美國為了暗殺菲德爾·卡斯楚所用的瘋狂手段：英語精讀講義

According to Fidel Castro's former Secret Service Chief, 表達脈絡

根據菲德爾·卡斯楚前特勤局局長的說法，

the now deceased dictator survived no less than 634 attempts on his life, 片語搭配

這位現已過世的獨裁者至少躲過了 634 次暗殺，

many by the American Central Intelligence Agency,

其中許多是由美國中央情報局策劃的，

from exploding cigars to exploding seashells. 表達脈絡

從會爆炸的雪茄到會爆炸的貝殼應有盡有。

What were some of the most creative ways the United States tried to kill Castro?

美國為了殺死卡斯楚，曾嘗試過哪些最具創意的方法呢？

Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Infographics Show.

大家好，歡迎收看新一期的《資訊圖表秀》。

Today, we're taking a look at the US's most insane attempts to kill Fidel Castro. 片語搭配

今天，我們將一起盤點美國為暗殺菲德爾·卡斯楚所做出的那些最瘋狂的嘗試。

As a ruler of Cuba from 1961 until 2011,

作為 1961 年至 2011 年期間古巴的統治者，

Fidel Castro came to power riding a wave of revolutionary zeal. 講解

菲德爾·卡斯楚是乘著革命熱潮上台的。

But while having his roots as an anti-imperialistic revolutionary that fought for the people,

儘管他起初是一位為人民而戰的反帝革命者，

upon assuming power 文法

但在掌權之後，

Castro very quickly became as ruthless and authoritarian as any dictator. 文法

卡斯楚很快就變得和其他獨裁者一樣冷酷無情且專制。

From stripping away the freedom of the press 片語動詞

從剝奪新聞自由

to bragging about jailing tens of thousands of political opponents,

到吹噓自己監禁了成千上萬名政敵，

Castro became one of the most notorious leaders of the 20th century.

卡斯楚成為了 20 世紀最臭名昭著的領導人之一。

Yet, it wasn't until Castro began cozying up to the US's arch enemy, 講解

然而，直到卡斯楚開始向美國的頭號死敵——

the Soviet Union,

蘇聯示好時，

that he wandered into the crosshairs of the US's Central Intelligence Agency. 慣用語

他才進入了美國中央情報局的視野。

Fearful of a global domino effect where one nation falling into communism would lead to another and so on, 慣用語

由於擔心出現一個國家陷入共產主義會導致其他國家接連效仿的全球骨牌效應，

the US was also deeply disturbed by the presence of a strong Soviet ally

美國也對這個強大的蘇聯盟友

less than 100 miles from its shores.

出現在距離其海岸線不到 100 英里的地方感到極度不安。

Foreseeing a Cuban Crisis scenario,

預見到可能會出現類似古巴危機的局面，

which ironically would come to pass anyways, 片語動詞

諷刺的是，這種情況無論如何後來還是發生了，

the US intelligence committee made the recommendation

美國情報委員會提出了建議：

that Castro be removed from power by any means necessary. 片語搭配

必須不擇手段地將卡斯楚趕下台。

For a decade and a half, 片語搭配

在長達十五年的時間裡，

US presidents would agree,

歷任美國總統都同意這一做法，

until the signing of Executive Order 11905 by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976, 文化背景

直到 1976 年，傑拉德·R·福特總統簽署了第 11905 號行政命令，

banned US intelligence agencies from committing political assassinations.

才明令禁止美國情報機構進行政治暗殺。

Yet, for 15 long years prior to Executive Order 11905,

然而，在第 11905 號行政命令頒布之前的 15 年漫長歲月中，

it was open season on Castro as far as the US was concerned, 講解

對美國而言，可以放手對卡斯楚進行暗殺，

even going so far as to enlist the aid of American mafia leaders. 文法

甚至不惜尋求美國黑手黨頭目的幫助。

So, what were some of the craziest ways the CIA tried to kill Castro?

那麼，中情局為了殺死卡斯楚，究竟嘗試過哪些最瘋狂的方法呢？

Perhaps the most famous plots against Castro was the exploding cigar.

