cuba.notebook
November 11, 2008
CUBA ­ the missile crises
The Cold War adopted a new character in the late 50's and the early 60's.
Intercontinental missiles and the race in the space increased the tension
between the two superpowers. But, on the other hand, there existed stronger
forces in both east and west which wanted to stop the cold war and introduce a
lasting detenté. Chruschev introduced the idea of peaceful coexistence and the
development shifted from detenté to tension. However this was also the time
when the most dangerous crises took place.
During the early 50's both SU and the US had lived through a period of hysteria
as the cold war affected the domestic scenes. In US this era is known as
McCarthyism while the republican senator Joseph McCarthy was the one
starting a hysteric which hunt on communists. The fear of communism took
absurd forms.
­The SU Atomic bomb and the birth of ‘Peoples Republic of China’.
­The Korean War
­French Indochina
­The death of Stalin raised hopes but increased nervousness. Violence in East
Germany, Poland and eventually Hungary.
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The Second Coup
The First Coup
In an uprising known as the "Revolt of the Sergeants," Batista took over the Cuban government on September 4, 1933. The coup overthrew the liberal government of Gerardo Machado <machado.htm>, and marked the beginning of the army's influence as an organized force in the running of the government. It also signaled Batista's emergence as self­appointed chief of the armed forces, king­maker and favored U.S. strong man. For the next decade Batista ran the country from the background, using puppet presidents [Carlos Mendieta (1934­35), José A. Barnet (1935­36), Miguel Mariano Gómez (1936) and Federuco Laredo Brú (1936­40)] and having his way with the government, which continued a thirty­year tradition of corruption. Batista was well liked by American interests, who feared Grau's liberal social and economic revolution and saw him as a stabilizing force with respect for American interests. It was in this time period that Batista formed a renowned friendship and business relationship with gangster Meyer Lansky <havana/Lansky.htm> that lasted over three decades.
Through Lansky, the mafia knew they had a friend in Cuba. Gangster Lucky Luciano <havana/Lucky1.htm>, after being deported to Italy in 1946, went to Havana with a false passport. A summit at Havana's Hotel Nacional, with mobsters such as Frank Costello, Vito Genovese, Santo Trafficante Jr., Moe Dalitz and others, confirmed Luciano's authority over the U.S. mob, and coincided with Frank Sinatra's singing debut in Havana. It was here that Lansky gave permission to kill Bugsy Siegel for skimming construction money from the Flamingo in Las Vegas.
Many of Batista's enemies faced the same fate as the ambitious Siegel. One of his most bitter opponents, Antonio Guiteras (founder of the student group Jóven Cuba) was gunned down by government forces in 1935 while waiting for a boat in Matanzas province. Others just seemed to disappear into thin air.
Batista's chance to sit on the president's chair came in 1940. Supported by a coalition of political parties, and by the Communists, he defeated his old rival Grau San Martín in the first presidential election under a new Cuban constitution. During his presidency, trade relations with the U.S. increased, and a series of war taxes were imposed on the Cuban population. In 1944, Grau San Martín was elected president and Batista was forced to relinquish control.
While living luxuriously in Daytona Beach, Florida, Batista ran for and won a seat in the Cuban Senate in 1948. Four years later he was running for president, but a poll published in the December, 1951 issue of the popular magazine "Bohemia" showed him in last place.
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The Landing of the Granma
by J.A. Sierra
FEARING FOR THEIR LIFE after being released from prison on May 15 1955, Fidel Castro and his younger brother Raul went to Mexico City to organize the war against dictator Fulgencio Batista. "We will return when we can bring to our people the liberty and the right to live decently without despotism and without hunger," wrote Castro in the weekly Bohemia.
"Seventeen months were to pass from the time Castro left Havana until his disastrous and fateful return to Cuba," On March 10 1952, almost twenty years after the Revolt of the Sergeants, Batista took over the government once more, this time against elected Cuban president Carlos Prío Socorras. The coup took place three months before the upcoming elections that he was sure to loose. Also running in that election (for a different office) was a young, energetic lawyer named Fidel Castro. On March 27 Batista's government was formally recognized by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Shortly after this recognition, Batista declared that, although he was completely loyal to Cuba's constitution of 1940, constitutional guarantees would have to be temporarily suspended, as well as the right to strike. In April, writes Hugh Thomas in The Cuban Revolution, "Batista proclaimed a new constitutional code of 275 articles, claiming that the 'democratic and progressive essence' of the 1940 Constitution was preserved in the new law."
Batista opened the way for large­scale gambling in Havana, and he reorganized the Cuban state so that he and his political appointees could harvest the nation's riches. He announced that his government would match, dollar for dollar, any hotel investment over $1 million, which would include a casino license, and Lansky became the center of the entire Cuban gambling operation.
Under Batista, Cuba became profitable for American business and organized crime. Havana became the "Latin Las Vegas," a playground of choice for wealthy gamblers, and very little was said about democracy, or the rights of the average Cuban. Opposition was swiftly and violently crushed, and many began to fear the new government.
