DATE=4/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229850
TITLE=BAY OF PIGS ANNIVERSARY (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
TEXT: VETERANS OF THE FAILED BAY OF PIGS INVASION REMEMBERED
THEIR FALLEN COLLEAGUES FRIDAY IN MIAMI -- THIRTY-SEVEN YEARS TO
THE DAY AFTER THEY INVADED CUBA IN A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO REVERSE
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION. VOA'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS MANY OF THE BAY
OF PIGS VETERANS SAY THEY ARE STILL ANGRY ABOUT THE FAILURE OF
THE OPERATION.
// INSERT ACTUALITY OF ROLL CALL OF VETERANS //
TEXT: AS THEY HAVE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, VETERANS OF THE
BAY OF PIGS INVASION GATHERED IN MIAMI'S LITTLE HAVANA
NEIGHBORHOOD TO READ THE NAMES OF MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED OF THEIR
COLLEAGUES WHO DIED DURING THE OPERATION. MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND
OTHERS WERE CAPTURED BY CUBAN TROOPS AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF
FIGHTING AND ENDURED MONTHS OF CAPTIVITY BEORE BEING ALLOWED TO
RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES.
EARLIER THIS YEAR THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RELEASED AN
INTERNAL REPORT WRITTEN BY THE C-I-A'S INSPECTOR GENERAL SIX
MONTHS AFTER THE FAILED INVASION. THE REPORT, LONG REGARDED AS
ONE OF THE MOST SECRET DOCUMENTS OF THE COLD WAR, SAYS THE
C-I-A'S OPERATION TO INVADE CUBA IN 1961 WAS CHARACTERIZED BY
IGNORANCE, INCOMPETENCE AND ARROGANCE. JORGE HERRERA, A UNIT
LEADER DURING THE INVASION, SAYS HE WAS NOT SURPRISED WHEN HE
READ ABOUT THE REPORT.
// INSERT HERRERA ACTUALITY //
THE AGENCY'S DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT UNIFIED IN A
PROPER EFFORT. EACH ONE HAD ITS OWN TASK AND EACH ONE
HAD ITS OWN AGENDA, AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NO
CORRELATION BETWEEN THE UNITS OF THE C-I-A. APPARENTLY
THAT WENT BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE IMAGINED AT THAT TIME
AND THE HIGHER AUTHORITIES TOOK THE WRONG DECISIONS AND
LET US DOWN.
// END ACTUALITY //
// OPT // THE C-I-A REPORT SAYS SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIALS DID NOT
HESITATE TO GAMBLE WITH THE LIVES OF THE MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND
FIVE HUNDRED CUBAN EXILES IT TRAINED TO INVADE CUBA BUT THE C-I-A
NEVER TOOK THE EXILES VERY SERIOUSLY. FEW OF THE C-I-A CASE
OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE BAY OF PIGS OPERATION SPOKE SPANISH AND
EXILE LEADERS WERE IGNORED. RODOLFO LLORENTE WHO LANDED AT THE
BAY OF PIGS 37-YEARS AGO SAYS HE IS STILL ANGRY.
// INSERT ACTUALITY //
THEY MADE PLANS, THEY MADE CERTAIN COMMITMENTS WITH US
AND AT THE LAST MOMENT THEY CUT THOSE COMMITMENTS AND
ALL SUPPORT WITHOUT TELLING US. THEY LET US GO AND HIT
THE BEACHES AND, LET ME TELL YOU, A LOT OF CUBANS ON
BOTH SIDES DIED FOR NOTHING.
// END ACTUALITY // // END OPT //
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, SENIOR C-I-A OFFICIALS KNEW WELL BEFORE
THE INVASION TOOK PLACE THAT THE MISSION'S SECRECY HAD BEEN
COMPROMISED AND THAT IT WAS LIKELY TO FAIL. THE REPORT WAS SO
SENSITIVE THAT THEN-C-I-A DIRECTOR JOHN MCCONE HAD ALL BUT ONE
COPY OF IT BURNED.
HISTORIANS WHO HAVE SEEN THE REPORT SAY IT MAKES CLEAR THAT C-I-A
OFFICIALS WITHELD CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPERATION FROM
PRESIDENT KENNEDY. THE BAY OF PIGS WAS A MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY
DEFEAT FOR THE YOUNG PRESIDENT AND HISTORIANS SAYS MR. KENNEDY
WAS SO FRUSTRATED OVER ITS FAILURE THAT HE APPROVED OTHER
MEASURES, INCLUDING ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS TO GET RID OF FIDEL
CASTRO. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/KL
17-Apr-98 4:30 PM EDT (2030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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