American Strategic Deception Bureau

　Therefore, Fidel Castro knew very early on that he was about to be invaded.

　It's just that we can't determine when the battle will begin yet, so we can only strengthen our vigilance and can't make more targeted deployments.

　Then, as time went on, ominous signs became increasingly apparent.

　——After entering March, the counter-revolutionary armed forces in Cuba became increasingly active, repeatedly carrying out sabotage activities. Soviet KGB agents also sent warnings, claiming that they had obtained accurate signals from the CIA that an armed invasion was about to be launched.

　A small group of armed men also forcibly landed at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, exchanged fire with Cuban militia patrols, and left behind a stranded and damaged landing craft.

　By early April, the Soviet Union's Moscow Radio even publicly broadcast an English radio news report, "predicting" that an invasion of another country planned by the CIA and hired by "criminals" would take place within a week.

　All of the above signals sounded the alarm for the Cuban revolutionary regime, making them feel that a storm was about to hit.

　Finally, on April 15, the final shoe dropped.

　Thousands of Cubans were stunned to see a scene on their televisions that they could not understand...

　A young left-wing politician, following the guidance and help of his teacher, he embarked on a political campaign.

　If Batista had not launched a coup in Cuba, established a dictatorial military government, destroyed the original American democratic system, and cut off Castro's hope of entering politics, he probably would not have raised an army in anger and embarked on the path of armed revolution with his brother.

　However, even after the guerrilla war in Cuba broke out, Castro did not raise the red flag from the beginning. Instead, he tried to strike a balance between the left-wing and right-wing forces under his command, constantly jumping back and forth, changing his face repeatedly, saying one thing to one person and another to another.

　Generally speaking, it relies on left-wing members to attract young people to join, and relies on right-wing members to obtain overseas aid from Europe and the United States.

　Many people don't know that Fidel Castro didn't join the Popular Socialist Party, the Cuban communist party, until the victory of the Cuban Revolution. Instead, he remained a member of the Cuban Orthodox Party. His alliance with the Cuban communist forces was more similar to the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party during the Great Revolution in my country.

　Of course, in order to show his sincerity in cooperation, he allowed his younger brother Raul Castro to join the Popular Socialist Party.

　It is conceivable that even if one day he becomes desperate and prepares to purge the party, it is impossible for him to purge his own brother.

　In January 1959, the Castro brothers successfully drove out dictator Batista and entered Havana. However, after the success of the Cuban Revolution, the Castro brothers did not immediately turn to the Soviet Union. Instead, they spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to maintain friendly relations with the United States.

　There is no way. The geographical location of Cuba, the "Caribbean Sugar Bowl", is really too awkward. It is too close to the United States but too far from the Soviet Union.

　Although the US imperial army did all kinds of inhumane things in Cuba, if possible, it would be better not to be a Soviet Union's little brother under the nose of the United States.

　During the period just after the victory of the revolution, whether it was Castro's initiative to visit the United States or his desire to choose an American girl as the first lady (although Marita was of German descent, her whole family had become American citizens and could be considered Americans), he was considering easing relations with the US government.

　Of course, everyone knows the result later.

　The Eisenhower administration ignored Castro's pleas for friendship, while Vice President Nixon offered a series of unacceptable conditions. With no way out, Castro attempted to force concessions from the United States through various provocations. However, the United States refused to budge and instead escalated the situation.

　In this way, the two sides clashed and negotiated repeatedly for a year, but eventually the talks broke down completely.

　Castro had no choice but to launch a reverse "Night of the Long Knives" to purge the pro-American right-wing elements in his own camp. From then on, Cuba was completely painted with the five-star red star and joined the Soviet camp reluctantly, making Cuba a bridgehead for the socialist camp in the backyard of the United States.

　However, although Castro has made his own decision on which side to stand on, it is absolutely impossible for him not to be afraid.

　After all, ever since Latin American countries gained independence from Spanish rule, they have been repeatedly beaten and exploited by the US imperialists.

　Latin American people have been resisting American oppression in various ways, but so far there has not been a single truly successful precedent.

　At this time, the emotions and feelings of the Latin American people towards the United States were roughly the same as those of the Germanic barbarians in Europe towards the Roman Empire at its peak.

