Real Dictators: Fidel Castro Part 5 – The Bay of Pigs

Hosted by Paul McGann on the award-winning Real Dictators podcast by NOISER.

Introduction: The Invasion Set-Up

The episode opens on April 17, 1961, at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, where six men aboard a small rubber raft are poised to launch an invasion against Fidel Castro’s regime. Five are Cuban exiles trained by the CIA, and the sixth is an American CIA operative. Among them is Eduardo Saez Bessan, a dedicated exile ready to reclaim his homeland with the support of the United States.

Eduardo Saez Bessan (03:32):
“The water was up to our waist. And that's when suddenly this jeep comes, turns towards us and that's when our American instructor said the first word at the Bay of Pigs.”

Background: Cuba Under Castro

Returning to the autumn of 1960, the Cuban Revolution has transformed life on the island. Fidel Castro's government has nationalized industries, seized land, and curtailed civil liberties, despite maintaining popular support among many Cubans. Dissidence manifests through political actions, guerrilla warfare in the Escambray Mountains, and mass exodus of those opposed to Castro, whom he derogatorily labels as "escoria" (scum) and "gusanos" (worms).

Formation of Brigade 2506 and CIA Involvement

Eduardo Saez Bessan, hailing from a prominent family targeted by Castro, flees to Florida in September 1960 with the intention of participating in anti-Castro activities. Leveraging his swimming prowess, Eduardo integrates into the CIA-organized Frente Revolucionario Democratico, eventually joining Brigade 2506, a paramilitary group composed of over 1,500 Cuban exiles trained for an amphibious invasion with the aim of toppling Castro.

Eduardo Saez Bessan (07:12):
“The first thing I did, I went to the office of the Frente Revolucionario Democratico that was already organized by the CIA. And there I was told that they were looking for frogmen for a future invasion of Cuba. And knowing my background as a swimmer, I said this is the natural things for me.”

Presidential Hesitation and Finalizing the Plan

As the CIA prepares the invasion, President John F. Kennedy expresses reservations about the operation’s overt nature, fearing Soviet reactions and the risk of escalating into a larger conflict. Senior analyst Peter Kornblau highlights Kennedy's concern that a visible invasion could provoke Soviet aggression in places like West Berlin, potentially igniting World War III.

Peter Kornblau (09:38):
“Response was, look, it's not just the issue of Cuba that's at stake. If we are taking upon ourselves to openly invade smaller countries because they're on our border and we feel insecure about them, then, you know, Nikita Khrushchev can walk into West Berlin and say the same thing. And then we have World War III on our hands.”

Despite these concerns, Kennedy approves a scaled-down, covert invasion plan targeting the Bay of Pigs, a remote and strategically poor choice, underestimating Castro’s resilience and the operational challenges ahead.

Eduardo Saez Bessan (10:15):
“It is important for you to realize that the 1500 men that participated had total confidence on the capability of the United States. So the fact that the Americans were training us, were financing us, were planning the whole operation, it never crossed my mind that we were going to lose.”

Marita Lawrence and the CIA’s Assassination Plot

Parallel to the invasion, the CIA explores personal covert actions against Castro. Marita Lawrence, a 19-year-old woman who claims to have been Fidel Castro’s lover, is coerced by the CIA into a mission to assassinate him. Her traumatic experience underscores the CIA’s manipulative tactics, exploiting personal vulnerabilities to achieve their objectives.

Marita Lawrence (17:04):
“That's what they did. Constant badgering, constant manipulation, constant telling her she had to do this in the name of God. God and country. They beat her up mentally, emotionally, until she succumbed and said, all right, I'll go back and kill him.”

Invasion Commences: Initial Challenges and Bombing Failures

On April 17, 1961, as Brigade 2506 men embark towards Cuba, operational flaws quickly surface. Unexpected coral reefs damage their landing craft, forcing the invaders to abandon their initial assault. A jeep spotting leads Eduardo to engage in combat for the first time, heightening the emotional and physical toll of the mission.