Just over a year after Batista's second coup, a small group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada Army Barracks <moncada.htm> in Santiago on July 26, 1953. The attack failed, and Batista sent General Martin Tamayo, the military commander of the district, a note ordering him to "kill ten rebels for every soldier killed" in the attack. This Presidential order was quickly dubbed the "ten­for­one" law. Tamayo carried out his order, murdering fifty­nine additional rebels (it would have taken 190 deaths to fulfill Batista's request).
For a price, Batista handed contracts to dozens of U.S. corporations for massive construction projects, such as the Havana­
Varadero highway, the Rancho Boyeros airport, train lines, the power company and a strange plan to dig a canal across Cuba.
Due to popular unrest, and to appease his U.S. friends, Batista held a mock election in which he was the only legal candidate. He won, becoming president of Cuba in 1954. Cubans, however, had learned not to trust him, and were demanding new, legitimate elections.
Batista was so confident of his power that on May 15, 1955, he released Castro and the remaining survivors of the Moncada attack, hoping to dissuade some of his critics. Within weeks it was rumored that Batista's military police was looking to kill Castro, so the rebel went to Mexico to plan the revolution
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CUBA
The popular revolt against Batista gathered many different cubans together and
the US didn't try to stem it either while Batistas government wasn't popular
among the americans either. As Castro began attacking the interests of the anti­
Batista middle classes, however, many of them joined the exodus of Batistianos
to USA. This created a community of counter­revolutionary exiles who
proceeded to plan an armed intervention in Cuba and the overthrow of Fidel
Castro.
A leisure yacht named Granma was secured for the trip to Cuba. Although seaworthy, the ship was not in the best shape. Badly worn gears prevented the ship from achieving significant speed, and the radio could only receive, making it impossible to communicate with allies in Cuba. The craft was overcrowded with weapons, ammunition, and 82 soldiers
The landing of the Granma, in December 1956, was planned to re­enact the route that José Martí had followed to begin Cuba's War of Independence in 1895. The target landing spot was a town called Niguero, in Oriente province. Still waiting for them on December 2 was Celia Sánches, one of the founders of the July­26­Movement, with an assortment of trucks, jeeps, food, weapons and about 50 men.
Leaking and running days behind schedule, the Granma was spotted by a helicopter, and the rebels were forced to beach the ship at a spot called Playa de los Colorados, near the village of "Las Coloradas," about fifteen miles south of the designated spot. The new landing area was more of a swamp than a beach, and the rebels were unable to unload most of their weapons due to the muddy waters, the thick undergrowth plant life and small crabs.
Of the 82 who made the trip from Mexico, only twelve made it to the Sierra Maestra, including the Castro brothers, Che Guevara (wounded and bleeding), Camilo Cienfuegos, Juan Almeida, Efigenio Amejeiras, Ciro Redondo, Julio Díaz, Calixto García, Luis Crespo, Jose Ponce and Universo Sanchez. "We will win this war," said Castro, "we're just beginning to fight
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Eventhough Castro didn't declare himself being a socialist the relations with
USA worsened which resulted in CIA beginning to recruit Cuban exiles for their
operations.
When Castro in 1959 wished to buy arms from the USA the Eisenhower
government resisted this utterly. When USA succeded in talking all western
countries into a policy which refused any arms sales Castro turned to the
socialistic countries.
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By late march the first shipments of east european arms arrived to Cuba. The
first major US­owned companies in Cuba were nationalized. The issue on
compensation remained open which suggests that Castro didn't want to break of
the relations with USA totally.
The economic warfare continued and increase. When US increase pressure on
western oil suppliers to cut sales Cuba turned to SU. The Cuban branches of
Texaco and Esso refused to accept Russian oil for refining which resulted in the
nationalization of them. As these companies had been acting upon advice from
the US government USA cut the sugar quota. The response was further
nationalization of 26 US companies in August, all US­owned banks in september
and the rest 166 US­owned enterprises in october.
nov 4­15:48
When Kennedy was informed of the existing exile­cuban forces he approved with
the plans of an invasion but at the same time he stressed the fact that US forces
would not back up the exile­cubans. They would bee on their own but apparently
the precis terms of US support were not clear to all involved.
The landing took place at the Bay of Pigs on 17. April 1961, and was a disaster
from the start to finish. There were only 1400 invaders. The hope was that their
arrival would inspire an uprising inside Cuba. But this was quite unrealistic. The
Cuban Revolution was popular and Castros popularity had increased after a land
reform and the increasing threat from the USA. The invaders were swiftly
defeated by the Cuban army. As it was obvious from the very start that the
adventure was backed up by the US it served as a provocation and drove Castro
even closer to SU opening a possibility for SU into establishing a larger
presence in Cuba.
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As the worsening US­Cuban relations opened new prospects for the russians
Soviets first deputy premier Anastas Mikoyan visited Havanna in february 1960.
