{
    "title": "Havana Bad Day",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-20 23:09:37",
    "published_at": "2026-05-20 23:09:00",
    "url": "https://special-guests.prezly.com/havana-bad-day",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/zlHd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Raul Castro Indictment Makes Cuba Home of the Bay of Pigs Flying",
    "slug": "havana-bad-day",
    "body": "<p>The federal indictment of former Cuban leader Ra&uacute;l Castro is being framed by the White House as long-awaited justice for the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft that killed four men &mdash; but for <strong>veteran investigative journalist Bill Conroy, former FBI asset Robert Eringer, and legendary CIA pilot Robert Tosh Plumlee,</strong> the real story is what comes next for Cuba.</p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Indictment raises fears of renewed U.S.-Cuba confrontation</strong></span></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Former CIA pilot recalls Castro&rsquo;s violent rise firsthand</strong></span></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Intelligence veterans question true motives behind Raul Castro charges</strong></span></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Regime change could spark chaos, instability, or mass migration</strong></span></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Cuba&rsquo;s future may hinge on civilian reaction, not Washington plans</strong></span></li></ul><p> </p><p>Conroy says the indictment was &ldquo;telegraphed&rdquo; well in advance by the Trump administration and the Department of Justice and argues that the 94-year-old Castro himself may be less important than the broader geopolitical objective behind the charges. &ldquo;Raul&rsquo;s not the primary target,&rdquo; Conroy says. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the pretext. The real issue is whether this becomes the opening move for forced regime change.&rdquo;</p><p>Eringer, who conducted intelligence work tied to Cuba for the FBI, believes the indictment sends a direct warning from CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Havana&rsquo;s leadership. &ldquo;This is leverage,&rdquo; Eringer says. &ldquo;A blunt message to Cuba to stop serving as a safe haven for adversaries of the United States.&rdquo; He argues the move fits squarely within a revived interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, with Washington signaling it will no longer tolerate hostile foreign influence operating ninety miles from Florida.</p><p> </p><p>Adding rare historical perspective is Plumlee, one of the last surviving CIA-connected pilots directly involved in the Cuban conflict. Plumlee flew weapons to Cuban rebels during the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power, then later supported anti-Castro operations connected to the Bay of Pigs Invasion. He was famously photographed riding a tank in Cuba during Castro&rsquo;s rise. Plumlee can speak firsthand about how quickly revolutionary movements can spiral beyond anyone&rsquo;s control &mdash; and why &ldquo;regime change&rdquo; does not automatically mean democracy or stability.</p><p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https://specialguests.com/cuban-experts-on-castro-indictment/\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE</strong></a></p><p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW, CALL OR TEXT 512-966-0983 OR EMAIL </strong><a href=\"mailto:BOOKINGS@SPECIALGUESTS.COM\"><strong>BOOKINGS@SPECIALGUESTS.COM</strong></a></p><p style=\"text-align: center\">&nbsp;</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n    >\n        <a class=\"release-content-image__link\"\n           id=\"image-8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c\"\n           href=\"https://specialguests.com/guests-topics/\"\n           data-id=\"8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c\"\n           data-track=\"Story Image View\"\n           data-placement=\"content\"\n                            target=\"_blank\"\n                rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n                       style=\"width: 13.89%\"\n        >\n            <img\n                class=\"release-content-image__image\"\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                            >\n        </a>\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>",
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    "author": {
        "first_name": "Jerry",
        "last_name": "McGlothlin"
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