U.S. invasion- Lessons of Grenada revolution

Scan page 1

At 5:40 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, Rangers stormed their way onto the Fast 1983, 2,000 U.S. Marines Caribbean island-nation of Grenada, ostensibly to ensure the safety of a thousand U.S. citizens. With a population of 110,000 English-speaking Black workers and farmers, Grenada is one of the smallest nations on earth. Yet in the four-and-a-half years since the March 13, 1979, overthrow of the U.S.supported dictatorship of Sir Matthew Eric Gairy, Grenada, led by the New Jewel Movement (NJM), has set a shining example in social progress--an example that has inspired oppressed people throughout the world.

U.S. Commander Major-General Jack Ferris reported that a total of 8,000 troops had been transported to the island to take part in the invasion. They were met by a politically demoralized Grenadian army of fewer than 1,200 and the remnants of a militia that had been denied arms as a result of the arrest and murder of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and the internal divisions within Grenada's government and leading party.

Myth of Cuban Troops Accampanying the invasion was rent of lies emanating from the gon and the U.S. U.S. State Depa Ihis led to the resignation on 25 of White House Deputy Press tary for Foreign Affairs Les a torPentatment. ctober SecreJanka, evidently concerned that his reputation may have been damaged by the administration's handling of information during the invasion. Top among the lies was the charge that U.S. troops were encountering heavy resistance from a Cuban army of 1,000-1,500 troops. It is now clear that the U.S. government had full knowledge that there were little more than 700 Cuban construction workers on Grenada.

Up to and immediately following the invasion, the Cuban government believed that it was still possible for Cuban workers to avoid direct military combat with U.S. troops. Cuban workers, carrying only small arms issued to them by the Grenadians and having inadequate time to establish even minimal fortified positions at the Point Salines airport, were ordered to avoid all contact with U.S. soldiers unless fired upon directly.

Yet a little more than two hours after the invasion, U.S. Marines were ordered to attack the Cubans at their airport worksites. What followed was a brutal spectacle of imperial cowardice and an example of Cuban courage. At least 47 Cubans were killed and more than 600 taken prisoner. Major General H. Norman Schwarzkopf reported that 160 Grenadians were killed, 100 wounded, and 68 captured. Other sources place the number killed at 700.

Of the approximately 750 Cubans on the island, some 40 were military(continued on page 9, in “International VIEWPOINT”)