　——Hatred, inferiority, envy and hidden despair.

　So, can this young and fragile Cuban red revolutionary regime really survive the iron fist that the Americans are about to wield?

　To be honest, Castro was unsure at the time, and even a little worried, but he just pretended to be confident in front of others.

　Therefore, seeing Che Guevara's frivolous appearance, Fidel Castro subconsciously felt a little disgusted.

　"No, it was a truly stupid attack! Fidel, you only need to turn on the TV and watch it."

　Che Guevara, with a look on his face as if he was trying to suppress a laugh, walked over to the TV in the living room with a familiar air, plugged it in, and began to adjust the signal. "This is really, really funny! Hahaha, let's get Raul over here and watch it with us! There are a lot of familiar faces on TV!"

　Seeing Che Guevara so enthusiastic, Fidel Castro didn't want to refuse him, so he put down the newspaper and went over.

　Then, Raul Castro, who heard the noise, came over from next door with a cup of coffee.

　At this time, Che Guevara also tuned Castro's TV to the Florida local TV channel across the strait.

　So the three of them sat side by side on a large rattan sofa and watched TV together.

　Then, Fidel Castro saw on the TV screen his former right-hand man, José Miro Cardona, the former Cuban Prime Minister who defected to the United States, speaking impassionedly into the microphone, using various methods to argue that Castro "suppressed Cuba's freedom" and so on.

　"Oh, it's old Jose! Was he on TV in the United States today?" Castro sighed with a complicated expression.

　If Che Guevara was Castro's left-wing elder, then José Miro Cardona was his right-wing elder.

　However, after entering Havana and successfully overthrowing the dictator Batista, José Miro Cardona served as prime minister under Castro for only a few days.

　He left Cuba in anger because he felt that Castro was "too revolutionary".

　A few years later, Ernesto Che Guevara would also leave Cuba because he felt that Castro was "not revolutionary enough."

　Well, it was left to the Castro brothers to continue ruling Cuba, struggling to keep the red flag flying under the noses of the United States into the 21st century.

　On the television screen, former Prime Minister Cardona, as the leader of the Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front, denounced the Castro regime for "destroying Cuba's half-century tradition of freedom" and announced that he would lead the "Cuban warriors who yearn for freedom" and, with the strong support of American allies, fight back to the island of Cuba and "overthrow the Castro brothers and their evil Bolshevik regime."

　- He had repeated these clichés countless times in local Florida newspapers and on Spanish-language radio stations set up by Cuban exiles. Castro was tired of hearing them in Cuba and was too lazy to even refute them.

　However, for some reason, Castro always felt that the other person's face looked a little haggard today, and his tone was filled with helplessness and shame.

　Uh, could it be that this guy is having a bad time in the United States recently?

　That’s right. How can you live a happy life if you have left your hometown and your motherland and can only live a life of dependence on others and begging for food from Americans?

　Then, the camera on the TV screen gradually zoomed out, allowing Castro to see that former Prime Minister Cardona was not giving a speech in an auditorium or a square, but was standing on the roof of a modified minibus with a podium installed on the roof, surrounded by fences with slogans on them, and a loudspeaker on top - the kind of election propaganda vehicle commonly used by politicians during campaigns, with two bodyguards wearing sunglasses supporting him on his left and right.

　The propaganda vehicle carrying former Prime Minister Cardona was driving slowly at a snail's pace of about two or three miles per hour on a street shaded by palm trees. On both sides of the street were low one- or two-story houses and lush tropical vegetation, as well as many idlers and passers-by who were watching the excitement.

　A military band dressed in snow-white uniforms followed the propaganda vehicle, inhaling the exhaust fumes and playing music.

　But if you look closely, you'll notice that the average height of the members of this marching band is ridiculously short, and their faces are also ridiculously young - they are obviously underage children! Hey, where did they get this elementary school marching band?

　While it’s true that the elementary school marching band looks adorable, can wars be won by cuteness?

　On both sides and behind the elementary school marching band, there was a high school girl cheerleading team waving the school flag, raising their thighs and singing and dancing along the way.

