Cuban Missile Crisis Importance

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The Importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis Throughout history, there were many important events, but few of these events could have ended the world as we know it. Imagine living in a radioactive wasteland like that of Chernobyl. That very well might have been the fate of the United States of America if the Cuban Missile Crisis resulted in a different outcome. John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, faced the difficult task of handling America’s Cold War enemy putting deadly missiles within range of America. Now, it is clear he made the right decision, a decision that did not lead to the complete destruction of two of the world’s most important countries, and did not end life as we know it. The Cuban missile crisis is the most important …show more content…

became all too real when U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet missile pads in Cuba. The U.S. worst nightmare was becoming a reality, Soviet missiles with the capability of obliterating U.S. cities were now in range (lecture notes). President Kennedy knew something had to be done to get rid of the missiles in Cuba or the U.S. would have no choice but to enter a nuclear war with the Soviets. One of the options was to have the U.S. air force bomb the missile pads to destroy them. President Kennedy felt this would provoke the Soviets into attacking and decided against it (Lecture notes from TCPS government class, 2014). After considering all possible options, President Kennedy decided the best choice of action was to set up a naval blockade to quarantine the nation of Cuba, and stop the import of offensive weapons. This was the perfect decision because it did not provoke the Soviet Union, but also showed the U.S. was willing to stand firm on its decision. President Kennedy can be quoted as saying “It looks like its all up to the Navy.” to Navy chief of operations George W. Anderson. To which Anderson replied, “Sir, the Navy will not let you down.”, and luckily, for the fate of life as we know it, he was correct (Cuban Missile Crisis, Youtube.com.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ZzL9KsyPY). In October 1962, the U.S. Navy set out to sea, and intercepted a Soviet submarine armed with Nuclear tipped torpedoes. The U.S. Navy was instructed to destroy Soviet and Cuban forces ashore should the quarantine fail. The world watched anxiously for thirteen days until finally, on October 28 1962, Soviet leader Khrushchev ordered the removal of Soviet weapons from Cuba (lecture notes, and Cuban Missile Crisis, youtube.com). This decision helped ease tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union, and was the first step in the disarmament of nuclear weapons by both

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