When Fidel Castro gained power of Cuba in 1959, the U.S government became concerned. There were rumors floating around that he was a communist. This was a problem to the United States. A potential Soviet ally 90 miles from American soil would not be tolerated. The current government had to be eliminated. If America was to do this, it would have to be covert in its actions and U.S intervention could not be evident. The answer to this came during the Eisenhower administration and was entitled "Operation Zapata". The program didn't come into effect until Eisenhower left office and was succeeded by John F. Kennedy. Though much of the tactics of the operation changed, the m

During the course of time the plans and objectives changed drastically. The original invasion site during the Eisenhower administration was to be the populated city of Trinidad. Kennedy insisted that site be relocated to a lesser populated location. The site selected was eventually Cuba's Bahia de Los Cochinos; the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy also changed the invasion from a night to a day attack and reduced potential airstrikes. ( May, pg. 27-28))

The next objective of "Operation Zapata" was propaganda. The U.S military operatives would occupy Swan Island, a small island off the coast of Cuba, and create a medium wave radio station. This station was planned to send subtle anti-Castro messages to Cubans and add fuel to the fire of an anti-Castro uprising. (Korbluh, 27-28)

Although the CIA, the Cuban exiles, and the whole Kennedy administration were confident of the operation's inevitable success, it was ultimately an absolute failure. On April 17, 1961, 1400 Cuban exiles invaded the Bay of Pigs .In the end 1189 were captured and 114 were killed. Along with many tactical errors, the U.S drastically underestimated how strong their foe could be. Washington perceived Castro as a hysteric; incapable of rational defense. They assumed that he had done nothing to nullify the uprisings within Cuba, or that the underground would find means of protecting themselves. They dismissed his airforce; miscalculating its strength as well as number. In actuality, Castro's planes enacted their defense with speed and vigor. His patrols spotted the invasion at the first possible moment. His secret police took radical actions to eliminate any traces of rebellion and sabotage. While the U.S greatly underestimated their enemy, Castro overestimated his.( Schlesinger, pg. 292-293)

The entire operation was destined for failure. The designing operatives could not find a balance between secrecy and success. In the end, the invasion both failed and was brought to the eyes of the public. The CIA apparently did not comprehend the importance of the fact that if there was to be no U.S military intervention, an internal uprising was the only way the Castro regime was going to be overthrown. An internal uprising required an intact underground, which the CIA failed to achieve communication with and assumed it to be an organized force. The CIA failed to gather sufficient information on the strength of the Castro regime and the opposition towards it. The CIA did not succeed in its job to assess the available information. (Schlesinger, pg.294)

2. Kurland, Gerald. The Bay of Pigs Invasion. Events of Our Time Ser.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Bay Pigs, USSR Mexico, Castro Cuban, Swan Island, Europe Kornbluh, Alliance Castro, D-day CIA, Fidel Castro, John Kennedy, Cuban B-26, bay pigs, cuban exiles, internal uprising, april 17 1961, invasion united, kornbluh pg, cia failed, spark uprising, operation zapata, pg 2, anti-castro messages,
Approximate Word count = 1751
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)