2006-06-29 07:22:47 · 8 answers · asked by Dan V 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
During the Spanish-American War, the U.S. fleet attacking Santiago retreated to Guantánamo's excellent harbor to ride out the summer hurricane season of 1898. The Marines landed with naval support, but required Cuban scouts to push off Spanish resistance that increased as they moved inland. This area became the location of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, which covers about 45 square miles (116 km²) and is sometimes abbreviated as GTMO or "Gitmo". By war's end, the U.S. government had obtained control of all of Cuba from Spain.
2006-06-29 07:26:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This was part of the deal made by Kennedy after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963 in return for the promise never to invade Cuba again.
2006-06-29 07:26:19 · answer #2 · answered by kilgore 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The former leader of Cuba leased the base to the Department of the Navy indefinitly; Castro is still cashing the checks.
2006-06-29 08:42:12 · answer #3 · answered by Darius C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We were given the base from the Spanish after the Spanish-American War around 1900.
2006-06-29 07:25:20 · answer #4 · answered by aboukir200 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spanish-American war.
2006-06-29 07:26:33 · answer #5 · answered by Eric K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually...i think we were leasing it for something like 99 years..i thought the lease was supposed to have been up some years ago ..not sure why we are still there but glad we are.
2006-06-29 07:42:11 · answer #6 · answered by RunningOnMT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spoils of war.
2006-06-29 07:26:12 · answer #7 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we told Castro we were taking it and if he didnt like it he could kiss our *ss
2006-06-29 07:25:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