29th Annual Student Research Conference
Deception Declassified: CIA Intelligence Efforts in Cuba
Kelsey E. Smugala
Dr. David Robinson and Dr. Marc Becker, Faculty Mentors
On December 17, 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to restore diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. Each country re-opened embassies in each other?s capitals on July 20, 2015, thawing the decades-long tensions between the two. While this was an important step in the resolution of past conflicts, it did not eradicate all past problems. The American economic embargo and travel restrictions remained in effect, to some degree, despite President Obama?s appeal to Congress lift them. Past actions on both sides have sown seeds of resentment very deeply. This recent initiative reacquaints US citizens with our long-held view that Fidel Castro has been an unforgivable dictator. Recently declassified documents point to actions taken by the CIA against Castro?s government to thwart the success of numerous reforms initiated by the leader. This paper illuminates the CIA?s covert and sometimes illegal actions against the Cuban government in its attempts, at nearly all costs, to depose the communist government and to establish a government friendlier to American interests.
Keywords: CIA, Intelligence operations, Fidel Castro, communism , Cold War
Topic(s):History Senior Seminar
History
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: -2
Location: MG 2090
Time: 9:45