Without question, this invasion was the biggest political event of my childhood.
Over the years, both sides have argued about what happened on that beach. On one hand, the Kennedy apologists blamed it on the CIA. On the other hand, Cuban-Americans blamed it on President Kennedy.
On this one, the Cuban Americans are right because President Kennedy let us down.
Candidate John Kennedy inspired us during the 1960 election. It was Senaor Kennedy who delivered the tough anti-Castro speeches during the debates and the election. In fact:
"By the time Kennedy took office in January 1961, he had already made serious commitments to the Cuban exiles, promising to oppose communism at every opportunity, and supporting the overthrow of Castro.The Bay of Pigs made the October 1962 missile crisis possible. It projected the image that Kennedy was weak and indecisive. It probably forced Kennedy to overreact in Vietnam.
During the campaign, Kennedy had repeatedly accused Eisenhower of not doing enough about Castro.
Many brave Cubans died at the Bay of Pigs. Castro put thousands in prison because they supported the invasion. Many were executed or spent years in some of the world's worst political prisons.
Let's remember the heroes of Brigade 2506. They were Cubans determined to fight for their country.
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