Cuban missile crisis
The world was at the edge of a third world war. This was the result of a variety of things: the Cuban Revolution, the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion, US anti-communism, insecurity of the Soviet Union, and Cuba’s fear of invasion all made causes for war. However, war was not the result due to great cooperation from both President Kennedy and President Khrushchev and each of the decisions made by the leaders was crucial in the outcome of The Crisis. Kennedy’s choice to take action by means of quarantine instead of air-strike and Khrushchev’s decision to abide by the quarantines were perhaps the two most significant decisions made by the leaders in order to prevent war. The Cuban Missile Crisis showed the world that compromising and discussion can in-fact prevent war. The world had almost seen another world war, the effects of which would have been devastating because of the weapons involved. The Cuban Revolution was a background cause to the crisis. To the communist party in Cuba, Fidel Castro appeared tempestuous, irresponsible and stubbornly bourgeois. In 1943 President Batista appointed a communist to his Cabinet, as he used communists as leaders of the labor unions. Batista started to f
The US was further angered when Castro’s nationalistic speeches became increasingly anti-American. This was an aggressive letter and suggested not just Khrushchev had not written it. Since the Russian nuclear weapons were short-range whereas the American missiles were long range, and also accurate, America could potentially fire on Russia and hit. Aware of Operation MONGOOSE, and with the trade ban and the worsening economic situation in Cuba, Castro was being forced to turn to the Soviet Union for help. This, the Americans had all misjudged. The Revolution had severed ties between the US and Cuba, which led to the Bay of Pigs invasion later on. The Soviet Union had been racing the US to create weapons of warfare. The military supported the invasion, but after meeting with the head of the air force he learned that in order to destroy the military bases in Cuba it would cost 10-20,000 lives. On October 23, US ships took up positions along the quarantine line, they were given clearance so use any means necessary to halt ships that did not stop for inspection. On January 30 1962 Kennedy met with the Russian President Khrushchev’s son-in-law to remind the Russians the US was friendly and had not interfered with Hungary in 1956, this was an attempt to side with Russia. The emigres were expected to draw support from the island, and Fidel Castro and his inefficient, unstable government would collapse almost instantly. This would be the start of international communism. The Americans thought this would work because a similar plan was executed in Guatemala that was a terrific success. Kennedy approved the CIA plan soon after taking control. Kennedy sent a memo to the Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, okaying the project on November 30, 1961.
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Acceptance Essays
