THE POSSIBILITY

1961

BAY OF PIGS INVASION

On 17 April 1961, 1,500 Cuban exiles participated in a disastrous attempt to overthrow Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro (inset), who had come to power in 1959. During the Eisenhower administration, the CIA had developed a plan to train these exiles for an invasion. Castro’s takeover of Cuba had hit American foreign policy hard and the implications of his willingness to work with the Soviet Union were still unknown. Training camps were set up in Guatemala, and despite plans to keep them secret Castro became aware as early as October 1960. What was more damaging was that the CIA’S role in the invasion was also widely known. The resultant invasion was a disaster, with most of the exiles killed or captured. This would later cause Castro to become even more antiamerican in his foreign policy choices. Had the CIA not been in operation, it is unsure what would have occurred here.

1960-68

INTERVENTION IN THE CONGO

Between 1960 and 1968, the CIA carried out a number of operations in the Congo to prevent the newly independent regime falling to communism. After gaining independence on 30 June 1960, Patrice Lumumba (inset) was elected as prime minister. Within days, Congo’s troops mutinied against their all-white officer corps and Lumumba made clear his desire for full control of his country’s resources to improve conditions for his people. Belgium sent troops to the country and as the situation increased in intensity, Lumumba asked the Soviet Union for assistance, and it provided technical advisors. This concerned the US as it had acquired stakes in numerous Congolese materials, including obtaining the uranium for its first two atomic bombs from a Congolese mine. Lumumba was captured by rival Joseph Kasavubu, the country’s president. He was placed under house arrest before being shot by firing squad. Although the CIA had assassination plans in place, these were not carried out. However, it did support Lumumba’s rivals. Had the CIA not existed, the history of this troubled country would almost certainly have been very different.