The bay of pigs was a plan that was created by Dwight D. Eisenhower. The plan was to send people like me, exiled Cubans that were supported by the CIA, into the southern part of Cuba to try and overthrow Castro and his government. The name bay of pigs comes from where we were meant to land in Cuba. I was a pilot for this invasion of Cuba. I flew the Douglas C-54 aircrafts to send people over to Cuba. The whole reason America wanted to get Castro out of power was because he was becoming to friendly with the Soviet Union.
We were first recruited in April 1960 by the CIA, they were looking for any and all Cuban exiles. The CIA got 1,500 Cubans to come and help in this invasion. We trained for 3 months in different parts of Florida. There was places for specialized forces and other facilities for just the normal soldiers. I was in the facilitie for the normal soldier since I was not going to actually fight, instead I was just to transport all of the people over to Cuba. The invasion officially began on April 15, 1961, almost an entire year since we were first recruited.
The invasion was kicked off with the bombing of three different airfields in Cuba. The same airplanes used to cary people over were also used in the bombings of these airfields. The day that we finally stepped foot on Cuba was April 17, 1961. I was the pilot of the first plane to go over to Cuba and send the exiled Cubans, there was only one problem. When I saw that America was not going to help support this invasion I quickly realized this was not going to end well. The exiled Cubans were greatly out numbered against the Cuban Army and militia. Without any help from the Americans I knew that it was going to be a slaughter, that the exiled Cubans did not have a chance of defeating Castro and his government.
When I returned back to America I refused to take any more people over to Cuba. I left the effort to over throw Castro because I knew there was no way of winning without America coming in and helping. Without them the whole invasion would be a complete failure, and I was right. The invasion lasted a total of three days until Castro won. He either killed or captured almost all of the exiled Cubans that were their on Cuba. It was a slaughter, the invasion had no chance of working without America's support.
Kennedy promised that we would have the navy in the water with full support of the American troops. When I first flew over I saw for my self that there were no such navy in the water out side of Cuba helping us invade. It was only us vs the Cuban nation and I knew we could not win. America felt bad about how much of a disaster the invasion was that he offered to help out the Cubans that were captured as prisoners. Castro traded 1,113 prisoners for 53 billion dollars in food and medical supplies to Cuba.
From a political standpoint this really hurt Kennedy. He lost a lot of popularity with the American people with this failed invasion. This invasion was an embarrassment to him and his campaign because it failed so badly. Che Guevara sent a letter to Kennedy saying, “Thanks for Playa Girón. Before the invasion, the revolution was weak. Now it's stronger than ever.” This shows how much of a disaster the Bay of Pigs was, it was a complete success for Cuba and gained a lot of popularity for Castro and his party.
Monday, May 17, 2010
CUBAN CIVILIAN ROBERTO SOLIS RECOUNTS OPPORTUNITIES LOST, JANUARY 29TH, 1960
I grew up in the time that Batista still had power in Cuba. He controled the entire nation and was very friendly with America. He tried to make our economy exactly like theirs, he wanted a capitalist system. He thought that if America could prosper so much then so could Cuba working together with America. I lived in a pretty wealthy family for Cuba, in America's standards I would have been considered lower class. My family had enough money to support me and my two brothers. Growing up with Batista in power was a nice life. In Cuba, the main sport is baseball, and my brother and I played baseball everyday that we could because there was not much more that we could do. As me and my brother grew up and got older I started to notice that I was pretty good at baseball, but nothing compared to my brother. I am 6'2 and my brother is 5'5 but he could throw. My brother was a pitcher and could throw up to 96 miles per hour. This took him very far in life, he was taken in on the Cuban national baseball team, but he was never paid very much. He got a good salery but nothing special until one day he got an amazing offer.
My brother was offered a contract to go and play for the once Montreal Expos. He would have been pitching in the minor leagues for a little and then with a little luck he could of pitched in the pros.
The only problem was that my mother would not allow him to leave Cuba. She said that our family needed him here to help pay off all of the bills. My mother told him he can go in a year when things are more stable. This was when the revolution had just started to become a real issue. When Castro started his revoulution things changed dramatically. My family started to have less and less money because more of it was going to Batista and help fight against Castro. My family needed money very badly, so I needed to get a job. The only good paying job I could get now with the war going on was to become a soldier.