也許最著名的暗殺陰謀就是會爆炸的雪茄。

Known for his love of cigars,

因為卡斯楚酷愛雪茄，

the CIA brainstormed a way to get Castro a case of cigars

中情局想方設法要送給卡斯楚一盒雪茄，

loaded with small amounts of explosives,

裡面裝有少量的爆炸物。

allegedly during a trip to the United Nations in 1966,

據稱在 1966 年卡斯楚前往聯合國期間，

a CIA agent was en route to swap a case of explosive cigars with real cigars, 用詞

一名中情局特工在途中準備用爆炸雪茄換掉真雪茄，

when at the last minute the operation was cancelled 片語搭配

但在最後一刻，行動被取消了，

for fear of political fallout from Castro's assassination 用詞

原因是擔心卡斯楚在聯合國訪問期間遇刺

taking place during a visit to the UN.

會引發嚴重的政治後果。

Yet, some sources suggest that the exploding cigar ploy was a complete fabrication, 片語搭配

然而，有消息人士表示，爆炸雪茄的計策完全是捏造的，

purposefully silly and meant to hide more serious attempts on Castro's life.

故意顯得很荒誕，目的是掩蓋針對卡斯楚生命更嚴肅的暗殺企圖。

Whatever the case, Castro's security team took the threat extremely seriously, 講解

無論如何，卡斯楚的安全團隊都極其認真地對待了這一威脅，

eventually leading them to create the Cohiba cigar brand 文化背景

最終促使他們創立了高希霸（Cohiba）雪茄品牌，

in order to guarantee the safety of Castro's supply of cigars.

以保證卡斯楚雪茄供應的安全。

When Castro threw out the Batista regime in 1959 講解

當卡斯楚在 1959 年推翻巴蒂斯塔政權

and took over the extremely lucrative casinos and hotels, 片語動詞

並接管了利潤豐厚的賭場和酒店時，

he made more than a few enemies among international mobsters, 慣用語

他在國際黑幫分子中樹立了不少敵人，

enemies the CIA was happy to cooperate with against their shared enemy.

而中情局很樂意與這些敵人合作，共同對付他們共同的仇敵。

Shortly after Castro came to power,

卡斯楚上台後不久，

a CIA agent met with Las Vegas mobster Johnny Roselli,

一名中情局特工會見了拉斯維加斯黑幫成員強尼·羅塞利，

who introduced him to members of the Las Vegas Syndicate of Bugsy Siegel fame, 片語搭配

羅塞利將他介紹給了巴格西·西格爾麾下著名的拉斯維加斯黑幫集團成員，

offering the mobsters $150,000,

提出向這些黑手黨成員支付 15 萬美元，

or $1.2 million in today's dollars,

相當於今天的 120 萬美元，

to kill Castro in whatever way they thought was best. 文法

讓他們用自己認為最好的方式殺死卡斯楚。

Roselli declined the money and said he'd do the job for free.

羅塞利拒絕了這筆錢，並表示他願意免費效勞。

Contacting mob operatives in Cuba,

透過聯繫在古巴的黑幫特工，

the Vegas mob attempted to poison Castro with cyanide pills loaded into his drinks.

拉斯維加斯黑幫試圖在卡斯楚的飲料中加入氰化物藥丸來毒死他。

Yet, the mob assassin failed several times throughout 1960

然而，在整個 1960 年，這名黑幫殺手多次失敗，

to get close enough to Castro to succeed. 文法

始終未能足夠接近卡斯楚以完成任務。

After the multiple failures,

在多次失敗後，

the CIA ran out of patience and turned the job over 講解

中情局失去了耐心，將任務移交給了

to a doctor named Anthony Verona,

一位名叫安東尼·維羅納的醫生，

who due to professional connections had a much better chance 片語搭配

由於職業上的聯繫，他有更好的機會

of getting close to the ever-more wary dictator.

