Grenada

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Yeah, so I've done a little looking into Grenada and Panama for anybody that was interested in my post on this. Make yourself an instant expert.

NAME OF CONFLICT: The U.S. Invasion of Grenada

ALTERNATE NAMES: Operation Urgent Fury (US) BELLIGERENTS: United States and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States vs. Grenada and Cuba

DATES OF CONFLICT: BEGAN: October 25, 1983 ENDED: December, 1983

TYPE(S) OF CONFLICT: Inter-State (between nations)

CONCURRENT: The Cold War, U.S. Intervention in Lebanon (1982-1984), Nicaraguan "Contra" War (1982-1990)

CAUSES OF CONFLICT: The U.S. invasion of Grenada and the toppling of it's Marxist government can be seen as part of a greater regional conflict. This conflict involved the U.S. and it's Central American and Caribbean allies on one side and Fidel Castro's Cuba, the Sandinista government of Nicaragua and various Marxist guerrilla armies on the other. President Reagan and his administration were concerned that the Marxist government of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was allowing Cuba to gain undue influence in Grenada, specifically by constructing a military-grade airport with Cuban military engineers.

On October 13, 1983, the Grenadian Army, controlled by former Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard, seized power in a bloody coup. The severity of the violence, coupled with Coard's hard-line Marxism, caused deep concern among neighboring Caribbean nations, as well as in Washington, D.C. Also, the presence of nearly 1,000 American medical students in Grenada caused added concern.

However, along with concern, came opportunity. With President Reagan's worldwide efforts to confront what he viewed as the threat by the Soviet Union and other Communist countries (such as Cuba), the turmoil in the Caribbean provided a timely excuse to eliminate a Marxist government and give Fidel Castro a black eye.

It should also be noted that on October 23, 1983, American foreign policy and pride suffered a terrible shock when a Muslim suicide bomber destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 240 U.S. Marines. A successful campaign in Grenada would prove helpful in alleviating the pain of that setback.

DESCRIPTION OF CONFLICT: In the early morning of October 25, 1983, the United States invaded the island of Grenada. The initial assault consisted of some 1,200 troops, and they were met by stiff resistance from the Grenadian army and Cuban military units on the island. Heavy fighting continued for several days, but as the invasion force grew to more than 7,000, the defenders either surrendered or fled into the mountains. Scattered fighting continued as U.S. troops hunted down stragglers, but for the most part, the island quickly fell under American control. By mid-December, U.S. combat forces went home and a pro-American government took power.

CONSEQUENCES OF CONFLICT:

1. The Marxist, pro-Cuban governments of Bishop and Coard were eliminated and a regime friendly to American interests took over.

2. The Reagan Administration proved willing to use force to combat what it considered hostile governments in the area.

3. America's European allies expressed disapproval of the unilateral invasion of Grenada.

4. The invasion sent a message to Cuba and Nicaragua that they could only go so far in exporting revolution in Central America and the Caribbean without provoking an American military response.

CASUALTY FIGURES:

U.S.-- 19 dead (officially).

Grenada-- 49 dead and several hundred wounded.

Cuba-- 29 dead and over a hundred wounded.

UNIQUE FACTS OR TRENDS: This section is formed from the opinion of the History Guy regarding this conflict.

1. This was the first "war" between the U.S. and Cuba. Though some would say that the Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961 could fall into that category, I do not count it in the category of an "official" shooting war or conflict.

2. Grenada was America's first military victory since well before the Vietnam War.

3. This was the first time since before World War 2 that an avowed Communist/Marxist government had been replaced with a pro-Western one. It should be noted though, that some governments which the United States and her allies claimed were communist (like the Arbenz government of Guatemala and the Mossadegh regime in Iran) did fall due to covert American (CIA) action. Again, I do not count them since they did not officially proclaim allegiance to the communist ideology or become overt allies of other communist nations.

Hmm, maybe nobody here heard of it because I'm the only person here that was alive in 1983, eh? What are you guys' thoughts on this so far?

I guess it wasn't a "war" after all. Anyways, I'll post more about Grenada, Iran-Contra, Panama, and others at this board as I learn more. Uh...stay tuned...or something.

I Like Pasta's Source: http://www.historyguy.com/Grenada.html

-- I Like Pasta (macaroni@noodleworks.com), October 10, 2004

Answers

19 American kids dead because Reagan wanted to show Castro how big his dick was. Jesus.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), October 10, 2004.

Hmm, I don't know. I think 1000 medical students in jeopardy MIGHT jusify sending troops in, but there's just something about this that reeks of the US being afraid of alternate governments and/or economic strategies working. I don't know. To atone for the deaths of the Marines, maybe...but then again, I don't picture there being many Muslims in Grenada/Cuba. To rescue the med students, maybe. Because of Commie/Marxaphobia? How about "no".

-- I Like Pasta (from Alfredo@to Ziti.com), October 10, 2004.

I was in the panama canal at the time after our ship set up a radar station where Niquragua, honduras and elsalvador meets. Aruba refused our would be port visit. Lets get aruba next time we need to show how big our balls are.

-- Bill Brasky (Brasky@reagansux.com), October 11, 2004.

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