I fought for Batista in the revolution and when I came back from my service most of the people in the country were leaning more towards Castro. Batista started to not do so good for our country and the people started believing a new government and leader may be a good thing. The majority of the nation stopped wanting Batista to win and look for Castro to take power of Cuba. Towards the end of Batista's reign of power he started to become very corrupt and everyone knew it. He started to only care about making him self money and building him self up instead of the good of the people. So the people of the country started leaning more towards Castro, which was a bad idea. Although Batista was bad, Castro is crazy.
So when Castro finally took power and the American – Cuban relations started to disinagrate my brother was in real trouble. Our mother finally decided that we were aloud to leave Cuba and go to the United States since things started to go down hill it was too late. My brother and I were able to get to the States because we did not have to play baseball, my brother had to finish out his season with his team. By the time the season ended Castro had already made it illegal for anyone else to leave the country. He finally got to America but he had to do it illegally and it took him a while to get everything set up for him to come over. By then the contract for him to play in the Major Leagues was already gone. His dreams were crushed because of Castro's insanity of not letting anybody leave his country.
My brother was offered a contract to go and play for the once Montreal Expos. He would have been pitching in the minor leagues for a little and then with a little luck he could of pitched in the pros.
The only problem was that my mother would not allow him to leave Cuba. She said that our family needed him here to help pay off all of the bills. My mother told him he can go in a year when things are more stable. This was when the revolution had just started to become a real issue. When Castro started his revoulution things changed dramatically. My family started to have less and less money because more of it was going to Batista and help fight against Castro. My family needed money very badly, so I needed to get a job. The only good paying job I could get now with the war going on was to become a soldier.
I fought for Batista in the revolution and when I came back from my service most of the people in the country were leaning more towards Castro. Batista started to not do so good for our country and the people started believing a new government and leader may be a good thing. The majority of the nation stopped wanting Batista to win and look for Castro to take power of Cuba. Towards the end of Batista's reign of power he started to become very corrupt and everyone knew it. He started to only care about making him self money and building him self up instead of the good of the people. So the people of the country started leaning more towards Castro, which was a bad idea. Although Batista was bad, Castro is crazy.
So when Castro finally took power and the American – Cuban relations started to disinagrate my brother was in real trouble. Our mother finally decided that we were aloud to leave Cuba and go to the United States since things started to go down hill it was too late. My brother and I were able to get to the States because we did not have to play baseball, my brother had to finish out his season with his team. By the time the season ended Castro had already made it illegal for anyone else to leave the country. He finally got to America but he had to do it illegally and it took him a while to get everything set up for him to come over. By then the contract for him to play in the Major Leagues was already gone. His dreams were crushed because of Castro's insanity of not letting anybody leave his country.
CASTRO: REFLECTIONS ON A REVOLUTION DECEMBER 12TH, 1959
Ruthless, self-interested, corrupt, these words very accurately describe the egotistical Mr. Batista and his past crooked regime. It is with good riddance that I see him exile to the Dominican Republic. The corruption in Cuba is over and I take credit. However who am I? What have I accomplished? Much, I have accomplished much in my time rebelling against Batista, stemming from the early fifties. Most likely you are unfamiliar with my previous work and the build up it took to reach my now-known position as prime minister. I shall begin telling you how it became about that I served in prison. It was just a year after Batista’s second coup that I led, among my fellow revolutionaries, and attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago on the 26th of July in 1953. The attack was small and unsuccessful and all of us were slaughtered or captured. I myself was captured and wasn’t released until 1955. However it is prudent to mention the reason I initially joined the revolutionaries. It was during the 1952 elections that I was a lawyer running for a spot in parliament, and thanks to political connections from my wife’s family, the outlook was positive. However the corrupt Batista promptly canceled the elections so he could remain in office and this is when I began to see the severity of the state of corruption in my country. Now to refer back to the previously mentioned jail sentence I served, I was released in 1955 and by that time, Batista, in the wake of our attacks, had terrorized opposition and canceled the 1954 elections to remain in power.
