Reflecting on Air Support (or Lack Thereof)

at 12:28 AM Sunday, April 10, 2011


BY: THE HILL


"What is history? An echo of the past in the future; a reflex from the future on the past"


-- Victor Hugo, French poet and author, 1802-1885

As U.S., French, British and now NATO forces provide air support to rebels fighting to oust the brutal Gaddafi dictatorship in Libya, it's timely to reflect on a similar scenario five decades ago.

This week (April 17th) marks the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs operation, when a force of 1,500 Cuban exiles (known as "Brigade 2506") -- supplemented by urban cells and rebel units in the countryside -- landed on the beaches of southern Cuba seeking to liberate their homeland from the Castro dictatorship.

History has now amply documented how the operation was doomed from the beginning, as U.S. President John Kennedy scrapped plans to provide U.S. air support just days before the landing (without telling the Brigade).

When Castro's air force began fiercely attacking the Brigade as it reached Cuban shores, its commander, Jose Perez San Roman, famously radioed his U.S. contacts for help:

"We are under attack by two Sea Fury aircraft and heavy artillery."

"Do not see any friendly air cover as you promised. Need jet support immediately."

When San Roman's request was denied, he replied, "You, sir, are a son of a bitch."

The air support originally promised by President Kennedy consisted of sixteen B-26 twin-engine light attack bombers.

It never came -- and the rest is history.

Fortunately, Libyan rebels do not seem doomed to the same fate.

Granted there's one major difference -- the Brigade 2506 was created with U.S. support from the beginning, while Libyan rebels sought U.S. support after the fighting began.

Yet, both simply wanted air support, not boots on the ground.

Which leads to the question:

If U.S. air support proves to be the "turning point" for Libyan rebels in their efforts to oust Moammar Gaddafi -- could the Brigade 2506 have been successful if they'd received the air support originally promised?

There's certainly a case to be made (for Castro didn't even dare leave his bunker until he was assured there were no U.S. planes) -- but it'll remain, as Victor Hugo said, "a reflex from the future on the past."