Ancient
Bay of Pigs
When John F. Kennedy became President of the United States on January 20, 1961, he inherited every policy decision that Eisenhower had yet to carry out. (1) One of these was the planned invasion of Cuba to depose Fidel Castro and the 26th of July Movement. The Central Intelligence Agency had recruited and trained Cuban exiles to conduct the invasion. The operation became known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion after the point that the Cuban exiles made their landing. The planning of the invasion began with the 1959 defeat of Fulgencio Batista, the former president of Cuba. The CIA believed that the use of Cuban exiles would work because of their perceived success in the 1954 coup against President Jacobo Arbenz of Guatemala. In the 1954 coup against Arbenz, the CIA had used disgruntled Guatemalan military officers and Agency provided air support to aid in the coup. In the Bay of Pigs, there would be no such saving graces. The air and artillery support the US promised was either canceled or so delayed that Castro's forces easily repelled the invading forces. Additionally, the CIA had no understanding of the environment in which they were operating. In Guatemala, there had been differing factions to exploit within Arbenz's government. In 1961 Cuba there were no such factions left on the island. This was due to any that had opposed the 26th of July Movement fleeing the island in the wake of losing their benefactor. This meant that the invaders had no support to meet them once they arrived. This led to the spectacular failure that is now associated with the Bay of Pigs. By 1961, the CIA had grown confident enough in its abilities to conduct such an operation. However, they operated with undeserved confidence, as they had not learned how to conduct such operations in hostile nations. It is by looking at the CIA's overconfidence in their ability to pull off the Bay of Pigs Invasion that we see how Fidel Castro and the Cuban government were able to assert their sovereignty, and become a regional power despite the lopsided odds stacked against them.
By Atomic Historianabout a year ago in History
Fixing it in Post
In 1954, Jacobo Arbenz had been the President of Guatemala for three years. When Arbenz took power in 1951, he had no idea that continuing his predecessor’s crusade for Guatemala’s peasantry would draw him into the crosshairs of the United States government.(1) His predecessors had ruled Guatemala in the American business-friendly fashion expected by the United States government. Arbenz’s mild attempts to transform the Guatemalan economy from a feudalistic state into a capitalist one drew the ire of the United States government via the interests of U.S. businesses operating in the country.(2) For most Americans, greater threats to "national security" have overshadowed knowledge of Operation PBSUCCESS and the events surrounding the coup against Arbenz. In part, this is due to the rarity for the American education system to teach about the United States government’s involvement in Latin America beyond a few approved highlight-reel moments. This is further compounded by Americans seldom taking the time to learn about other cultures. And as governments are representative of the general population, in addition to the assumed exceptionalism of the United States, this has created a sense of institutionalized amnesia amongst policymakers. This willful amnesia has led to the forgetting of the actions of one administration by the next. This contrasts the experience in Latin America, where despite the large size of some nations, the interconnectedness is more apparent, and has created an atmosphere where it is harder to erase the collective memory. The preservation of memory in Latin American is further extended by the diaspora of political exiles. Amongst these exiles are the descendants of Jacobo Arbenz, who have worked to counter the mythmaking that has warped the American memory surrounding the 1954 coup against Arbenz. Furthermore, it is myths that make nations, and whoever controls a nation’s education controls its past, and thus a nation's future.
By Atomic Historianabout a year ago in History
September 11: The Death of Democracy in Chile
In the early 1970s the government of the United States of America, with their Chilean allies took a course that would destroy one of the most stable countries in South America. Caught up in the fervor of the Cold War, they set the stage to overthrow the first democratically elected Socialist leader of South America. Setting United States foreign policy for the foreseeable future, and setting back the progress of Chile indefinitely. While the United States did not instigate the coup, actions taken through covert support of the Chilean Armed Forces would set the stage for a chilling era for all Chileans. The September 11, 1973 coup against Salvador Allende is representative of Cold War fanaticism within the United States government led by President Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during the Cold War. This fanaticism was brought on by the belief that Allende’s regime would become an anchor for Communism in South America and ruin the Chilean economy in the process.
By Atomic Historianabout a year ago in History
The Evolution of Language. Content Warning.
Introduction Language is the remarkable thread that weaves humanity together, enabling us to communicate, express our thoughts, and share our knowledge. It is a tool that has evolved over thousands of years, molding and adapting to the needs of diverse societies and cultures. This essay delves into the fascinating history of language, tracing its origins, development, and the profound impact it has had on the progress of human civilization.
By M.J. HUMPHREYabout a year ago in History
THE PROTRACTED FIGHT AGAINST SLAVERY
THE PROTRACTED FIGHT AGAINST SLAVERY Millions of people have been enslaved against their will for centuries, making slavery a dark chapter in human history. From ancient societies to contemporary times, the cruel practice has existed in many different forms throughout history. Slavery still exists today in a variety of forms, even though it is now prohibited in the majority of nations. This article will examine the evolution of slavery throughout time and space, as well as how people have fought against it. So, fasten your seatbelts as we travel through one of humanity's darkest chapters!
By Joshua .O. Edamsabout a year ago in History
Yapahuwa
Yapahuwa can be introduced as one of the ruined cities in Sri Lanka. The famous Yapahuwa rock is located along the main road Kurunegala - Anuradhapura road, 46 kilometers north of Kurunegala city. The surrounding area was once the capital of our country for a brief period of time during the 13th century. Actually it was the 4th kingdom in this Land.
By Dinetha jayasingheabout a year ago in History
The Mysteries of Reincarnation
Introduction: Throughout the annals of human history, the concept of reincarnation has captivated the minds of individuals across different cultures and belief systems. Reincarnation is the notion that the soul or consciousness of an individual is reborn into a new body after death, carrying with it the accumulated experiences and lessons from previous lives. While it remains a topic of philosophical and spiritual debate, reincarnation offers a fascinating lens through which we contemplate the complexities of human existence and the nature of consciousness itself.
By Oyindamola Adewoleabout a year ago in History
The Trident's Fury
The Trident's Fury: Poseidon's Epic Tale Once, in the ancient realm of Olympus, a time when gods ruled the earth and the heavens, Poseidon, the mighty god of the seas, stood atop a golden throne encrusted with shimmering pearls. His trident, a symbol of his power, glowed with an otherworldly radiance. The world trembled at the mere sight of him, and the crashing waves bowed in reverence to their sovereign ruler.
By Isaac Elijahabout a year ago in History
"The Forgotten Key: Unlocking the Mystery of the Abandoned Mansion"
The Forgotten Key: Unlocking the Mystery of the Abandoned Mansion Evelyn Grant gazed at the dilapidated mansion that loomed before her, its once-grand façade now a haunting reminder of forgotten splendor. The rumors of its dark past and the secrets it held had always intrigued her. As a budding writer with an insatiable curiosity for the unknown, Evelyn knew that this abandoned mansion held the key to a captivating story waiting to be unlocked.
By Zoya Ashrafabout a year ago in History