DATE=4/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229850
TITLE=BAY OF PIGS ANNIVERSARY (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

TEXT: VETERANS OF THE FAILED BAY OF PIGS INVASION REMEMBERED 
THEIR FALLEN COLLEAGUES FRIDAY IN MIAMI -- THIRTY-SEVEN YEARS TO 
THE DAY AFTER THEY INVADED CUBA IN A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO REVERSE 
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION.  VOA'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS MANY OF THE BAY 
OF PIGS VETERANS SAY THEY ARE STILL ANGRY ABOUT THE FAILURE OF 
THE OPERATION.  

         // INSERT ACTUALITY OF ROLL CALL OF VETERANS //

TEXT: AS THEY HAVE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, VETERANS OF THE 
BAY OF PIGS INVASION GATHERED IN MIAMI'S LITTLE HAVANA 
NEIGHBORHOOD TO READ THE NAMES OF MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED OF THEIR 
COLLEAGUES WHO DIED DURING THE OPERATION.  MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND
OTHERS WERE CAPTURED BY CUBAN TROOPS AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF 
FIGHTING AND ENDURED MONTHS OF CAPTIVITY BEORE BEING ALLOWED TO 
RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES.  

EARLIER THIS YEAR THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RELEASED AN 
INTERNAL REPORT WRITTEN BY THE C-I-A'S INSPECTOR GENERAL SIX 
MONTHS AFTER THE FAILED INVASION.   THE REPORT, LONG REGARDED AS 
ONE OF THE MOST SECRET DOCUMENTS OF THE COLD WAR, SAYS THE 
C-I-A'S OPERATION TO INVADE CUBA IN 1961 WAS CHARACTERIZED BY 
IGNORANCE, INCOMPETENCE AND ARROGANCE.   JORGE HERRERA, A UNIT 
LEADER DURING THE INVASION, SAYS HE WAS  NOT  SURPRISED WHEN HE 
READ ABOUT THE REPORT. 

                 // INSERT HERRERA ACTUALITY //

         THE AGENCY'S DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT UNIFIED IN A
         PROPER EFFORT.  EACH ONE HAD ITS OWN TASK AND EACH ONE 
         HAD ITS OWN AGENDA, AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NO 
         CORRELATION BETWEEN THE UNITS OF THE C-I-A.  APPARENTLY 
         THAT WENT BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE IMAGINED AT THAT TIME 
         AND THE HIGHER AUTHORITIES TOOK THE WRONG DECISIONS AND 
         LET US DOWN. 

                       // END ACTUALITY //

// OPT //  THE C-I-A REPORT SAYS SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIALS DID  NOT
HESITATE TO GAMBLE WITH THE LIVES OF THE MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND 
FIVE HUNDRED CUBAN EXILES IT TRAINED TO INVADE CUBA BUT THE C-I-A
NEVER TOOK THE EXILES VERY SERIOUSLY.   FEW OF THE C-I-A CASE 
OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE BAY OF PIGS OPERATION SPOKE SPANISH AND 
EXILE LEADERS WERE IGNORED. RODOLFO LLORENTE WHO LANDED AT THE 
BAY OF PIGS 37-YEARS AGO SAYS HE IS STILL ANGRY.  

                     // INSERT ACTUALITY //

         THEY MADE PLANS, THEY MADE CERTAIN COMMITMENTS WITH US 
         AND AT THE LAST MOMENT THEY CUT THOSE COMMITMENTS AND 
         ALL SUPPORT WITHOUT TELLING US.  THEY LET US GO AND HIT 
         THE BEACHES AND, LET ME TELL YOU, A LOT OF CUBANS ON 
         BOTH SIDES DIED FOR NOTHING. 

                // END ACTUALITY // // END OPT //

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, SENIOR C-I-A OFFICIALS KNEW WELL BEFORE 
THE INVASION TOOK PLACE THAT THE MISSION'S SECRECY HAD BEEN 
COMPROMISED AND THAT IT WAS LIKELY TO FAIL.   THE REPORT WAS SO 
SENSITIVE THAT THEN-C-I-A DIRECTOR JOHN MCCONE HAD ALL BUT ONE 
COPY OF IT BURNED. 

HISTORIANS WHO HAVE SEEN THE REPORT SAY IT MAKES CLEAR THAT C-I-A
OFFICIALS WITHELD CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPERATION FROM 
PRESIDENT KENNEDY.  THE BAY OF PIGS WAS A MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY 
DEFEAT FOR THE YOUNG PRESIDENT AND HISTORIANS SAYS MR. KENNEDY 
WAS SO FRUSTRATED OVER ITS FAILURE THAT HE APPROVED OTHER 
MEASURES, INCLUDING ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS TO GET RID OF FIDEL 
CASTRO.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/JLT/KL

17-Apr-98 4:30 PM EDT (2030 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.