Term Paper on "Bay of Pigs - Leadership and Foreign"

Term Paper 4 pages (1231 words) Sources: 1+ Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Bay of Pigs - Leadership and Foreign Policy

One of the most uncertain times in American foreign policy history was in 1961, during the crisis of the Bay of Pigs. In a magazine article by retired Marine officer Jack Hawkins (1996) talks about his role in, and the information he has on the Bay of Pigs, which was an invasion of Cuba by 1500 Cuban expatriates whose goal it was to overthrow the Communist regime of Fidel Castro (Hawkins 36). Hawkins reveals what he refers to as Project Cuba, a plan that would involve overthrowing the Castro government as first being formulated by the Eisenhower administration. Hawkins says in August of 1960, he was assigned to a paramilitary CIA group as a Marine officer experienced in amphibious operations and guerrilla warfare (Hawkins 36). In 1961, President Kennedy was briefed on Project Cuba and he decided to follow through on the project. What would follow would become one of the biggest demonstrations of American ineptitude in the history of America. It was, Hawkins alleges, a failed effort because of presidential indecision, and because President Kennedy, though he committed to the initiative, did not back his commitment with the needed support in human assets or in weaponry (Hawkins 36). if, as Hawkins alleges, the Bay of Pigs was a failed operation because presidential indecision and because the support to which the committed was not provided, then could the initiative have succeeded? Or would Cuba have succumbed to the revolutionary forces vying for power, and never have successfully been democratized even if Castro had been successfully ousted?

To answer these questions, we must go beyond a single perspective that might be limited to just the information, accurate or otherwise, with which that perspective was informed. Hawkins claims to have been assigned to the CIA paramilitary unit responsible for training and interacting with the expatriates to build an invasion force of individuals who would move in to establish the new democratic government in Cuba (Hawkins 36). It is Hawkins perspective that Kennedy authorized the operation, committed U.S. resources to the operation, then, he failed to deliver on his commitment (Hawkins 36). The result was disastrous. The Cuban expatriates were left to flounder on Cuban beaches without the air support, U.S. military support, or the weapons that had been promised them. They were killed and, or, captured and executed.

We'll begin analysis by breaking down what Hawkins alleges were the President's commitment to the operation: (a) air support, (b) military support, - weaponry.

The Bay of Pigs Air Support, Weapons, and U.S. Military

Jack Hawkins says that U.S. air support was a crucial to success or failure of the invasion at the Bay of Pigs (Hawkins 36). Since the mission, as we know, failed, we will examine what happened to the air support that Hawkins claims was committed to the mission, and then not provided. In a study by researchers James G. Blight and Kornbluh (1999), they agree with Hawkins that the brigadistas or invading expatriates did not receive "expected" U.S. air support (Blight and Kornbluh 1). They agree, too, that this was one of the determining factor in the failed exercise (Blight and Kornbluh 2). Relying upon declassified documents, Blight and Kornbluh quote Jacob Esterline, a former CIA operative, who later became CIA station chief in Miami (Blight and Kornbluh xiv). Transcripts from investigations into the Bay of Pigs reveal that Esterline was convinced that air support was part of the plan (Blight and Kornbluh 46). Esterline claims that the invasion hours were coordinated with the CIA and with officials in Washington, DC, but that the support was never provided (Blight and Kornbluh 93). The U.S. Air… READ MORE

How to Reference "Bay of Pigs - Leadership and Foreign" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Foreign Relations of U.S Essay

Foreign Relations of the U.S.

This is a guideline and template. Please do not use as a final turn-in paper.

What were the initial aims, scope and means of the… read more

Essay 10 pages (3375 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Military / Army / Navy / Marines

---

U.S. Foreign Policy Term Paper

Kennedy's Legacy

What John F. Kennedy had going for him was that he was perhaps the most charismatic, engaging, youthful, accessible, and believable leader that the United States had of… read more

Term Paper 3 pages (992 words) Sources: 2 Style: MLA Topic: American History / United States

---

Challenge of Groupthink in Management Essay

Julie needs to step up and assume an active role. She should consider the difference between simply managing this situation and assuming a leadership role in changing it (Kolb 2013;… read more

Essay 3 pages (934 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Leadership / Mentoring

---

U.S. Foreign Affairs Term Paper

1962 Memo Recommending Presidential Action

To the Chair, Robert Kennedy

The United States is at present faced with the threat of nuclear attack by the Soviet Union, which has installed… read more

Term Paper 6 pages (1740 words) Sources: 3 Style: APA Topic: American History / United States

---

20th Century US Foreign Policy Research Proposal

Truman in Hypothetical Crisis

As President Harry Truman faces the Russian missile crisis in Venezuela, the situation in the states is one of cautious alert. President Truman is known for… read more

Research Proposal 19 pages (5310 words) Sources: 12 Style: MLA Topic: Latin America / Mexico / Caribbean

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>