Eduardo Saez Bessan (33:31):
“And that's when suddenly this jeep comes and turns towards us and we started the fire. Imagine this was the first time that I had fired at a human being. So it was very emotional. I remember the feeling in my mouth of fear and the beginning of combat. It was very, very dramatic.”

Failure of the Invasion and CIA Abandonment

Contrary to the CIA’s assurances, aerial bombardment fails to decimate Castro’s air force due to reduced bombing runs ordered by Kennedy. As dawn breaks, the invaders find themselves exposed without the promised American air support, leading to chaos and abandonment.

Eduardo Saez Bessan (36:36):
“I was the radio operator of our group and they were saying, the ships are coming back with ammunition and with the supplies that you need. So hang in there, hang in there. Never happened. Never happened.”

The lack of local uprising support further diminishes the invasion’s viability, leaving Brigade 2506 isolated and vulnerable.

Castro’s Counteractions and the Aftermath

Castro swiftly mobilizes Cuban militias, repelling the invaders with superior knowledge and preparedness. The resulting confusion and miscommunication highlight the invasion’s organizational failures. Eduardo and his comrades face brutal reprisals, leading to mass captures and international condemnation.

Carlos Eyre (24:42):
“There were all sorts of rumors about what was happening. This is what happens in a totalitarian society. There's nothing but rumors. And after a while, you learn not to believe every rumor. When you first hear it.”

Imprisonment and Show Trials

Captured invaders, including Eduardo, endure harsh imprisonment and public show trials orchestrated by Castro to solidify his regime’s narrative. The trials broadcast their defeat as a triumph of Castro’s leadership, while the prisoners face severe conditions and uncertainty about their fate.

Eduardo Saez Bessan (52:13):
“Fidel Castro comes to our cell block about 2 o' clock in the morning and says, good evening, fellows. How are you doing? Are they treating you well? As if he were one of our best friends. He spoke for about two hours with us. He says, I have good news and bad news. What shall I tell you first? Well, tell us the good news. Good news, I'm not going to execute anybody. So, bad news, you're going to be sentenced to 30 years in prison or they're going to have to pay a ransom for each of you...”

Resolution and Release of Captives

International pressure and Kennedy’s diplomatic overtures eventually lead to the release of the captured invaders in December 1962, after a ransom deal is struck. Eduardo is among the first to return to the United States, reuniting with his family amidst overwhelming public support in Miami.

Eduardo Saez Bessan (53:48):
“A couple of weeks later, I was in the United States embracing my wife and my son. I was so lucky. Less than a year after the Bay of Pigs invasion, I was in Miami with my wife and my son. I mean, you cannot imagine there were more than 20,000 people waiting for us at the Miami airport. Waiting for the 60. Unbelievable.”

Conclusion: Lessons and Legacy

The Bay of Pigs invasion stands as a cautionary tale of flawed planning, overconfidence, and the perils of groupthink within governmental operations. The episode concludes by setting the stage for the subsequent Cuban Missile Crisis, highlighting the ongoing tension between the United States and Cuba that would further escalate global Cold War dynamics.

Peter Kornblau (46:24):
“This could never have been covert. If Kennedy wanted to overthrow Castro, he should have committed, you know, open U.S. military troops. But there were clear reasons why he didn't want to take that option.”

Notable Quotes:

• Eduardo Saez Bessan (10:15):
  “It is important for you to realize that the 1500 men that participated had total confidence on the capability of the United States. So the fact that the Americans were training us, were financing us, were planning the whole operation, it never crossed my mind that we were going to lose.”

• Marita Lawrence (17:04):
  “That's what they did. Constant badgering, constant manipulation, constant telling her she had to do this in the name of God. God and country. They beat her up mentally, emotionally, until she succumbed and said, all right, I'll go back and kill him.”

• Carlos Eyre (24:42):
  “There were all sorts of rumors about what was happening. This is what happens in a totalitarian society. There's nothing but rumors. And after a while, you learn not to believe every rumor. When you first hear it.”

Looking Forward

The episode closes by teasing the next installment, which will delve into the Cuban Missile Crisis, a pivotal moment that would further define Fidel Castro’s regime and its impact on global politics.

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