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A new installment of “Lessons Learned” is now out. This week I discuss the Bay of Pigs invasion, which began on April 17, 1961. In the video, I look at the mistakes made before and during the invasion and discuss the importance of anticipating failure and planning accordingly. Here’s a question to consider when thinking about these kinds of actions: What steps should presidents take to make sure that they are thinking how their policies might fail rather than simply engaging in wishful thinking about how they will succeed? I encourage you to weigh in with your answer in the comments section below.
I hope you enjoy the video.
If you are interested in learning more about the Bay of Pigs, Castro, Kennedy, or Cuba, here are some books worth reading:
Lawrence Freedman. Kennedy’s Wars: Berlin, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam. (2000)
Howard Jones. The Bay of Pigs. (2008)
Higgins Trumbull. The Perfect Failure: Kennedy, Eisenhower, and the CIA at the Bay of Pigs. (1987)
Stephen Rabe. The Most Dangerous Area in the World: John F. Kennedy Confronts Communist Revolution in Latin America. (1999)
Julia E. Sweig. Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know. (2009)
James,
Thank you for sharing that, it’s a lesson learned. Hope , it won’t happen again.
However, Under President Carter, the hostage rescue mission was failed, hope we learned our lesson from that one too.
Sobering.i’m a veteran of 2506 Brigade( 2531 my number) infiltrated in Cuba prior to Bay of Pigs, later captured spent 18 years in prison. My friend Jim Thomson, ex RAND president, forwarded your comments.
i should say that from my perspective that you are right on the money. It was “wishful thinking” the best caracterizing comment, and it was from day one. it seems that plan B in our foreign planning has become a bad word.
We have a tendency to corner ourselves in our rethoric and that is dangerous in this very complex and evolving world. Thank you for thinking!