The Cuban Revolution Battle Analysis.
The failure of Fulgencio Batista to stop Fidel Castro's revolutionary movement from overthrowing his government in 1959 is due to his violation of several SOF imperatives: Understand the Operational Environment, Recognize Political Implications and Consider the long-term effects. .
Review of the tactical situation: .
Cuba is located ninety miles south of Key West, Florida and lies at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico between Florida and Central America. It is the largest island in the West Indies at 42,804 square miles and officially encompassing more than 3,700 islands and cays. Its strategic location and agricultural wealth have made Cuba a coveted prize. Cuba's geography is diverse, consisting of low, rolling country with hilly parts. The eastern end of the island is mountainous. Most of the southern part of the island is very flat and suffers from tsunamis driven by hurricanes. The highest point in Cuba is Pico Turquino, in the southeast. Its altitude is 6560 feet. From the east the land drops suddenly under the sea. There are few inland lakes and the only navigable river is the Rio Cauto. Cuba has a tropical climate with flora and fauna that are generally found in that climate. Cuba's population is approx. 11,500,000 people. The Spanish literacy rate is 96%.
Review of the strategic situation:.
Causes of the Conflict:.
The key event, which was the start of political unrest for Fidel Castro, began on 4 September 1933, when Sergeant Fulgencio Batista led a revolt with student revolutionaries. Fulgencio Batista, a mulatto of modest background, would manipulate the Cuban political landscape for the next 26 years. Ramon Grau San Martin, a university professor, became provisional president, but the United States did not recognize the regime. This prompted Batista to remove Grau by 1934.
Between 1934 and 1940 Batista controlled the Cuban government through a series of puppet regimes.