SU made a large trade agreement including a promise of financial aid to Cuba.
East Germany and Poland followed as new sugar buyers. The following weeks
the tension rose and in march president Eisenhower ordered the CIA to organize
the training of cuban exiles for a future invasion of Cuba.
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US imposed a trade embargo on Cuba which drove Castro closer to the SU­orbit.
In early 1961 Kennedy took over as the new president in USA. He hadn't been
informed of the secret plans for an invasion on Cuba before he became
president. He had taken a strong stand against Castro during his election
campaign. Kennedy also approved with Eisenhowers decision to break
diplomatic relations with Cuba 3 January 1961.
nov 4­19:53
Kchruschev had given Kennedy a promise that USSR would defend the Cuban
revolution but SU wouldn't establish military bases of its own on the island.
In the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs incident SU decided to install nuclear
missiles on Cuba.
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SU was under a constant threat due to the US missiles installed in Western
Europe and Turkey. Now SU realized that there existed a great chance to
threaten US in a similar way.
In July 1962 US spy planes detected an increase in Soviet shipments to Cuba
and in late August the first missiles were detected. These first missiles were
defensive ones and couldn't be used to launch an attack on USA.
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Kennedy's reaction was to increase the numbers of american soldiers on the US
Cuban base and to increase the number of spy flights over Cuba. In early
October the US Congress urged the government to stop the creation in Cuba of a
foreign military base that endangered US security. This was a clear signal to SU
and Cuba that US wouldn't tolerate any foreign threat on its own security or any
violation of the Monroe doctrine.
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On 14 October the first offensive missile base was revealed by the Americans.
The White House set up an executive committee (ExCom) to advise the
president on what to do next.
From a Soviet point of view there existed a number of reasons why one wanted
to build up a threat against USA which could be used in future discussions;
1) The Berlin question, Khruschev wanted to end the West's right to occupy
Berlin. A city in the heart of the Eastern Bloc.
2) The presence of US Jupiter missiles in Turkey and Italy directed against
Moscow.
3) The US plan to deploy Polaris nuclear submarines in the Eastern
Mediterranean.
4) To improve the SU position in the Cold War.
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Khruschev needed to restore the credibility of the Russian nuclear threat and
Cuba provided a ready solution.
Kennedy had to response to the threat and do so before the missiles were
armed and ready to fire.
The 'Ex Com' (executive committee) was divide in to two groups.
'The Hawks' preferred rapid action, a surprise air raid on the missiles sites,
followed by a possible invasion.
The other group was more cautious and suggested a naval blockade on the
shipment of military equipment to Cuba.
Kennedy chose the later alternative to give the Russians a possibility to retreat.
nov 4­20:06
Kennedy' options
1) Air attack to destroy the missiles.
+It could destroy the missiles before they were installed.
­No one could guarantee that all missiles would be destroyed.
­SU personell would get killed ­ risk of retaliation.
­Immoral action.
2) Invasion
+Would remove the missiles and Castro
­SU response ­ full scale war or retaliation in BERLIN.
3) Do nothing
+Wouldn't risk a nuclear conflict, maybe SU wouldn't use the missiles.
­The missiles were offensive as well. Installed they would cause a constant threat to Worldpeace.
­Sign of weakness.
4) Diplomatic pressures
+Would avoid conflict.
­Sign of weakness.
5) Blockade
+Would show seriousness of US but woudn't be a direct threat or provocation.
­It wouldn't remove the existing missiles from Cuba.
­Possible SU revenge on Berlin
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On 22 October 1962 the US president went on television and announced that a
blockade would go into effect in two days time. Nineteen US naval vessels
moved into position off Cuba and 12 of the 25 Russian ships on their way to
Cuba either halted or altered course but constructions on the missile bases
continued. An attempt to destroy the bases could mean that the SU might fire
them against USA even though it was debatable if SU was ready to risk a war
against USA.
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Kennedy decided to ignore the second russian message and answered the first
one. At the same time the Su ambassador was informally told that US would
remove the missiles in Turkey, but not as a part of a deal with Cuba. On 28
October the SU offered to cease construction on the missile bases in return for
a US pledge not to invade Cuba. Kennedy accepted immediately and the crises
was over.
nov 4­20:16
Then an apparent breakthrough occured on 26 October with a message from
Khruschev. He proposed the removal of the missiles in exchange for a US
promise not to invade Cuba in the future. The next day there was another
message with more demands concerning the removal of the US missiles in
Turkey. The tension rose again as an American spy plane was shot down, one
Russian ship broke through the blockade and the construction on the bases
continued.
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CONCEQUENCES
• Cuba remained communist but the missiles were withdrawn under UN supervision.
• Both Kennedy and Khrushchev emerged as skilful peacekeepers. Kennedy had stood up and forced SU to pull out of Cuba. Khrushchev placed SU on Cuba and the alliance continued.
• A 'hot line' was established between Washington and the Kremlin ­ detenté.
• The possibility of a nuclear war affected the popular opinion.
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