PLAYA GIRON
		The plot begins
	For the US the triumph of the Cuban Revolution meant not only a loss of a good ally in Batista but it meant that Cuba's neocolonial status was nearing and end. As the US ruling class began to get nervous over Fidel Castro's independency and over reforms which threaten their interests, Washington's attitudes and actions which were pretty much on the side lines began to change.  Slowly Washington's machinery began to turn; soon the CIA and other agencies started weaving  their plots and intrigues. The CIA machinery went into full gear after then vice president Nixon met Fidel Castro in New York in 1959.  After a brief meeting - which lasted about 30 minutes with Fidel Castro - and in which Nixon treated Castro as dirt, Nixon sent a classified memorandum to then Pres. Eisenhower stating that Castro was just another communist and that "we should get rid of him". It didn't take long pres. Eisenhower to initiate overt and covert military and economic aggression against the island.  Among many actions taken by Washington against Cuba in prelude to the Bay of Pigs invasion were: 1)  the financing of subversive and often terrorists groups within Cuba 2)  the financing and the airlifting of arms and equipment to armed groups in remote areas of Cuba.  In the Escambray mountains, for example, planes from the US airlifted arms and ammunitions. 3)  CIA directed anti government propaganda by Radio Swan and Radio Escambray stations were initiated.  Radio Swan was transmitted from Swan Island in the Caribbean.  Radio Escambray boasted that it broadcasted from the Escambray mts. inside of Cuba, when in reality it also originated from Swan Island. Most importantly, on May 17, 1960 Eisenhower gave the CIA orders to train a military force made up of Cuban exiles and in August appropriates 13 million dollars ( yes our tax dollars ) to finance this military operation. In Nicaragua, Guatemala and Puerto Rico several bases of operations were set up.  In Nicaragua with the blessings of one of the most brutal pro US dictator ever, Anastasio Somosa, the US sets up a base in an area nicknamed Happy Valley.   While, in Vieques and Playa Julora in Puerto Rico, frogmen of the brigade were being trained. On the outskirts of Miami the CIA established, under the directions of then retired Coronel Barquin, a training base for the exiles.  There was another base located in Louisiana. In November of 1960 the brigade of mercenaries started the training under the auspices of the CIA.   It is interesting to note that the brigade which in number totaled around 1500 starts with the number 2500 as to make it appear as a bigger force.  The brigade number 2506 came about as the number adopted in memory of one of the member's who died in training. The brigade consisted of members of Cuba's past ruling class and former Batista allies.  All in all the members owned in yesterday's Cuba: 27 square miles, 10000 houses and buildings, 70 factories, 10 sugar refineries, 5 mines, 2 banks and 2 newspapers.
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