“Peter Kornbluh, who runs the Cuba Documentation Project at the National Security Archive, was carrying around a book he co-authored, “Back Channel to Cuba,” about the twisted secret history of outreach between the nations. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” he said. “It’s a flag flying in the winds of change.'”
Kornbluh’s important book, Back Channel to Cuba, tells a story central to the tragic end of President John F. Kennedy’s administration. In the fall of 1963, Kennedy privately pursued a peaceful solution to U.S.-Cuba conflict. His initiative died in Dallas. JFK’s hope for a peaceful reconciliation of Cuba and the United States would not come to fruition until fifty two years later when Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro agreed to restore normal diplomatic relations.
Q. What would JFK and Jackie have said about the Cuban flag flying over Washington?
A: Bienvenidos.
Am not sure what sentiments Jackie may have expressed upon seeing the Cuban flag flying over Washington, but given JFK’s leadership and sense of fairness, he would acknowledge the display as an example of people finding common ground in spite of their differences. Not bad for a leader of the free world who made Nikita blink first. Yes, war is profitable, but it isn’t always the best solution.
It is hard to square Kornbluh’s “Back Channel” with Waldron’s “Ultimate Sacrifice.” Both present options JFK was considering in the fall of 1963 regarding Cuba.
Did he aim to restore relations? Or did he plan to remove Castro and replace him with General Almeida?
Or, knowing JFK’s tendencies, did he wish to keep both options open, for as long as possibile?
After 52 years, original sources are becoming hard to find.
Be sure that Almeida, if he actually did anything in connection with Harry Williams, was on behalf of Castro. Almeida´s background shows that his loyalty to Castro was like that between gang members and the boss in the Havanian atmosphere of the 1950´s.