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Posts: 6049
Dec 14 04 10:21 AM
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Quote:In all essentials, the battle for Cuba was a public relations campaign, fought in New York and Washington. Castro's principal advocate was Herbert Matthews of the New York Times, who presented him as the T.E. Lawrence of the Caribbean. Just as the Hearst press helped to make the Cuban revolution in 1898, so the Times sponsored Castro. This swung round the State Department. William Wieland, in charge of the Caribbean desk, had hitherto taken the view, "I know Batista is considered by many as a sonofabitch... but American interests come first... at least he is our sonofabitch. Now Wieland changed sides. Earl Smith, appointed Ambassador to Havana in 1957, was told, "You are assigned Havana to preside over the downfall of Batista. The decision has been taken that Batista has to go. Wieland sent him to be briefed by Matthews, who told him, "It would be in the best interests of Cuba and...the world... if Batista were removed."
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