Their plan called for an invasion force, spearheaded by a well-armed brigade of Cuban exiles, trained by the CIA at their Guatemala base camp. The plan initially envisioned “an amphibious force of 600–750 men,” but that number nearly doubled as the date drew near. They would be accompanied by an air bombardment of “extraordinarily heavy firepower. Preliminary strikes would be launched from Nicaragua against military targets. The strikes, plus supply flights, would continue after the landing.” This assault force would seize a landing area, “draw dissident elements to our own force,” and quickly
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