My Problem With The Right

[mtemptyspace2008]

We surrendered to Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The missile issue was a compromise.

I didn't understand what he meant by the "surrender". From what I thought it was a separate incident. I will look into the history of the "Bay of Pigs".

Thanks, cyberspace mom

[Susanna]

I didn't understand what he meant by the "surrender". From what I thought it was a separate incident. I will look into the history of the "Bay of Pigs".

Thanks, cyberspace mom

I don't know whether you can find an accurate report on the internet or not; when it was taught in the public schools when my kids were growing up, they got a false story. Of course, people were still trying to make JFK look good, so maybe there are some accurate stories. In any case, I remember it. I really set my daughter straight when she came home from school and told us about it, and said that "the air cover didn't get there in time." I'm afraid I really jumped on to her about that (I think she knew I wasn't angry with her), and I informed her in no uncertain terms that the air cover was recalled. We were going to give air cover to a bunch of Cubans who were plotting the downfall of Castro, and they were waiting for it when Castro's people fell upon them and massacred them. Meanwhile, JFK's advisors had told him he had made a big mistake, so he recalled the air cover, leaving the Cubans completely vulnerable to whatever Castro chose for them.

[Dacabeti]

I don't know whether you can find an accurate report on the internet or not; when it was taught in the public schools when my kids were growing up, they got a false story. Of course, people were still trying to make JFK look good, so maybe there are some accurate stories. In any case, I remember it. I really set my daughter straight when she came home from school and told us about it, and said that "the air cover didn't get there in time." I'm afraid I really jumped on to her about that (I think she knew I wasn't angry with her), and I informed her in no uncertain terms that the air cover was recalled. We were going to give air cover to a bunch of Cubans who were plotting the downfall of Castro, and they were waiting for it when Castro's people fell upon them and massacred them. Meanwhile, JFK's advisors had told him he had made a big mistake, so he recalled the air cover, leaving the Cubans completely vulnerable to whatever Castro chose for them.

There was 3 Special Forces teams on the ground in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs. 4 men made it out alive.

[Susanna]

There was 3 Special Forces teams on the ground in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs. 4 men made it out alive.

Thanks for that detail. I either didn't know it, or didn't remember it. I do remember that there was a massacre.

[Fantasy Chaser]

In the JFK administration, we did not surrender to Cuba. In my recollection, our airforce found nuclear missles from camera's on the ground in Cuba. The Russians had been planting them there. Here is what I found on this.

part taken by Rit Nosotro:

To maintain detente (power balance), Russia asked Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba, if they could move their missiles into his country. Castro, who had recently fought off an invasion of the U.S. at the Bay of Pigs, heartily agreed. When the U.S. confirmed this through high altitude U2 spy plane photos, they immediately surrounded Cuba with a Naval Blockade. If one of the U.S. ships saw a Russian ship, the U.S. would warn that Russian ship by shooting across their bow. If the Russian ship didn’t stop after three warnings, the U.S. would shoot the Russian ship. Although hawkish advisors pushed President Kennedy into brinkmanship, others realized this plan could rapidly escalate into a nuclear war. The Russian Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, also realized this but he did not want to back down and appear weak in front of his cabinet. Just before the Russian fleet arrived to counter the US blockade, Kennedy contacted Khrushchev and told him, “If you move all your missiles out of Cuba, we will break the blockade and not invade Cuba.” Khrushchev agreed. The U.S. removed the blockade and Russia poled their missiles out of Cuba. People say that this is the closest the world has come to a nuclear war.

So can you explain what you meant by JFK surrendering to Cuba?

Actually, that was the version for public consumption. The reality is that JFK cut a deal that in exchange for them not putting missiles in Cuba, we wouldn't put missiles in Turkey.

[JBG]

So can you explain what you meant by JFK surrendering to Cuba?

The concommitant agreement to remove missiles from Turkey (link) after a long-enough interval so it wouldn't look like the surrender it was.

[mtemptyspace2008]

Actually, that was the version for public consumption. The reality is that JFK cut a deal that in exchange for them not putting missiles in Cuba, we wouldn't put missiles in Turkey.

Thanks for the clarification FC. Oh and thank you to JBG for the link.

[wolfluver2]

One of the options seriously debated by JFK and the military at the time was an invasion of Cuba. That option was taken off the table in lieu of the Cuba/Turkey missile swap.
Only thirty years later did Russia reveal that in addition to the multiple mobile tactical nukes there were already 40,000 fully armed Russian troops in place awaiting the expected American invasion. The US did not have that intel or at least there is no record listing knowledge by the US military of this number of Russian troops.
Khrushchev had also pre-authorized the launch of all Cuban nukes in response to any level of invasion by US forces.
Was quite a month.....

[JBG]

Thanks for the clarification FC. Oh and thank you to JBG for the link.

You are welcome. I may be unique in my view that JFK was basically an "all talk, no action" spoiled, rich kid.

[Tool]

You are welcome. I may be unique in my view that JFK was basically an "all talk, no action" spoiled, rich kid.

That's better than Bush who can't talk, is spoiled and thinks action involves third-grade lego sets.