WI: Cubans execute American Students in Grenada

When the United States military invades Grenada in 1983 during Operation Urgent Fury, Cuban troops stationed in the country retaliate by storming St. George's University and executing dozens of American students. What would be the likely consequences?
 
When the United States military invades Grenada in 1983 during Operation Urgent Fury, Cuban troops stationed in the country retaliate by storming St. George's University and executing dozens of American students. What would be the likely consequences?

Probably not Bay Of Pigs II, but considerably heavier retribution than whatever was visited upon US ally Somoza for killing those reporters in 1979.

I can't see Castro coming out publically in support of such a harebrained slaughter, or even approving it privately, so if he denounces it and apologizes, I'm thinking the US might just let him off with some sort of economic sanctions(assuming there was anything LEFT to sanction after two decades of economic blockade). Maybe some menacing military exercies conducted near Cuban waters, that sort of thing.
 

Thothian

Banned
When the United States military invades Grenada in 1983 during Operation Urgent Fury, Cuban troops stationed in the country retaliate by storming St. George's University and executing dozens of American students. What would be the likely consequences?

As was said, probably not a ground invasion. But we are talking about Reagan here. This would have essentially given him a free hand (in US public opinion) against Cuba. So, maybe:

1) USN sweeps the small Cuban navy from the sea, literally sinking all of it, and bombarding those that are in port

2) airstrikes in Cuba to destroy the entire Cuban Air Force on the ground, and shooting down any that make it into the air

3) 100% blockade of Cuba, sea and air. Nothing gets in or out, nothing. Reagan announces that the blockade will end only when the Castro regime steps down.
 
As was said, probably not a ground invasion. But we are talking about Reagan here. This would have essentially given him a free hand (in US public opinion) against Cuba. So, maybe:

1) USN sweeps the small Cuban navy from the sea, literally sinking all of it, and bombarding those that are in port

2) airstrikes in Cuba to destroy the entire Cuban Air Force on the ground, and shooting down any that make it into the air

3) 100% blockade of Cuba, sea and air. Nothing gets in or out, nothing. Reagan announces that the blockade will end only when the Castro regime steps down.

Sure that USSR wouldn't care when USA bombs Cuban naval bases and air ports?

Probably we don't see any kind of lift of embargo by 2017 like in OTL. I could imaginate that relationships would be even colder if possible.
 

Geon

Donor
Probably not Bay Of Pigs II, but considerably heavier retribution than whatever was visited upon US ally Somoza for killing those reporters in 1979.

I can't see Castro coming out publically in support of such a harebrained slaughter, or even approving it privately, so if he denounces it and apologizes, I'm thinking the US might just let him off with some sort of economic sanctions(assuming there was anything LEFT to sanction after two decades of economic blockade). Maybe some menacing military exercies conducted near Cuban waters, that sort of thing.

Overoceans - There would be two groups in the U.S. after such an atrocity. The first group would be those saying the students would have been in no danger whatsoever if we hadn't invaded and would blame Reagan for overreacting. The other - and possibly just as vocal group - would be made up of loved ones of the slain students who would not be satisfied with anything short of Castro's lynching!

I agree Castro would not have ordered anything like this. He would have denounced the action and apologized but likely would blame the U.S. for invading Grenada and provoking the incident in the first place.

Knowing Reagan I think we would see him demanding a global boycott of all Cuban goods and possibly planning an invasion of Cuba. Maybe not carrying it out but major saber rattling would occur and there would be several military "incidents" between the U.S. and Cuba for several months to come.

There's no way the Cubans would be that stupid.

Lost Freeway, it's likely the Cuban government wouldn't order this as pointed out above, but it is all too likely the Cuban soldiers might have for example stormed the college and taken the students hostage. Then the students are killed as the U.S. tries to rescue them. The history of war is too often a history of stupidity.
 
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