User:HMSAudacious/sandbox

New History:

Alpha 66 was founded by Cuban exiles in the early 1960s to act as an anti-Castro, paramilitary group. Although it has undergone changes in personnel and leadership, it still exists today and is based out of Florida. Alpha 66 was most active during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but remains active in the Miami area. At the height of its power, Alpha 66 operated at a level similar to Abdala, Brigade 2506, Omega 7, and the FLNC (Cuban National Liberation Front) amongst other Cuban-exile paramilitary groups. It claimed to have sixty-three chapters in operation during 1977.

Like many other Cuban exile paramilitary groups, Alpha 66 presented itself as a patriotic organization that wished to undo the betrayal to the revolution that was Fidel Castro’s government. Alpha 66’s founding members included many Cubans who had fought as revolutionaries against the Batista government alongside Fidel Castro and Alpha 66’s anthem directly references Fidel Castro as having betrayed the ideals that the group’s members originally fought for. Alpha 66’s anti-communist rhetoric and staunch opposition to the Cuban government earned it the overwhelming support of the Miami exile community as well as the sympathy of a select few anti-communist American politicians.

Alpha 66 had multiple founders including Gutierrez Menoyo, who had served twenty years in a Cuban prison for counterrevolutionary activities, and Antonio Veciana. Early on, some members of Alpha 66 also partook in the United States-sponsored Volunteer Program, which allowed Cuban exiles to form all-Cuban military units within the United States Army. Additionally, members of Alpha 66 received limited funding and training from the CIA; however, this support did not last. The CIA found that it had little control over the actions of Alpha 66 and, in many cases, Alpha 66 carried out operations without the CIA’s approval or consultation, leading to the CIA ending its involvement with the group, which in turn caused many Alpha 66 members to become disillusioned with the United States government for its lack of support. Despite the lack of government support, Alpha 66 still managed to train its members throughout the everglades of Florida.

As hope for a United States-led invasion of Cuba died down amongst exiles, a growing number of Cuban exiles began to promote reconciliation between the United States and Cuba as well as peaceful methods of change within Cuba. In Alpha 66’s case, some members broke off and started a group known as Cambio Cubano (Cuban Change). Notably, Gutierrez Menoyo and Antonio Veciana became strong advocates for national dialogue between Cuba and the United States. By 1974, most Cuban exiles figured that the Cuban government could not be overthrown by a militant group and instead decided to support cooperation between the United States and Cuba. The Cuban exiles were labeled “Dialogueros” as opposed to the “hardliners” who still wished to overthrow Cuba’s communist regime and the Castro government by force. One Miami Herald poll found that only twenty-eight percent of the Cuban exile population in the are supported dialogue between the United States and the Castro government.

Although the United States was originally unable halt Alpha 66’s terrorist operations due to issues arising between United States Customs and the Department of Justice. Politically, the United States, like many Cuban exiles, was also completely committed to overthrowing the communist regime that was situated off the coast of Florida, which further slowed and complicated its efforts. However, as time passed and tensions eased between the United States and Cuba, the United States government began to specifically target paramilitary exile groups and other terrorist cells, making clear its lack of support for the illegal activities that many militants attempted to undertake. By the 1980s, the United States organized special task forces to further crack down on the illegal terrorist activities of groups like Alpha 66. This, and the growing support for the “Dialogueros” movement led most Cuban exile paramilitary organizations to breakup by the mid 1980s.

Old History:

Cuban exiles founded Alpha 66 in the early 1960s to act as an anti-Castro, paramilitary group. Although the group had multiple founders, Antonio Veciana and Gutierrez Menoyo are two of the most notable. The group was established three years after Fidel Castro took office. The founder and first leader of Alpha 66 was Antonio Veciana Blanch. Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo helped form the group.

Alpha 66 had a plot to assassinate then President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. However, before the attack could be carried out, Fidel Castro exposed Diaz's plans.

The group worked during the 1960s and 1970s to plan assassination attempts on Fidel Castro in Havana 1961 and in Chile in 1971.

Though an invasion never materialized after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, the group continued its violent efforts against Cuba. One of these violent efforts was the Boca de Sana murders from 1971 that left two dead and many injured by indiscriminate spraying of bullets in the dead of night.

In 1976, Miami Police's Lieutenant Thomas Lyons and Detective Raul J. Diaz testified that groups including Alpha 66 had international terrorist ties and had sold $100 "bonds" in Miami to help finance their causes. (page 637) The group was linked to a spate of bombings and assassinations in Miami during the 1970s, directed at Pro-Castro speakers. No Alpha 66 member was convicted of these crimes, however; and other Cuban paramilitary groups, such as Omega 7 and Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations, were active in Miami at the same time. A week before Lyons and Diaz's testimony, broadcaster Emilio Milian's legs were blown off by a car bomb outside his workplace. Alpha 66 continues to be an organized entity.

At the time of his death in 2004, Alpha 66 was led by Andrés Nazario Sargen.

Alpha 66 still has an office residing in Miami, as of 2004. The organization also has a new chief, his name is Ernesto Diaz Rodriguez. Under his regime he wants to stay true to the original intent of the organization. That original is to combat strategy for radical change in Cuba. As of 2004, Rodriguez stated that Alpha 66 was planning on expanding their two locations. One of the locations residing in Miami, Florida which served as an office, headquarters type of area. While the other location was in Rumba Sur which served as a military training camp.

Cuban exiles founded Alpha 66 in the early 1960's to act as an anti-Castro, paramilitary group. Although the group had multiple founders, Antonio Veciana and Gutierrez Menoyo are two of the most notable.

Bibliography Notes: