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Cold War 1945-1991
Bay of Pigs: CIA's Cuban Disaster, April 1961
Perhaps not in casualties but as far as prestige and standing in the world were concerned, the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 was the worst disaster to befall the USA since the War of 1812 when British forces burned the White House. Badly planned, badly organized, the affair was littered with mistakes from start to finish - not least with an inept performance by John F Kennedy and his new administration.
Supposedly an attempt by Cuban exiles to regain their homeland, the whole operation was funded and equipped by the USA. When things began to go wrong with the landings at Playa Larga and Playa Giron on the southern coast of Cuba President Kennedy and his advisers began overruling military decisions with the result that the invading Brigade 2506 - made up of Cuban exiles - was left with little or no air cover, limited ammunition and no easy escape.
Fidel Castro made great play of his success and American failure at the Bay of Pigs. He, like Nikita Khrushchev, thought Kennedy was weak: the Cuban Missile Crisis of the following year was almost an inevitable consequence of the disaster.
Supposedly an attempt by Cuban exiles to regain their homeland, the whole operation was funded and equipped by the USA. When things began to go wrong with the landings at Playa Larga and Playa Giron on the southern coast of Cuba President Kennedy and his advisers began overruling military decisions with the result that the invading Brigade 2506 - made up of Cuban exiles - was left with little or no air cover, limited ammunition and no easy escape.
Fidel Castro made great play of his success and American failure at the Bay of Pigs. He, like Nikita Khrushchev, thought Kennedy was weak: the Cuban Missile Crisis of the following year was almost an inevitable consequence of the disaster.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 18, 2022
I would not of been surprised if this book had the authors tears smearing its pages.
And I am led to believe that he is English so his investment in the outcome of battle is confounding. Seemed to this reader as if he was barracking for the United States and C.I.A trained, led and supported mercenaries (the goodies) over the Cubans (the baddies) who, unfortunately managed to successfully defend their independent state from an invading army.
The book is heavily slanted, information-wise, of the actions of the US as opposed to the Cubans which may've been understandable if it was published any time between the 60's to 90's even but when I read a quote from 'Game of Thrones' I realised it was much more recent (2018).
A good playbook on how not to attempt a coup d'état.
And I am led to believe that he is English so his investment in the outcome of battle is confounding. Seemed to this reader as if he was barracking for the United States and C.I.A trained, led and supported mercenaries (the goodies) over the Cubans (the baddies) who, unfortunately managed to successfully defend their independent state from an invading army.
The book is heavily slanted, information-wise, of the actions of the US as opposed to the Cubans which may've been understandable if it was published any time between the 60's to 90's even but when I read a quote from 'Game of Thrones' I realised it was much more recent (2018).
A good playbook on how not to attempt a coup d'état.
April 30, 2023
Another high quality book from Pen & Sword that lives up to their usual standards. I went into
this with little knowledge of the Bay of Pigs invasion and I feel I gained a solid background in the military and geopolitical facts about this important conflict. Lots of related maps and pictures, and well researched.
this with little knowledge of the Bay of Pigs invasion and I feel I gained a solid background in the military and geopolitical facts about this important conflict. Lots of related maps and pictures, and well researched.
June 14, 2021
Very Good not great but well worth reading
I liked it and; the author makes where he has opinions thoughtfully. But I am in disagreement in several of the whys but not the what. Sign of a good book.
I liked it and; the author makes where he has opinions thoughtfully. But I am in disagreement in several of the whys but not the what. Sign of a good book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews