U.S. lends muscle to Cuban exile flotilla and flyover
March 2, 1996
Web posted at: 1:00 p.m. ESTFrom Correspondent Carl Rochelle
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. officials say they do not expect a confrontation between Cuba and the Cuban exile flotilla which departed from Florida Saturday morning for a memorial service for the four civilian pilots shot down a week earlier.
Nonetheless, U.S. Navy ships offering backup to the flotilla were expected to increase their visibility by moving in closer to the boats than earlier planned, according to Pentagon sources.
The ships are augmenting armed U.S. Coast Guard cutters escorting the flotilla on its 65-mile journey from Florida to waters off the coast of Cuba.
The sources said the ships -- two cruisers and a frigate -- had originally planned to wait just over the horizon ready to act if needed. But the decision was made to send a stronger signal to Cuba by moving them closer.
Pentagon sources told CNN that they have identified four Cuban patrol boats operating in Cuban territorial waters in the area near where the flotilla is headed.
The officials emphasized that the Cuban boats are in Cuban waters, the flotilla will be in international waters. The officials say the presence of Cuban boats was not unexpected and does not change their belief that there will not be a confrontation.
In addition to surface support, U.S. F-15 fighters were on call to protect the skies if there is any attempt to harass ships in the flotilla or civilian planes involved in a flyover as part of the service.
Eighteen of the Air Force planes were on alert at Homestead Air Force Base, near Miami with as many as 16 additional planes available to augment them if it is believed necessary.
At this time, officials said, there are no plans to put U.S. planes in the air
Some of the F-15s were to be moved to the Key West Naval Air Station 90 miles from Cuba cutting their potential response time to about five minutes.
They would know if they are needed through the AWACS radar command and control airplane that will be flying over the area. The AWACS can see all air traffic in the area, and detect any Cuban fighter aircraft. The plane will detect and assess threats and direct U.S. planes to targets if needed.
The United States had planned to keep a low military profile because it did not foresee a confrontation. But fearing Havana might mistake the low profile for a lack of resolve, U.S. officials decided to increase the visibility of support operations standing by to deal with any confrontation.
![[Imagemap]](/US/images/9601/navbar.gif){kind=small}
Copyright © 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