At the time I was released in 1955 student riots against Batista had become common and a huge issue for Batista. These demonstrations were dealt with violently by Batista as he became increasingly reliant on his police being violent and frightening the people from rebelling. It became such an unstable situation that these minor student protests warranted death sentences, and eventually the University of Havana was closed in 1956 and wasn’t to be released until I had a large revolutionary victory in 1959. Batista was corrupt and it now was apparent to all. The inability of the military to finish off myself and army amidst guerilla warfare in Sierra Maestra led to unrest and an attempted purge of the government by other military offices, which was repressed, resulting in many dead and jailed commanders. Amidst this turmoil, I returned to Cuba enlightened with new tactics from a brilliant man from Mexico named Ernesto “Che” Guevara, he helped shape my political beliefs and together we developed a brilliant plan to overthrow the government based on guerillas warfare. I returned with 81 insurgents, including Che, attacking the Cuban City Manzanillo and the attack was repressed however my brother Raul, Che and myself escaped to the Sierra Maestra. After my return, the inability of the military to finish off myself and my army amidst guerilla warfare in Sierra Maestra led to unrest and an attempted purge of the government by other military offices, which was repressed, resulting in many dead and jailed commanders. Batista was growing further unpopular and I gained the support of the Soviet Union. I spread the revolution through cities and villages, and I set up a second government, which would serve as the basis for my actions and dealings with the people in the different dispersed reaction groups.
Beginning in 1958 I mounted many victories highlighted by my “26th of July Movement” which gained me the support of 45 different groups from the used to be distant middle class. This helped me gain control of key areas in Cuba. Amidst large desertion and successful attacks that my army takes credit for, coupled complete US desertion and the dirty US creating an arms embargo with Batista in 1958, which had been his main supplier for weaponry and military aircraft and vehicles, Batista accepted defeat, abdicated, and exiled to the Dominican Republic in January of 1959. I had successfully concluded a revolutionary takeover. It was a worldwide success resulting in many happy people pouring into the street to celebrate, it was noticed even by the New York Times. I set up a new government with Jose Miro Cardona as my prime minister and the US immediately recognized our new regime. I had placed myself at the rank of military chief but after an abrupt resignation by Cardona I assumed he role of Prime Minister. Now in full control I launched many reforms to reshape Cuba into a more respectable form and end the repulsive American authority and influence in my country. I have proceeded to nationalize plantations and factories through far-reaching reforms and I hope American companies are feeling the negative effects. I have raised tariffs on their goods and made it hard for them to survive, something they’re not used to with their past agreements with Batista that led them to economic dominance in my country. American owned multinational corporations have always tried to advance their own interests in my country, ignoring my country’s interests and now they almost are forced to leave. They will receive no more preferred treatment and luxuries. Now it is May and I have just launched my first Agrarian Reform Law, which has limited landholdings and forbade foreign ownership of land. Life is sweet, and Cuba rules, a beautiful end to colonization and hegemony in my country
CUBAN SOLDIER ROBERTO SOLIS, FORMER MEMBER OF BATISTA'S ARMY, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1959
While the revolution began, when Castro tried to take over the government, I was only 15 years old. By the time I was eighteen I was drafted into the army and started training to become a soldier the day after my birthday. I was married when I was 19 years old and that is when the battle for power had really become intense. I only had 3 days to enjoy my honeymoon, and then the government forced me to shipped right out to fight against the revolutionary army.
Castro's forces did not have to same weaponry as us or the same kind of technology that we did. Castro was getting its weapons from Brazil which were very old. They used grenades that you had to light a string and then throw it. Their weaponry was not as advanced as ours but they still had a lot of man power. There was a lot of people in our country that supported Castro and believed that he would bring great things for Cuba. While I was fighting in the mountains against the revolutionary army I was shot in the neck, but luckily the bullet only grazed my neck so I was not injured seriously. The army then took me as a prisoner, they were going to trade me and a couple of my comrades back for supplies like food and water.
