The retrospective history of Socialist Cuba

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  The retrospective history in general of Cuba

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What drives US foreign policy?

By Ian Aitken, the Guardian (London). A UK correspondent in Havana immediately after the Revolution investigates the capture of a U.S. counter-revolutionary agent. He learned that American policy is dictated largely by the requirements of US fruit-producing conglomerates.

Jean-Paul Sartre: Hurricane over sugar

By Leonardo Depestre Catony, Cuban journalist and collaborator of Prensa Latina, Direct from Cuba service of Prensa Latina. Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir's visit Cuba in 1960 was later described in Sartre's book, Hurricane over sugar.

It was the U.S. government which refused to receive compensation

By Gabriel Molina, from Granma International. The nationalization of property in 1960 was in accord with international law, and it was recognized as such by the US. However, the US refused to negotiate the terms of compensation, and as a result, U.S. nationals alone received none.

Cuba Releases Bay of Pigs Documents

By Anita Snow, AP. At a conference on the Bay of Pigs/Playa Giro'n episode, documents are released that shed considerable light on the failed attempt in 1961 by the U.S. to invade Cuba.

`Imperialism misjudged the courage Of the Cuban people, the strength of the revolution.' Castro on first anniversary of defeat of U.S.-organized invasion at Bay of Pigs

Speech by President Fidel Castro. `40 Anniversary Of Workers And Farmers,' In "Power In Cuba" series in the Militant. Fidel Castro reflects back on Playa Giro'n.

Cuba's Defeat Of Yankee Attack At Playa Giro'n

Extracts from the speech, "Angola: African Giro'n, April 19, 1976," by President Fidel Castro, in the Militant. On April 17 1961, 1,500 U.S.-based Cuban-born mercenaries invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast. The action, organized by Washington, aimed to establish a "provisional government" to appeal for direct U.S. intervention. However, the invaders were defeated within 72 hours by Cuba's militia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Cuban People Thwarted U.S. Invasion Plan In October 1962 `Missile Crisis.' Domestic political cost of enormous U.S. casualties stayed Kennedy's hand

By Steve Clark, the Militant. In 1962, in the name of international solidarity, Castro adopts the U.S. practice of setting up nuclear missles around an enemy state. Although Castro knew of U.S. invasion plan, he did not accept the missles for self-defense. What forestalled the U.S. invasion was the fear of staggering losses at the hands of Cuban defenders.

Chronology of violations of the Cuban air space. Years 1994-96

By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, 26 February 1996. Brief descriptions of the violations.

Castro: Support Helped Cuba Survive

By Anita Snow, AP. At a conference in 2001, President Castro reflects on the importance of international solidarity for Cuba's survival in the decade following the collapse of socialism in Europe and breakup of the Soviet Union. Throughout the 1990s, Cuba struggled financially to become independent after losing about 40 percent of its aid and trade almost overnight.