接近這位日益警惕的獨裁者。

Yet, even after being paid $11,000, or $93,000 in today's dollars,

然而，即使獲得了 1.1 萬美元（相當於今天的 9.3 萬美元）的報酬，

Verona quit after the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion. 文化背景

維羅納在災難性的豬玀灣事件後還是退出了。

Poisoned pills seemed like a good idea to the CIA, though,

不過，毒藥丸似乎對中情局來說是個好主意，

and shortly after the mob failed,

就在黑幫暗殺失敗後不久，

the CIA launched Operation Mongoose with the goal of recruiting 講解

中情局發起了「貓鼬行動」，目的是招募

and training Cuban exiles to become secret agents inside Cuba.

並訓練古巴流亡者，使他們成為古巴境內的特工。

In what would have seemed to be the absolute jackpot for the CIA, 講解

對於中情局來說，這似乎是一個千載難逢的機會，

agents managed to recruit one of Castro's former girlfriends,

特工們設法招募了卡斯楚的一位前女友，

a woman named Marita Lorenz.

一位名叫瑪麗塔·洛倫茲的女士。

With overnight access to his home,

由於可以在他家過夜，

Marita seemed like a sure bet, 慣用語

瑪麗塔看起來勝券在握，

and the CIA quickly began training her in the use of cyanide tablets.

中情局迅速開始訓練她使用氰化物藥片。

Lethal within 30 seconds of ingestion, 用詞

這種藥片吞下後 30 秒內即可致命，

Marita returned to Cuba and reconnected with Castro,

瑪麗塔回到古巴並重新聯繫了卡斯楚，

staying the night at his home.

在他家留宿了一晚。

Yet, as she went for the pills, 片語動詞

然而，當她去拿藥片時，

she realized they had dissolved into the jar of cold cream she stored them in,

發現藥片已經溶解在她存放藥片的冷霜罐裡，

and were completely unusable.

完全無法使用了。

Suffering a crisis of conscience, 片語搭配

也許是出於良心的譴責，

or perhaps afraid because of Castro's suspicions,

或者是害怕引起卡斯楚的懷疑，

Marita confessed the plot to Castro,

瑪麗塔向卡斯楚坦白了這個陰謀，

who immediately began to rage,

卡斯楚立刻勃然大怒，

yet not against Marita, but against the US. 文法

但不是針對瑪麗塔，而是針對美國。

In a 1993 interview with Vanity Fair,

在 1993 年接受《浮華世界》採訪時，

Castro then grabbed a .45 caliber pistol and put it in her hand,

瑪麗塔回憶說，卡斯楚隨後抓起一把 .45 口徑手槍塞進她手裡，

telling her that she couldn't kill him.

告訴她，她殺不了他。

He was right.

他是對的。

Marita dropped the gun and stayed the night with Castro,

瑪麗塔扔下了槍，和卡斯楚共度了那一夜，

leaving in the morning and never returning.

第二天早上離開，再也沒有回來。

Despite repeated failures,

儘管屢次失敗，

the CIA is nothing if not persistent. 慣用語

中情局可以說是屢敗屢戰。

Once more going back to the drawing board, 慣用語

再次回到原點後，

they struck upon another of Castro's weaknesses, 片語動詞

他們發現了卡斯楚的另一個弱點，

his love of taking frequent morning ocean swims.

他喜歡經常在早晨去海裡游泳。

Well known for attending a private beach for his swims, 片語搭配

眾所周知，他常去一個私人海灘游泳，

the CIA came upon the idea of infiltrating that beach 片語搭配

中情局想出了一個主意：在前一天晚上派美國特種部隊

with US Special Forces the night before

潛入該海灘，

and placing sabotaged seashells along the sand.

在沙灘上放置經過改裝的貝殼。

Each seashell would conceal a small amount of explosives,

每個貝殼裡都藏有少量的炸藥，

and exploding them all together would hopefully neutralize the dictator

只要它們一起爆炸，就有望解決掉這個獨裁者，

no matter where he chose to sunbathe. 文法

不管他選擇在哪裡享受日光浴。

The idea garnered enough serious attention that tests were conducted on a Virginia beach, 片語搭配

這個想法得到了足夠的重視，甚至在維吉尼亞州的一個海灘上進行了測試，

but lacking in explosive power, 片語搭配

但由於爆炸威力不足，

the entire idea was deemed completely impractical. 文法

整個想法被認為完全不切實際。

Yet, undeterred, 表達脈絡

然而，中情局並沒有氣餒，

the CIA came upon another seashell idea.

