The Pros And Cons Of The Cuban Missile Crisis

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The U.S. had just elected President Kennedy two years prior to this very threatening occasion, and every nation thought he was a weak leader who just craved attention. During this time, the Soviets and the U.S. were right in the middle of the Cold War (1947-1991): the period of time when both nations were trying to spread their type of government and become superior, making us enemies. Just a year before the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. had made a failed attempt at invading Cuba at the Bay of Pigs to overthrow their communist dictator, Fidel Castro. Once Russia caught wind of this failed invasion, they quickly jumped at their chance at becoming allies with Castro, and started building nuclear bombs in Cuba. Kennedy had recently placed bombs in Turkey, Russia’s neighbor probably leading the soviets to place some of theirs in Cuba, because of how close it was to America; one nuclear bomb could reach Washington D.C. in 30 minutes.
When President Kennedy asks the Soviets about the missiles, they say the Americans shouldn’t see them as a threat because they were strictly defensive bombs. Clearly lying to the President, Kennedy calls for a meeting were they discuss two possible courses of action: an airstrike and invasion of Cuba and the Russian freighters; a naval blockade. On the fifth day after learning about the nuclear bombs headed towards Cuba, Kennedy decides that the best plan would be to set up naval block around Cuba, to prevent Russian ships to reach the shores. At 7:00 p.m., as the President is giving his speech to the people revealing that there were missiles being constructed by the Soviets in Cuba, the naval fleet is preparing for their mission to prevent the Russians from reaching Cuba. Prior to announcing the great...

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...exchange for lifting the quarantine and a pledge that the U.S. will not invade Cuba. (Khrushchev, page 11).”
Even though they were still in the middle of the Cold War, Russia and America were able to somewhat civilly make an equal agreement. The Soviets and Fidel Castro would remain allies, but would remove all missiles placed there prior, under the circumstances that America would lift the blockade and never invade Cuba. War was avoided, and America was proven to be the superior superpower since Russia backed down and retreated. It took nearly two weeks to solve this possible worldwide, life threatening crisis. During these thirteen days, President Kennedy proved that he wasn’t a weak, cowardly leader, and that he would take a stand in order to protect his people – showing the world that America wouldn’t just sit and let something happen, they would take action.

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