I have always
thought that Castro was a direct result of errors on the part of the US
government. Let's consider the following:
1. Batista was
a former Army Sgt. of decided thuggish tendencies and limited
education. To the best of my recollection, he was involved in some
shady deal with Eleanor Roosevelt and one of her sons. I think it
concerned a radio station or permission to set one up.
2. A neighbor
who was a retired Navy chief said that when he was stationed in
Guantanomo, Castro as a college student worked for him during a summer
school break. He said that at that time Castro considered the US as a
shining beacon and only hoped to see Cuba copying our
example.
I believe the
US government supported Batista and didn't understand that Castro was the voice
of Cuba's future.
Robert Newton
-----Original
Message----- From: owner-book@quarterman.org
[mailto:owner-book@quarterman.org]On Behalf Of
DaneBowen@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:51
PM To: book@quarterman.org Subject: Re: Quarterman
Dates
In re the Cuban's Revolution's ending
Jan. 8, 1959, it could equally be argued that that was the beginning of the
Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro had carried on guerrilla operations
against the Batista Regime for about two yeas, and had attempted the first
uprising on July 26, 1953.
Batista fled the country on New Year's
1959. Having never got close to Havana as a guerrilla leader, Castro
took his time arriving in Havana, exulting in the adulation of the mobs as he
slowly made his way up the island to the capital arriving there I thought on
Jan. 9---but my memory is getting bad.
Before then and until some time
later he professed to be just a democratic reformer, one who promised free
elections, return to the constitution, etc.. His enemies said he would
carry out a "watermelon revolution," green on the outside but red
inside.
He then proceeded gradually to institute his revolution over a
period of some two year, eventually admitting he was a Communist. Having
studied the matter in detail and having been in charge of Cuban affairs in the
Department of State, I do not believe he was a Communist when he came to
power, but that he drifted into in.