Cuba and the Bay of Pigs

United States Prepares For a Takeover

Aug 2, 2006 Mary Trotter Kion

The United States plans an invasion of Cuba and gives military training to numerous anti-Castro Cubans living in exile in the United States.

After the 1959 Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro's takeover of the Cuban government, Castro entered an alliance with the USSR and its Communist government. The United States government now felt that it was their duty to destroy Castro's government.

United States Engineers an Invasion

In 1961 there were numerous anti-Castro Cubans living in exile in the United States. Utilizing their knowledge of their home country, the United States trained and armed these people. The plan was to invade Cuba and overthrowing Castro's government without revealing the involvement of the United States. It was designed to create a gradual buildup of trained anti-Castro forces within Cuba. They would become a "cohesive political and military unit capable of toppling Castro."

In spite of the plan's intention, it quickly changed to a full-scale invasion of Cuba. The budget for this operation also quickly expanded from $4 million to $46 million as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) began training and supplying anti-Castro Cubans that were Guatemala exiles.

The Invasion Begins

Several days prior to the beginning of the invasion of Cuba by the United States, CIA pilots, on April 15, 1961, attack and destroyed a part of Castro's air force. Preparations were underway to complete the task on the following day, April 16, when United States President Kennedy ordered that the air strikes were to cease. There has never been a satisfactory explanation as to why the president called this halt. However, although air support had been suspended, the invasion action was still put into motion.

On April 17, two days after the initial air strike by the United States, some 1500 exiles were landed on the southern coast of Cuba at the Bahia de Cochinos, or Bay of Pigs. These American-trained Cubans were armed with weapons supplied by the United States.

Plans Go Wrong

Expecting to receive support for the local population, these anti-Castro exiles proceeded with the intent purpose of crossing the island of Havana.

The expected support from the local population failed. The exile army was soon stopped by Castro's troops.

The Bay of Pigs: United States Prepares For a Takeover, continues with: After The Bay of Pigs: Placing the Blame.

Previous: Before The Bay of Pigs: Beware of Castro and Khrushchev.

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