　These American high school girls, dressed in cool short tank tops and miniskirts, revealed their adorable waists and long legs, exuding youthful charm. Every time they twisted their waists, jumped, and lifted their legs, they attracted the attention and cheers of countless passers-by, as well as applause and whistles.

　The photographer seemed to be mesmerized by the beautiful bodies of the high school girl cheerleaders, and kept the camera focused on this beautiful scenery for a long time.

　After the female cheerleaders had finished walking, some guys wearing helmets and camouflage uniforms, who looked like soldiers, finally appeared behind them.

　The soldiers, dressed in camouflage uniforms, formed two long, loose lines, waving Cuban flags. Although the line was loose and stretched quite a distance along the road, Castro, a veteran of the war, could tell at a glance that they numbered no more than three or four hundred men, roughly the size of a battalion.

　Moreover, at least half of them were some old and some young, and at first glance they looked like a mix of Boy Scouts and veterans.

　What’s even more incredible is that what they carried on their shoulders were not rifles, submachine guns, or even bazookas, but sticks of… baguettes?! !

　At the same time, the TV was still playing the serious and solemn commentary of a comedian.

　"Dear audience, now coming from the other side are the Cuban freedom fighters who are about to strike back at their homeland! They are full of energy, high morale, and well-equipped. They are willing to sacrifice their lives to save the beautiful island of Cuba from the clutches of the Bolsheviks!"

　"Although for some reason they were unable to carry firearms and ammunition, please don't underestimate the baguettes they hold! Did you know that baguettes are so hard they can kill you?

　As early as World War I, baguettes were a powerful weapon in trench warfare on the Western Front...er, no, a blunt weapon..."

　For a moment, except for Che Guevara, Raul Castro and Fidel Castro were all stunned.

　"Are these Cuban traitors armed by the Yankees? They're coming to overthrow us with baguettes?"

　"Is old Jose suffering from Alzheimer's? Where on earth did he get a bunch of lunatics in military uniforms to embarrass himself?"

　"I recognize it! That house in the distance is President Truman's Little White House! They're in Key West!"

　"Key West? The Key West where Hemingway lived? Well, that's quite close to us..." Raul muttered.

　"Yes, it's 170 kilometers from Havana. Maybe they plan to come here in kayaks, carrying baguettes?"

　Fidel Castro nodded in agreement. "I heard that Hemingway often rowed his boat to Havana to buy cigars?"

　"Fidel, Raul, since the Cuban traitors adopted by the United States are coming to attack us with baguettes.

　Should I also take a battalion and go to the beach in Havana to fight? Well, if we are just dealing with baguettes, it seems that there is no need for guns. We can just let each of our soldiers take a large German sausage...hahaha..."

　Che Guevara said this with a wink, trying to sound serious at first, but halfway through, he couldn't help laughing.

　After hearing his words, the Castro brothers burst into laughter.

　"That's a great idea, German sausage versus baguette! Hahahaha... I can't take it anymore! Tsk..."

　"If German sausage isn't tough enough, you can use Spanish ham instead! Hahaha..."

　For a moment, Castro's office was filled with joy.

　Author's words: PS: The style of this book is to type GG amidst laughter!

　Chapter 56: Crazy and Stupid Big Liar

　There's a famous saying in Florida: "They shook America, and the crazy fell to the bottom."

　This "bottom" refers to the southernmost tip of the east coast of the United States, a string of islands extending from the end of the Florida Peninsula towards Cuba.

　The official name is the Florida Keys.

　As early as the first half of the 20th century, the United States, which was still an infrastructure maniac at the time, spared no effort to build more than 170 kilometers of cross-sea railways and cross-sea highways to connect this chain of islands with the Florida Peninsula, forming many scenic tropical sea view residential areas.

　Key West, at the end of this chain of islands, is not only the southernmost town in the continental United States but also the end of Highway 1, making it America's answer to "Land's End." Furthermore, ever since its development, Key West has been a renowned gathering place for all sorts of eccentric Americans.

　Various writers, artists, non-mainstream people and tourists wearing flowered shorts are the eternal scenery of this island.

　From the writer Hemingway to President Truman, they all left their mark here - Truman even built a "Little White House" here.

　In addition, Key West, with its long summer and no winter, is also a paradise for gays and lesbians in the United States, and it was the first place in the United States to hang the rainbow flag.

