President Truman's Invasion Of Guatemala During The Cold War

PBGUATEMALA
The threat, or the perceived threat, of communism to the United States of America at the end World War II led to major cold conflicts around the world. Guatemala would end up being one of many theaters of conflict during the Cold War that was first introduced by President Harry Truman and continued by his successor, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The attempt by the people of Guatemala and its President, Jacabo Arbenz Guzman, to establish a nationalist government presented either a perceived or actual threat to the power of the US's national interests as well as a danger to the prosperity of US corporations. Initially Truman, then Eisenhower would execute a grand strategy of perimeter defense that would include Guatemala in protecting

PBFORTUNE was a covert operation intended to “dispose” of a group of 58 communist personnel and either exile or jail another 74 prominent members of Arbenz administration during military operations to over throw the government (USA). How far high in the ranks the CIA was willing to kill and jail in the administration is not clear as all the names have been blackout from the declassified documents. While Truman was unable to implement the covert operation PBFORTUNE, his successor, President Eisenhower, would be increasingly more determined to follow through with his plans. PBSUCCESS increased the pressure on the Arbenz government, including psychological warfare -- similar tactics had been successful a year earlier in the overthrow of democratically-elected Mohammed Mossadeq in Iran -- and updating the list of those who would have to be removed from the administration for the coup to triumph. In hopes of creating fear in the Communist leaders, the opposition would routinely receive “death notice” cards, mourning cards, wooden coffins, hangman’s nooses, and phony bombs. Simultaneously, President Eisenhower was using strong-arm diplomacy to isolate Guatemala in the Organization of American States (OAS), using economic sanctions in attempts to stagnate Guatemala’s economy. On June 16, 1954, Castillo and his CIA-trained exiles were given the order to enter Guatemala, during which the CIA would supply aerial support. In the ensuing battles, with essential air support by the CIA, Castillo was able to capture major cities and advance. Castillo’s major success was also due to the lack of serious fighting by the Guatemalan army, which was wary of Arbenz’s agrarian reforms and worried that if Castillo were defeated, it