Conflict between the U.S. and Russia
             The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. The
             United States armed forces were at their highest state of readiness and Soviet forces in Cuba were prepared to use nuclear weapons deployed on Cuban beaches to defend the island if it was invaded. However, histories opinion of the conflict is more that of praise and commendation because of the "bravery" of two men, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev. However, this extreme, 14 day, tension mounting conflict was really a contest of two men's egos. For example: during President Kennedy's presidential campaign, he had repeatedly spoken of a missile gap between the U.S. and Soviet Union, meaning that neither nation had the capabilities of striking each other from each ones mainland. Despite being briefed by the Pentagon that the U.S. had more missiles than the Soviets, Kennedy maintained his claim that the U.S. had less. After the 1960 election, Khrushchev began to test the new president, and in the summer of 1961 Khrushchev applied pressure to Berlin and eventually built a wall surrounding West Berlin. In response, Kennedy felt it necessary to inform Khrushchev that there was in fact no missile gap. Undoubtedly a use of power that needed not be thrown into the equation at that time. Khrushchev claimed to have always known the U.S. had more missiles. Khrushchev also knew that Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe but U.S. missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union. In reality, the conflict could have easily been averted and forgotten about had President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev communicated with each other more efficiently, been more willing to negociate, and put aside their oversized ego's sooner for the balance of world peace.
             A major point not to be overlooked, is that up to the point of the Crisis, Khrushche...