Overview

Since the Castro Revolution in 1956, Cuba has remained America’s most enduring nemesis, an intractable symbol of communism, a flashpoint for Cold War conflict and an unknown problem for the future. It can be argued that America has become a political victim of its own propaganda, while Cuba has been a victim of geography and US policy.

Cuba was discovered and conquered by the Spanish in the early 1500s, slaves were imported from Africa, sugar trade developed and industrialization begun. An independence movement began in the 1800’s and by 1898 victory was imminent. To secure its influence over the island, the US invaded, launching the Spanish-American War. After defeating the Spanish, the US enacted the Platt Amendment, imposed a constitution, established a permanent military base at Guantanamo Bay, and declared America’s right to intervene in the future.   

After a series of military coups in the 1930’s, Juan Batista assumed power and was elected president. In 1952, Batista abandoned the pretext of democracy and became dictator. Under Batista development flourished, corruption was rampant and Cubans were exploited. Havana became a center for vice, gambling and prostitution, while reformers were ruthlessly suppressed.

Fidel Castro led an ill-fated revolt in 1953, was captured, imprisoned, then exiled to Mexico. In 1956, Castro and a small band of rebels returned to Cuba and launched guerrilla attacks from the Sierra Madre mountains. The rebels under Castro and Che Guevara, gained substantial peasant support and rolled into Havana, forcing the corrupt Batista into exile. The US initially welcomed the 26th of July revolution, until it emerged that Castro embraced communist ideology, at a time when America was terrorized by the “Red Peril”. The rebels executed many Batista followers, as others escaped to the US. As Cuba pursued land reform and nationalized the economy, American interests were at risk.

In 1961, the US sponsored the infamous and ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion by Cuban exiles in an attempt to remove Castro. Victorious, Castro declared Cuba a socialist state. The US influenced the Organization of American States (OAS) to expel Cuba and imposed a economic boycott against Cuba, which then strengthened economic ties with Russia. In October 1962, US spy planes found Russian missiles being delivered to Cuba and the world stood at the brink of nuclear war, until Russia relented and removed its missiles with US agreement not to invade Cuba, although it would continue its blockade and attempts to destabilize Castro’s regime for decades.

Cuba launched aggressive and highly successful, literacy and health programs. With Russian support the economy improved and Castro became influential in the Movement of Non-Aligned States, advocating decolonization, self-determination and third world interests.  Despite US opposition, Cuba was progressing and promoted its revolution as a model for other revolutionary movements.

Although allied with Russia, Castro pursued a Cuban agenda. In 1976, Cuban military advisors were sent to Angola to support the populist MPLA movement to repel forces from South Africa, Zaire and rebels US-supported rebels. Cuban troops were also sent to the Congo. US-Cuban tensions increased during the staunchly, anti-communist Reagan administration. As Cuba continued support for Latin American revolutions, it also began timely restructuring its economy to lessen reliance on Russia.

Since the break-up of the USSR, and the decline in Latin American conflicts, Castro has increased efforts to open Cuba’s economy to European and Canadian interests. In 1996, after Cuban aircraft shot down private US planes over Cuban air space, the US passed the Helms-Burton Act tightening economic sanctions and attempting to curtail foreign investment in Cuba. Adverse international reaction suggests that US policy has gone beyond reasonableness, becoming a transparent vendetta against Castro. Despite the collapse of international communism, America continues its crusade against the resilient Cuban leader, its policies dictated more by Cuban exiles in Florida than by its own national interests.

In late summer of 2006, Fidel was hospitalized and underwent an operation for unknown causes. He handed the reins of power to brother Raul Castro, fueling speculation of Fidel's possible imminent demise. Some felt this was a test run to prepare Cubans for the inevitable. Cuban exiles were enthusied and began preparation for their long-awaited triumphant return, though most Castro-era exiles are as old as Fidel.

Afetr his operation, Fidel's first international visitor was Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a kindred spirit bent on translating Castro's legacy to his country.

By the time Fidel Castro relinquishes power and when Cuban exiles return to Cuba, the economic opportunities in Cuba will have been taken by other countries, leaving Castro and the Cuban people the ultimate victors in the long struggle to escape US domination. But there remains the specter of new conflict and violence in the post-Castro struggle for power.

Related Resources:

Latin America Studies Program
Cuban Espionage
http://www.Rose-Hulman.Edu/~delacova/cuban-espionage.htm

Latin America Studies Program
Anti-Castro Guerrillas
http://www.Rose-Hulman.Edu/~delacova/belligerence.htm

Free Cuba Foundation
http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/whatdone.html

Cuban American National Foundation
http://www.canfnet.org/