Try finding a media mention of Fulgencio Batista minus the prefix “U.S.-backed dictator.”
See? I warned ya. And yet:
“On the morning of March 10, 1952, after Batista’s coup, we decided to visit the U.S. embassy to discover the reaction to Batista’s seizure of power. The U.S. Charge d Affairs Albert Nuffer received me immediately. He was as surprised and as indignant as I at Batista’s coup. Mr Nuffer assured me that if Pres. Prio held ground in any part of the island, however small, the U.S. would NOT recognize the Batista regime.” (Rufo Lopez Fresquet, Castro’s first economics minister.)
“The U.S. State Dept. is in our pocket,” (The Castro movement’s–“July 26th”–New York operative Mario Llerena, 1958)
“Me and my staff were all Fidelistas,” (Robert Reynolds, the CIA’s “Caribbean Desk’s specialist on the Cuban Revolution” from 1957-1960.)
“Everyone in the CIA and everyone at State were pro-Castro, except ambassador Earl Smith.” (CIA operative in Santiago Cuba, Robert Weicha.)
“You have been quoted, Amb. Gardner, as referring to, ‘Castro worship’ in the State Department in 1957. Mr. Gardner, do you have any idea why the United States allowed Castro to get arms from the United States, and would not allow Batista to have arms to preserve his government…. You have been quoted as saying that Washington, ‘pulled the rug out” from under Batista?’ ” (Sen. Thomas Dodd, Congressional hearings Aug. 27, 1960.)
“Yes support for Castro became a sort of fetish for them (the U.S. State Dept.) (Amb. Arthur Gardner, Congressional hearings, Aug. 27, 1960.)
“Would you say that the American Government then, including all of its agencies, was largely responsible for bringing Castro to power?” (Senator James Eastland, Congressional hearings Aug. 27, 1960.)
“I would say that representatives of the majority of the U.S. Government agencies which have anything to do with the U.S. Embassy had a hand in bringing pressure to overthrow the Batista government..Senator, we [the U.S.] are responsible for bringing Castro in power. I do not care how you want to word it.” ( Amb. Earl T. Smith, Congressional hearings Aug. 27, 1960.)
“Humberto Fontova’s book teaches us truths about Castro’s island that are very discomfiting for many intellectuals.” (Ana Botella, Spain’s former First Lady while giving a book reading in Madrid, upon “Fidel; HFT” release in Spain)
“Humberto Fontova is a gifted polemicist who pulls no punches. A great service for liberty, justice and truth.” (The Weekly Standard on Fidel; Hollywood’s Favorite Tyrant.)
“You guys don’t have a freaking CLUE about Cuban history!…READ my books–THEN get back to me!”
“
Castro is considered lovable by many celebrities–but the fact is the Cuban people are suffering. It’s well worth reading a book by Humberto Fontova, who lists all the facts–and also footnotes them!” (Radio Superstar Dennis Prager.)
“I read Fontova’s book in two sittings. I couldn’t put it down!” (Conservative Radio superstar Mark Levin.)
Prio, the “cordial president,” was a disaster for Cuba, much more than is commonly recognized or acknowledged. He made Batista possible, just as Batista made Fidel possible, but he also helped Fidel significantly against Batista. Fidel, of course, suckered him big time, but as I said, the guy was a disaster.
Ah, revisionist history, how comforting to those who love to believe their versions of things.
But I can’t tell which is worse, that or the fact that almost no one I talk to has any idea of what goes on in Cuba these days. “Why should I believe you? Perhaps you don’t know what’s going on, or you are making up your stories.” this from people who assure me that they read the paper every day and never hear about any of this.
Ah, me.
Sio which is worse, revisionist history or ignorant bliss? You tell me.