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Cold War Politics Shaped Cuba Policy
- Anti-communism dominated 1960 US politics and framed Cuba as an immediate existential threat.
- That political atmosphere pushed Kennedy and Nixon to compete on hawkish Cuba policies rather than nuanced alternatives.
Operational Pillars And The Denial Constraint
- The Bay of Pigs plan formalized under Eisenhower focused on exile support, U.S. training, propaganda, and deniable standby forces.
- Planners also self-imposed a ban on direct U.S. combat involvement to preserve deniability.
Manuel Artime Meets 'Frank Bender'
- Manuel Artime recounts meeting a CIA agent pseudonymously introduced as Frank Bender who promised weapons, training, and radio support.
- He was handed a contact card and told to travel to Miami with expenses covered and anonymity assured.