While I spent my time under control of Castro I came to see who the real Castro was. Many people in the Nation thought that he was going to bring great things to this country, but I saw that he was a real mad man. I was kept in a open field with no irrigation system at all, we were forced to go to the bathroom all in one spot. He did not even give us tents to sleep in, we were out in the open at all times. We were also in great danger at all times, since we were so close to Castro's main hideout there was always the threat of our own army coming over with bombers and dropping bombs on us. Castro barley gave us the minimum resources to sustain life while being held captive. It was a very hard life, always having not a lot of food, just enough so we were healthy and could still be traded away for the supplies that he desperately needed.
On the last day that we were being held captive, before we would be sent back to our homes so we can meet up with our families again, Castro had all of us get showered and meet him in his main dinning hall to have dinner with him. While we were there Castro tried to convince us that the things that he was proposing to do would help the country. He talked about how everyone would be equal and have the same amount of money. No body would have a lot of money and everything would be shared. Even though he tried to make everything sound good I could still see that what he was doing would not benefit us.
When I got home and rejoined with my family, I told them how horrible Castro was and that his ideas on how he would improve the country would never work, but none of them would believe me. They all thought that he would be great. When I told them we should leave and go to America none of them wanted to listen, so I went to America by my self to start a life so I could send over some money for them to come over to America. After being their for 8 months I heard America and Cuba were going to end all relations, so I got told my wife to bring my son and all of their jewelry over, the only problem was my mother in law did not think things would be that bad so she stayed and kept all of her jewelry. A week after she left all of my mother in laws possessions, including jewelry was taken from her by the government.
Castro's forces did not have to same weaponry as us or the same kind of technology that we did. Castro was getting its weapons from Brazil which were very old. They used grenades that you had to light a string and then throw it. Their weaponry was not as advanced as ours but they still had a lot of man power. There was a lot of people in our country that supported Castro and believed that he would bring great things for Cuba. While I was fighting in the mountains against the revolutionary army I was shot in the neck, but luckily the bullet only grazed my neck so I was not injured seriously. The army then took me as a prisoner, they were going to trade me and a couple of my comrades back for supplies like food and water.
While I spent my time under control of Castro I came to see who the real Castro was. Many people in the Nation thought that he was going to bring great things to this country, but I saw that he was a real mad man. I was kept in a open field with no irrigation system at all, we were forced to go to the bathroom all in one spot. He did not even give us tents to sleep in, we were out in the open at all times. We were also in great danger at all times, since we were so close to Castro's main hideout there was always the threat of our own army coming over with bombers and dropping bombs on us. Castro barley gave us the minimum resources to sustain life while being held captive. It was a very hard life, always having not a lot of food, just enough so we were healthy and could still be traded away for the supplies that he desperately needed.
On the last day that we were being held captive, before we would be sent back to our homes so we can meet up with our families again, Castro had all of us get showered and meet him in his main dinning hall to have dinner with him. While we were there Castro tried to convince us that the things that he was proposing to do would help the country. He talked about how everyone would be equal and have the same amount of money. No body would have a lot of money and everything would be shared. Even though he tried to make everything sound good I could still see that what he was doing would not benefit us.
When I got home and rejoined with my family, I told them how horrible Castro was and that his ideas on how he would improve the country would never work, but none of them would believe me. They all thought that he would be great. When I told them we should leave and go to America none of them wanted to listen, so I went to America by my self to start a life so I could send over some money for them to come over to America. After being their for 8 months I heard America and Cuba were going to end all relations, so I got told my wife to bring my son and all of their jewelry over, the only problem was my mother in law did not think things would be that bad so she stayed and kept all of her jewelry. A week after she left all of my mother in laws possessions, including jewelry was taken from her by the government.
THE SECOND COUP, JANUARY 8TH, 1953
How much I have to explain, how much I have been disappointed, how much I have been relaxing at the same time, many topics that must be discussed. First off I must discuss my exit from Cuban Politics. It was not a pleasant one, for myself at least. I of course did not pursue altering laws and policies to try and extend my term, I have learned form my predecessors’ errors as I have previously discussed. I know the Cuban people revolt when you try and hold the office of president for longer than already allowed. I made smart, or at least I thought so, by leaving office and using Carlos Saladrigas Zayas, a handpicked candidate to run for office. A foolish choice in a candidate I suppose as he lost the election to that imbecile Grau. In the final months of my presidency I opted to badmouth Grau. On my way out I sought to handicap his incoming administration as best I could. These moves did not win me many people, especially the new US ambassador Spriulle Braden, who stated in a dispatch to the US Secretary of State,
“It is becoming increasingly apparent that President Batista intends to discomfit the incoming Administration in every way possible, particularly financially. A systematic raid on the Treasury is in full swing with the result that Dr. Grau will probably find empty coffers when he takes office on October 10. It is blatant that President Batista desires that Dr. Grau San Matin should assume obligations which in fairness and equity should be a matter of settlement by the present Administration.”
