------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the April 5, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- FORTY YEARS AGO: BAY OF PIGS ATTACK ON CUBA from Workers World newspaper April 28, 1961 WHOLE WORLD CALLS U.S. AGGRESSOR: KENNEDY GETS SET TO DO IT AGAIN The whole world, including even the capitalist allies of the United States, was appalled at the open attack on tiny Cuba which U.S. officials engineered on April 17. And yet Kennedy had the nerve to make his "blood and iron" speech after the fiasco, in which he spoke of the danger to U.S. "security" and of the "tyranny" in Cuba. The Manchester Guardian of England summed up much of foreign Big Business sentiment when it said: "Everyone knows that the sort of invasion by proxy with which the U.S. has now been charged is morally indistinguishable from open aggression." Of course the reason for such "moral" indignation is to be found in the great working class demonstrations that were held throughout the world, particularly in Latin America. Over 25,000 marched in Mexico City alone. But Kennedy, representing the arrogant and still unchastened American capitalist class, made his war-mongering speech on the very morrow of the invasion's failure, and furiously warned the oppressed Latin American countries as follows: "If the nations of this hemisphere should fail to meet their commitments against outside penetration, ... this government will not hesitate in meeting its primary obligation." By this, Kennedy meant that if he could not get enough stooges among the Latin Americans to attack Cuba, he would see that the United States did so, this time with sufficient planes and bombs--and Marines. The truth is--that Cuba does indeed pose a threat to the United States. Not to the vast majority of the people of the United States, and not to the military security of the United States. But by its example to Latin America, it poses a threat to the Wall Street domination and exploitation of 230 million people in the hemisphere outside of the United States. Most of the 180 million people in the United States itself do not even know that this super-exploitation exists. And many imagine that the 6 million Cubans are going to start attacking the United States with "Russian weapons." But the Latin Americans are very well aware of the nature and identity of their oppressor. Their revolution against that oppressor will not be defeated nor even postponed, by Kennedy's coming adventure in Cuba. ***** GIVE ARMS TO OUR PEOPLE! -SAYS AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADER [During the U.S.-sponsored invasion of Cuba, Rob Williams, editor of the Afro-American paper, the Crusader, sent the following telegram which Dr. Raul Roa of Cuba read aloud at the United Nations:] To Be Conveyed to Adlai Stevenson-- Now that the United States has proclaimed military support for people willing to rebel against oppression, oppressed Afro-Americans in the South urgently request tanks, artillery, bombs, money, use of American airfields and white mercenaries to crush the racist tyrants who have betrayed the American Revolution and Civil War. --We also request prayer for this noble undertaking! --Robert F. Williams ***** CIA'S CHEERING SECTION [The Workers World of April 28, 1961, reprinted the following information from the New York Post of April 19:] "American business men, hoping to regain some of the billion dollars of properties lost to Fidel Castro's government, today watched the fighting in Cuba with intense interest. " 'We're just sitting and waiting ...' an officer of the American and Foreign Power Co. said. Property of the firm valued at $300,000,000 was nationalized by the Castro regime. "A spokesman for W. R. Grace and Co., which lost a $1,500,000 paper converting mill on the outskirts of Havana, said, 'We're playing it by ear.' "In Boston, a vice president of the United Fruit Co. said a $70,000,000 claim would be filed with any new government that might depose Castro. " 'If a new and democratic government succeeds,' he said, United Fruit 'would hope to play a part in the economy.'" - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
