Cuban Missile

The beginning of Cuban missile crisis-a conflict between two huge atomic nations, the U.S and the U.S.S.R. was a formal presentation made by the CIA to President Kennedy. Experts pointed to the missile base being constructed near San Cristobel, Cuba. No one expected that the Russians would build a base in Cuba for Ballistic Missiles after confirming that the Russians would sign an atmospheric test-ban treaty. This may have been justified by the fact that U.S had a similar base in Turkey near the border with the Soviet Union. However, the biggest puzzle was that Khrushchev assured that there were no military installations in Cuba and that the relationship between the two superpowers would not conflict. The best decision about Kennedy was when he warned that U.S would not tolerate any kind of interference in Latin America by the Soviet Union. More importantly, the president called the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM), a group which met continuously for next twelve days and almost daily for some six weeks thereafter and wanted an air strike on the missile sites.

“The President…knew he would have to act.”

Kennedy instructed the members to come forward with recommendations for one course or possibly several alternative course of action and various alternatives like quarantine, blockade, and air strike against the missile bases alone were suggested. While the argument went on about the possible sanction the missiles were already in Cuba and they realized that a blockade would not solve the problem. Moreover, if U.S demanded the removal of missile from Cuba the soviets would demand the removal of missile around Europe near the Soviet Union. This was a time when Kennedy really showed what he was made of and never wanted to take rash decision that may have tempered the world into nuclear devastation. Meanwhile the missiles were directed at certain American cities and if fired, it would kill almost eighty million Americans. However, Kennedy was skeptical on possible alternatives because he feared that Soviets would do harm on West Berlin and this made Kennedy think twice. Kennedy needed time and he rightly made a point to think about all the alternatives before deciding on the course of action. While all this was happening, Cuba was relatively suppressed by U.S in diplomatic issues and were happy that the Soviets were on their sides. This prompted many members to approach Cuba in easy terms and rightly so because Cuba was a nation embroiled in political tension. However, the Soviets were helping Cubans with weapons and this made U.S hostile towards Cuba.

A majority opinion

As things got heated up and nations were preparing for the inevitable President Kennedy and the EXCOMM decided for a blockade. However, this decision also came after hours of negotiations and the members shared their opinions. There was no decision at the end of the meeting though and as time went on the group split into groups supporting one action and avoiding the other. This was a major factor in Kennedy’s administration because every one voiced opinions and Kennedy was keen to evaluate everyone before making the final veto.

Up to one single man

As every alternative was discussed with pros and cons it was on the President to make the bold decision of choosing one. The president finally made his decision in favor of the blockade. Blockade would not remove the entire missile but neither would an attack. Moreover, an attack would put the United States in a sticky situation throughout the world as an aggressor nation. Monday morning reports claimed that major speech was to be given by the president and that the country faced a serious crisis. The committee was able to establish a legal firm foundation for their action under the OAS charter. France and West Germany supported the U.S while military preparations were going on at Guantanamo Bay and other bases. The navy deployed one hundred eighty ships into their Caribbean and the B-52 bomber force was ordered into the air, fully loaded with atomic weapons. I think President Kennedy was the right man at the right time because he was clever enough to avoid military conflict with another superpower and brilliantly went ahead with the blockade with a possibility of military confrontation with the Soviet Union if need stimulated.

Meeting of the OAS

Russians were not permitting anyone other than Russian technical and military personnel on their missile bases. As the members examined the pictures from the photographic mission in Florida the Air Force was asked to disperse the planes next day. Kennedy arranged meeting with ambassadors from Europe. Meanwhile, the OAS had announced its support, and the president prepared the proclamation that would put the quarantine into effect at 10:00 the next morning. The EXCOMM gave details to the Navy on the interception of vessels in the quarantine zone. Meanwhile, the Russians were also beginning to move into the Caribbean. The most important orders of the EXCOMM was the safety of its own Navy personnel and this proves that the U.S were always ready to back their own soldiers and protect them from attacks. Moreover, Kennedy had tried various alternatives and had planned the crisis meticulously so that no one would argue that the U.S was the instigator of the war, i.e. if the war stirred up.

Meeting with Dobrynin.

Robert Kennedy on the instruction of Kennedy met Dobrynin and made the latter assure that missiles in Cuba were not present. The President then shortened quarantine line from eight hundred to five hundred miles. This was the beginning f the most important phase in the step towards an all out war because on Wednesday the Russian ships were nearing quarantine barrier with a Russian submarine in between. However, much to the relief of everyone the Russians avoided confrontation. I think this was a major victory for the U.S. and it also pointed out that the