This factor, among others considered dealing with the lessened popularity among my people, I have decided to move to the US, specifically Daytona Beach, Florida.
To be honest, I feel safer here in America, and I have changed much in my life. I have divorced my previous wife Elisa, and remarried Marta Fernandez Batista and we have had four children, two of which have been born here in America. I lived happily in the background for four years before I decided to re-enter Cuban politics by making a successful run for a place in the senate in 1948 as I returned to my homeland. Shortly after my return I decided to again run for president forming the Unitary Action Party with permission from Grau. I was sadly unsuccessful. Although I could not prevail here, I would not let this incident deter me from regaining control of my country. If force needed, or not, I knew in my heart that I would be unwavering in my future attempts to attain my previous position of power.
In 1952 I would gain run for president of Cuba. Agramonte led the polls and I was a distant third behind Hevia as well, things were again not as planned. Although this lack of success, my military as I have always known them to, prevailed for me. It was with army backing that I staged my second coup to seize power three months before the election. I ousted already outgoing president Socarras and canceled the upcoming election. I proclaimed myself provisional president for the time being and then shortly after the US recognized my regime. After my re-entry to the presidency I have focused less on the people who ousted me in the force place, the poor. I have focused more on upping my social status, gain support of the rich, and increase my own fortunes, I have decided to ignore my progressive social policies from the past regime. People call my regime corrupt, some such as Arthur M. Shlesinger Jr. are going as far to say things like,
“The corruption of the Government, the brutality of the police, the regime's indifference to the needs of the people for education, medical care, housing, for social justice and economic justice ... is an open invitation to revolution.”
These people are ignorant, I am an announced capitalist, and I want my money. As for those rising up against me such as Fideal Castro? He will be repressed, you can be sure of it.
“It is becoming increasingly apparent that President Batista intends to discomfit the incoming Administration in every way possible, particularly financially. A systematic raid on the Treasury is in full swing with the result that Dr. Grau will probably find empty coffers when he takes office on October 10. It is blatant that President Batista desires that Dr. Grau San Matin should assume obligations which in fairness and equity should be a matter of settlement by the present Administration.”
This factor, among others considered dealing with the lessened popularity among my people, I have decided to move to the US, specifically Daytona Beach, Florida.
To be honest, I feel safer here in America, and I have changed much in my life. I have divorced my previous wife Elisa, and remarried Marta Fernandez Batista and we have had four children, two of which have been born here in America. I lived happily in the background for four years before I decided to re-enter Cuban politics by making a successful run for a place in the senate in 1948 as I returned to my homeland. Shortly after my return I decided to again run for president forming the Unitary Action Party with permission from Grau. I was sadly unsuccessful. Although I could not prevail here, I would not let this incident deter me from regaining control of my country. If force needed, or not, I knew in my heart that I would be unwavering in my future attempts to attain my previous position of power.
In 1952 I would gain run for president of Cuba. Agramonte led the polls and I was a distant third behind Hevia as well, things were again not as planned. Although this lack of success, my military as I have always known them to, prevailed for me. It was with army backing that I staged my second coup to seize power three months before the election. I ousted already outgoing president Socarras and canceled the upcoming election. I proclaimed myself provisional president for the time being and then shortly after the US recognized my regime. After my re-entry to the presidency I have focused less on the people who ousted me in the force place, the poor. I have focused more on upping my social status, gain support of the rich, and increase my own fortunes, I have decided to ignore my progressive social policies from the past regime. People call my regime corrupt, some such as Arthur M. Shlesinger Jr. are going as far to say things like,
“The corruption of the Government, the brutality of the police, the regime's indifference to the needs of the people for education, medical care, housing, for social justice and economic justice ... is an open invitation to revolution.”
