The Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations were fighting for the removal of Castro. Here is a list of some the reasons for their efforts:
https://www.faithwire.com/2016/11/28/heres-a-handy-list-of-atrocities-for-everyone-glorifying-fidel-castro-today/
Very good. Well, really, it wasn't a great leap of faith that Castro and Che both wished to launch nukes on the US, in that day and age, why would one not think the worse.
Yes, we had our faults but probably not as bad as others.
Fidel Castro also came closest of anyone in history to (wantonly) starting a worldwide nuclear war.
Great well-researched article and honestly, wanting to eliminate Castro, well, that's more of the CIA deeds and maybe JFK didn't want to overrule it... though, it is a thing to research.
Not just some simple answer. Nothing would preclude one from trying to do both.
I think I read recently, some story of the CIA having contemplated attacks on the US homeland, mainly Florida and blaming it on Castro. I will look for the article and try to post it later.