Meeting

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/turkmis.htm Telegram from Department of State to Turkey warning that missile sites may have to be dismantled.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/baypig7.htm letter sent from Khrushchev to Kennedy in response to the Bay of Pigs invasion

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/baypig9.htm Kennedy's reply to Khrushchev's letter

http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/620219%20Memo%20for%20the%20Chief%20of%20Ops..pdf Operation Northwoods

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/kencuba.htm October 22nd Kennedy announces naval blockade of Cuba.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/jfkstate.htm STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ON CUBA

http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/620908%20Memorandum%20from%20Malinovsky.pdf Russian document sent to Russian forces in Cuba telling them to expect a shipment of nuclear weapons

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/cuba.htm Amazing collection of documents in reference to the Cuban Missile Crisis.