These people are ignorant, I am an announced capitalist, and I want my money. As for those rising up against me such as Fideal Castro? He will be repressed, you can be sure of it.
FULGENCIO BATISTA: THE FIRST PRESIDENCY, MARCH 2ND, 1944
How seemingly far we have come since my masterful coup in 1933. The keyword that is present here my friends, is seemingly. A man who is lesser educated on the topics of my country may deduce that colonel to president is a pretty large positive change. However, lets speak honestly now, was the great Fulgencio Batista really ever not in charge? To answer this in a word, mi amor, no. Although officially I have not been president, the men who have assumed the title have been my handpicked puppets. It is known that my party has majority control over the representation and that my military influence is frightening to many. However it is very possible that some do not know that from Mendieta, to a more prominent and successful Bru, I have never possessed less than full power. The title of president now seems almost just a formality however there are reasons that I pursued the title, certain perks, certain recognition, and certain opportunities for more personal gain are among these.
Now that you are aware of my status, it would be prudent to tell you how I have ascended to this status. My success in the elections in 1940 came from a plethora of factors all combining with their different benefits to create one huge positively backed candidate. I defeated Grau, who was my opponent under the constitution, which won me much support. My new constitution provided for land reform, public education, wages, human rights, among other progressive ideas. It rallied people of many different causes behind me and has been called one of the most progressive constitutions of our time already. Another, more surprising, contributor to my support was the Communist Party. Myself being an admirer of the United States and capitalist through and through would not be likely to receive support from a party with opposing ideologies. However I believe that it was my labor laws and support for labor unions that have swayed them. Nonetheless their attacks on my opponents worked very much in my favor. These major factors among lesser contributors are what helped me attain the office officially.
Another important aspect of my political career that would be sensible to discuss now would be my actions not only while holding the office of president but also since the beginning of my behind the scenes control. The more formal and political aspects to mention thus far would be previously mentioned reforms I have set in place, many, highlighted in the new constitution, opting for more rights to my people. Staying with the same goals of these new points on the constitution I have enacted many social reforms. Now for a more behind the scenes look, a more exciting aspect of my presidency is my relationship with what some refer to as “organized crime.” I have already made my time a golden area for tourism in my country. Americans have flocked to visit my beautiful beaches and with them have come mafia members Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano. These two men have been two that I have worked hard with to one: further attract tourists, and two: let the mob take control of all the casinos and hotels to help amass huge profits I will receive a large cut from. Some people call it corruption however it has helped our economy and the latter benefit of my relations with these men who I have let control the hotels and casinos has inflated my pockets. Meyer has ascended to be a prominent figure in our Casino business and I have been a huge advocate for the industry as well. I have gone as far as to offer government funding and tax exemptions for those who invest in our clubs and casinos. What can I say this business is successful and booming and it doesn’t hurt to help the cause. Lastly, I have let Havana become a center for drug trafficking, some may proclaim that this is foolish. Although these claims have been made and some may believe this to be true, it is all still under my control as things have always been. There is no need for any concern, except for maybe my wallet to worry about if it has enough space for all the profit this trafficking is bringing in. Although this is all very promising and exciting, I have recently received news of increased unrest among those living in rural villages outside of Havana who claim they don’t reap any benefits. Ungrateful, I do not understand however it is a problem and these as proclaimed by others to be ‘poor rebels’ must be repressed, and I will act swiftly and forcefully.
FULGENCIO BATISTA: THE FIRST COUP FEBRUARY, 5TH, 1934
Machado’s most foolish move was the act to protect himself in office. His moves to gain a tighter grip on our country and extend his term are reoccurring mistakes in our political history. He should have learned from when our first president, Tomas Estrada Palma was revolted against in 1906 after trying to extend his term. Cuban people are not fond of being blatantly or forcibly oppressed, the end result is often a revolt, and this reoccurring theme in our history shall teach how to do my business with the government in my political future. I will opt to take a more behind the scenes route instead of seizing the most powerful position. There is no real reason for me to subject myself to being the possible scapegoat for criticism during hard times, further subjected myself to possible expulsion from the government. Although I now have this choice of how I handle my business in this already powerful position, there is a reason I get to make this choice. I have seized the majority of the government and have successfully overthrown presidents and placed my first puppets in place all at the hands of my famous plan they are now calling the “revolt of the sergeants.” To further elaborate I have recently led a military coup against the government specifically Machado and his liberal policies.
