26-05-2014, 10:56 PM
1.) After Kennedy vetoed the first plan because it was too much like a WW 2 operation, the CIA came back with five different landing points.
They strongly recommended Playa Giron. First, it was the only one with an area suitable with an air strip. Further, they lied to JFK and told him it had been the scene of much resistance fighting for a long time. (Kornbluh, Bay of Pigs Declassified, p. 126)
How you can say that this was JFK's choice under those circumstances eludes me.
2.) I guess you and I have a difference of opinion about what constitutes a beachhead. In military terms this means your side has captured a point on the beach that they have secured to the point that they can 1.) Fend off attacks and 2.) Safely land troops and munitions. To the point that they can now launch a counterattack and break out operation.
Now, if you have read the Kirkpatrick Report, at no point in the operation was this status ever remotely achieved. The exiles were on the defensive almost from the beginning. Because within hours of landing Castro had more men, more weapons, and better air power at the front. This was worsened by the fact that two resupply ships had sunk in the bay. (ibid, p. 310) In fact, because of the constant tank shelling at the beach, the resupply ships that were left retreated to fifty miles into the bay. (ibid, pgs. 312-15) Within 24 hours, the writing was on the wall. (ibid, p. 313)
3.) It was not the NY TImes that was the tip off point for Fidel. Castro had plants inside the training camps in Guatemala. And they alerted him as to when the last ship had departed. Then, the CIA told JFK that there would be no patrol at Playa Giron. But there was.(ibid, p. 126, 307) And they alerted him to the preliminary landings.
As per Tracy, I do not know if the American intervention was actually a part of the plan under Nixon.
But I find FLetcher Prouty's observations about this interesting. First, he said Nixon was the action officer in the WH on the operation. Which to me would connote that they thought he would be the next president and would therefore supervise the actual operation. Second, Prouty said that the guys running the thing were shocked that Kennedy won. SInce they knew since it was not his operation he would have to be dragged into it.
They strongly recommended Playa Giron. First, it was the only one with an area suitable with an air strip. Further, they lied to JFK and told him it had been the scene of much resistance fighting for a long time. (Kornbluh, Bay of Pigs Declassified, p. 126)
How you can say that this was JFK's choice under those circumstances eludes me.
2.) I guess you and I have a difference of opinion about what constitutes a beachhead. In military terms this means your side has captured a point on the beach that they have secured to the point that they can 1.) Fend off attacks and 2.) Safely land troops and munitions. To the point that they can now launch a counterattack and break out operation.
Now, if you have read the Kirkpatrick Report, at no point in the operation was this status ever remotely achieved. The exiles were on the defensive almost from the beginning. Because within hours of landing Castro had more men, more weapons, and better air power at the front. This was worsened by the fact that two resupply ships had sunk in the bay. (ibid, p. 310) In fact, because of the constant tank shelling at the beach, the resupply ships that were left retreated to fifty miles into the bay. (ibid, pgs. 312-15) Within 24 hours, the writing was on the wall. (ibid, p. 313)
3.) It was not the NY TImes that was the tip off point for Fidel. Castro had plants inside the training camps in Guatemala. And they alerted him as to when the last ship had departed. Then, the CIA told JFK that there would be no patrol at Playa Giron. But there was.(ibid, p. 126, 307) And they alerted him to the preliminary landings.
As per Tracy, I do not know if the American intervention was actually a part of the plan under Nixon.
But I find FLetcher Prouty's observations about this interesting. First, he said Nixon was the action officer in the WH on the operation. Which to me would connote that they thought he would be the next president and would therefore supervise the actual operation. Second, Prouty said that the guys running the thing were shocked that Kennedy won. SInce they knew since it was not his operation he would have to be dragged into it.