他們又想出了另一個與貝殼有關的主意。

What if instead of numerous seashells, 文法

既然許多貝殼不行，

just one big one?

那麼一個巨大的貝殼如何呢？

With Castro's known love of scuba diving,

鑑於卡斯楚眾所周知熱愛水肺潛水，

the CIA proposed painting one large seashell in exotic colors

中情局提議將一個巨大的貝殼塗上奇特的顏色，

and hiding explosives within.

然後將炸藥藏在裡面。

Luring Castro's attention,

為了吸引卡斯楚的注意，

the seashell could then be remotely detonated

當他靠近時，

when he came close enough.

貝殼就可以被遠程引爆。

Ultimately, this idea was also regarded as impractical,

最終，這個想法也被認為是不切實際的，

with no guarantee Castro would notice this particular seashell 文法

因為無法保證卡斯楚會注意到這個特定的貝殼

amongst the thousands littering Cuba's beaches. 用詞

在散布於古巴海灘上的成千上萬個貝殼之中。

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, 慣用語

人們常說筆鋒勝於劍刃，

but could it potentially be lethal?

但它有可能致命嗎？

American novelist Ernest Hemingway had owned property in Cuba since 1940

美國小說家歐內斯特·海明威自 1940 年起就在古巴擁有房產，

and spent most of his time there until his death in 1961.

並在那裡度過了他的大部分時光，直到 1961 年去世。

Shortly after Hemingway's suicide,

在海明威自殺後不久，

his widow floated the idea of using the farm 慣用語

他的遺孀提出了一個想法，即利用這個農場

as a staging ground to kill Castro. 用詞

作為暗殺卡斯楚的集結地。

As a huge fan of Hemingway's work,

作為海明威作品的超級粉絲，

Castro had already visited what had become a shrine to the late author, 用詞

卡斯楚已經參觀過這個已故作家的聖地，

with his widow noting that Castro seemed to have little security

他的遺孀注意到，卡斯楚在參觀時似乎

with him when he visited.

身邊幾乎沒有什麼安保人員。

The CIA carefully considered the offer,

中情局仔細考慮了這個提議，

and despite the apparent advantages it offered,

儘管它提供了明顯的優勢，

ultimately rejected the idea.

最終還是拒絕了這個想法。

While no official reason was given, 文法

雖然沒有給出官方原因，

perhaps the CIA feared, rightfully so, the backlash 講解

但也許中情局理所當然地害怕遭到強烈反對，

of using the home of one of the most acclaimed novelists

因為利用 20 世紀最著名小說家之一的故居

of the 20th century to commit an assassination.

來進行暗殺，確實會引發眾怒。

From exploding cigars to seashells to poisoned pills and former lovers,

從爆炸雪茄到貝殼，再到毒藥丸和前女友，

the CIA clearly has no shortage of imagination 慣用語

在策劃邪惡陰謀方面，

when it comes to nefarious plots. 片語搭配

中情局顯然從不缺乏想像力。

Yet, Castro would go on to defy every attempt made on his life, 文法

然而，卡斯楚挺過了對他生命的每一次刺殺，

and ultimately pass away of old age, 用詞

最終安詳老死，

in a way defeating his former rivals 表達脈絡

在某種程度上擊敗了他曾經的對手——

at the most powerful intelligence agency in the world.

這個世界上最強大的情報機構。

Have you heard any other crazy assassination plots

你聽說過其他任何關於暗殺卡斯楚

on Castro or any other leaders' lives?

或其他領導人的瘋狂陰謀嗎？

Want to hear more about crazy plots that actually worked?

想聽更多實際上成功了的瘋狂陰謀嗎？

Let us know in the comments.

請在評論區告訴我們。

Also, be sure to watch our other video called

此外，請務必觀看我們的另一部影片，名為

What are the weirdest unsolved internet mysteries?

網路上最奇怪的未解之謎是什麼？

Thanks for watching,

感謝觀看，

and as always,

和往常一樣，

don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

別忘了按讚、分享和訂閱。

And as ever,

一如既往，

see you next time.

我們下次再見。