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The failure at the Bay of Pigs was not merely the failure of the Cuban exiles. It was a failure of United States policy, which led to a failure of United States power. Clearly the United States had the naked power to destroy Castro, but it could not ignore world opinion and use this power. It could not risk the repercussions that might follow the slaughter of Cubans and the occupation of Cuba by United States forces, could not risk the possible escalation to nuclear war. One alternative that suggested itself was indirect intervention, carried out secretly under CIA supervision.

Monday, April 17th, Bay of Pigs, Cuba. The first units of the brigade reach the beach without opposition. In Havana, Castro begins to react to the invasion. But in the first hours, the brigade pushes inland, Castro has not yet been able to bring up his tanks and heavy guns. Over the beach are 12 B-26’s providing air cover; they are attacked by the free Castro jets, five of them are shot down. The brigade’s two supply ships and its communication ship are sunk. Within a few minutes, the men on the beach have lost their air cover and their supply. By afternoon, Castro is pressing the brigade hard.

They say they have been promised air support by their American advisors. Washington says none was ever promised. At 3:45 p.m. Wednesday April 19th, resistance ends. The American planned, financed, framed and backed invasion of Cuba is now a total failure. This was probably the low point, the worst moment for John F. Kennedy and his three years in the White House. As president, he took full responsibility for this failure of United States policy, this misuse of United States power. Although the total blame was clearly not his.


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