　At the end of the 20th century, the island even sought independence, calling itself the Conch Republic, and fought against the US Marines with water guns and baguettes...

　Well, it can be said that performance art has been brought to a certain level, and it is always advertised as avant-garde, non-mainstream and unique.

　At this time in 1961, the Conch Republic certainly hadn't yet been born on Key West, but all sorts of eccentric people had already gathered there.

　Therefore, when an "army" that looked strange in every way crossed the cross-sea bridge from the direction of the Florida Peninsula and set foot on Key West with music and dance, it immediately attracted the attention of the island residents and tourists.

　It begins with a politician's campaign propaganda vehicle. An old man in a black suit with a gloomy face stands on it, facing the microphone, alternating between English and Spanish, mumbling clichés such as "Free Cuba" and "Natural Rights of Man".

　Behind the publicity vehicle was a band hired from some primary school to participate in a commercial performance. The band, consisting of fourth and fifth grade students, wore neat Boy Scout uniforms and top hats decorated with gold tassels. They played trumpets and marching drums in a dashing manner.

　Especially the female captain, who was wearing a red silk ribbon, waving a golden baton, and trying hard to look handsome.

　But due to their body shape and appearance, the only feeling they give to onlookers is "so cute".

　Behind the elementary school marching band is a group of female high school cheerleaders with hot bodies and cool clothes. They hold bouquets or tambourines in their hands, constantly lift up their long legs, shout in sweet voices, and show off their beautiful youthful bodies.

　Although jumping on the road is not as fun as cheering on the court, they still dance seriously for the sake of US dollars.

　Not to mention, there were many cameramen and reporters carrying cameras, either riding tricycles or driving cars, following them all the way, pointing the cameras at them and capturing them - the girls danced even harder when they thought that they could be on TV this time.

　Behind the high school girls' cheerleading team, a group of people who looked like soldiers finally appeared.

　However, these Cubans in military uniforms generally looked sloppy and unremarkable, which was fine - the U.S. National Guard itself was not always very spirited in normal times.

　But when the islanders and tourists saw that these "soldiers" were holding French baguettes instead of guns...

　They couldn't hold back their laughter and fell over with laughter, filling the streets with a happy atmosphere.

　Meanwhile, guest commentator Firi, still in a jeep with a microphone in hand, said solemnly, "Dear viewers, coming from the other side are the Cuban freedom fighters who are about to launch a counterattack on their homeland! They are full of energy, high morale, and well-equipped. They are willing to sacrifice their lives to save the beautiful island of Cuba from the clutches of the Bolsheviks!"

　"Although for some reason they were unable to carry firearms and ammunition, please don't underestimate the baguettes they hold! Did you know that baguettes are so hard they can kill you?

　As early as World War I, baguette was the bread of the trench warfare on the Western Front.

　The sharp weapon among them... uh, no, it's a blunt weapon..."

　When the pedestrians standing on the roadside heard what Fili said, they all laughed even more happily.

　"Oh my God! Are they filming some kind of comedy show? An army of baguettes?"

　"I heard it's a volunteer army formed by Cuban exiles, claiming they're going to launch a counterattack on Cuba from our island?"

　"How are they going to take down Castro? By hitting that bearded Cuban guy in the head with a baguette?"

　"Ahahahaha, I can't help it, this is too funny!"

　Just as the team was playing music and marching through the streets of Key West like a Halloween parade, attracting many islanders and tourists to watch and follow, Fili, who was sitting in the jeep directing the parade, suddenly heard someone's angry roar.

　"Captain Jin! Captain Jin! What on earth are you doing? Why are you putting on this clown-like farce?"

　He quickly ordered the car to stop, then looked back and saw that the former head of the Cuban Special Task Force, Jacob Esterline, was riding a Harley motorcycle, rushing through the crowd of onlookers and squeezing next to the jeep that Firi was riding.

　It looked like Team Leader Estelion had just traveled a long way, and his hair was covered with dust and sand mixed with sweat.

　But despite this, after he stopped his motorcycle, he immediately shouted at Fili with a rapid breath: "I need an explanation!"

　"Explain?" Fili asked. "What explanation?"