As it is well known by my followers, after my entry to the army, I have raised myself to the rank of sergeant, and in recent years I have been appointed as the leader of the group of sergeants who were discontented about Machado. It was after national dissent had increased to topple Machado and expel him from office, in August 1933, that my fellow sergeants and I decided to join student rebels to replace Machado’s successor, Carlos Manuel De Cespedes y Quesada. The replacement of the now president would not prove to be as easy however. The seize of power would come down to a bloody siege at the Hotel Nacional, where despite heavy losses my men were able to prevail against the officers supporting the transitional government which was the last step in gaining control of the government. After these events, It was on September 4, 1933 that we had finally gained total control, and I proceeded to place myself at the rank of Colonel and the Chief of the Army, which has obviously been instrumental in my plan to increase military influence in our government. At this position, along with the majority in the government I controlled, I effectively ensued to control the presidency. Aside form my own position, I placed, as recently stated, my first puppet, Ramon Grau San Martin, a professor from the University of Havana, at the helm of the presidency.
Although San Martin was used as my initial puppet, it was after a meeting with US ambassador Sumner Welles, and much egging on and persuasion by him that I had decided to take Martin out and replace him with Medieta. Shortly after, as hinted by Mr. Welles, the US government recognized our new government as legitimate. Now my most recent moves have consisted of striking deals with the US to ensure our country’s sugar sales and remove the slightly more palpable aspects of US control. This recent move has been my most successful and has increased my popularity tremendously. For now the situation is stable and Mendieta will be my president.
PLAT AMENDMENT
These Americans are finally leaving our country. We can finally start to become our own nation free from foreign powerhouses. This new Plat amendment does not give us complete freedom from America but we get some. We are allowed to have our own president and start to build up our economy, I can now sell my crops to more people. I do have to give some of the sugar I grow to the Americans for nothing so they can improve their economy. I do not like giving away my hard work away for free to people that are not even part of my own nation. I would give my food to the nation if they needed it but not to a completely different country that has done nothing except imperialize our nation. Soon enough we will have our own nation completely. Instead of having to listen to any one else. This is the first step in a movement to get our independence. I know that Cuba is still not a completely independent nation, but this is the first step. America has not completely left our nation yet but they are on their way to let us be our own nation. Now America is saying that our sugar is their sugar. They are taking our sugar that we have worked extremely hard to grow. The Americans are taking a significant portion of our crop to sell in their own markets. They want to try and improve their economy from our crops. The Americans think that we owe them something even though they have only imperialized our nation. We do not need the Americans to help grow our economy. I am aware that many proclaim they're just trying to help us however I believe it is just a further form of imperialism, after all they are exploiting us for our goods to a degree.
Although I complain it is true that the agreement has substantially diminished American hegemony and I should be thankful. But I will never be completely satisfied with this agreement until America and their Imperialist ways are out of my country. We do not even have our own government yet, they are still able to intervene whenever they want to try to keep the independence or make the government good enough to be able to keep stand of living at a high level. The Americans also want to use our land to hold their naval bases. They will never leave our nation if we let them use all of resources. They have set up warships outside our country in the waters to make sure we can never have a revolutionary army. They do not even trust that we will not try to over throw their government. I hope soon enough that we will have enough people who feel strong about our nation for them to finally leave our country once and for all. We are not aloud to gain debt as a nation so we can not try to improve our economy our selves. Our nation can also not make treaties to any one. If our government thinks that another country is similar to ours and we want to make treaties we can not. The Americans believe that we might make a treaty with a country that wants to harm America. They expect that Russia may come into our country so they are closer to America and can be able to invade and bomb them.
The most selfish part of the agreement that they made is they are allowed to intervene in the Cuban policies if they feel the policies are not in the best interest of America. If they do not like what we are doing they can come in and change what were doing. America also wants to control Guantanamo Bay, one of the islands surrounding our country. They want it so they are able to secure a naval base.
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