29-08-2016, 01:15 AM
Anthony Thorne Wrote:Re the dementia article, Kinzer quotes 'an analyst' and 'an aide', but can't be bothered mentioning their names, or from which documents or books he sourced the info, which is always a great sign. At this rate he could have added further testimony from 'a friend of a friend' if he was really determined to sell the thesis.
It was the night of Monday, April 17, 1961, D-Day...
The Devil's Chessboard, David Talbot, pg 394:
Quote:,,,Dick Bissell, whom Dulles had put in charge of the operation, sent one of his top men in the Cuba task force to pick
him up at the airport, thinking that the CIA director would want to be briefed immediately on the growing calamity.
Richard Drain, chief of operations for the Bay of Pigs expedition, rolled onto the runway at Baltimore's Friendship
Airport in his well-traveled, CIA-issued Chevrolet as Dulles' small plane taxied to a stop. The CIA chief emerged from
the plane with his wife and a young aide, wearing a dinner jacket and the relaxed smile of a man of leisure. Drain stepped
forward and offered his hand.
"I'm Dick Drain. I was sent to brief you, sir."
"Oh yes, Dick, how are you?"
Drain drew Dulles away from the others.
"Well, how is it going?" asked Dulles.
"Not very well, sir."
"Oh, is that so?" Dulles wore an oddly bemused look, as if the unfolding tragedy was too remote to effect him.
Back at Quarters Eye, the CIA headquarters in downtown Washington, battled-hardened men were on the verge of hysteria.
Bissell, who prided himself on his cool performance under pressure, seemed frozen. On the brink of failure, the Cuba
operation lacked the kind of muscular leadership that could rescue the men pinned down by Castro's forces. Drain was
hoping that Dulles would save the day. But he found the Old Man's unflappability disturbing.