Significance of Cuban Missile Crisis - 1470 Words

Significance of Cuban Missile Crisis -This was an intense period where nuclear war could break out at any time. -A rash decision by any side could spark off war between the USSR and USA and in turn nuclear weapons might be deployed. -Fortunately, the leaders made rational decisions to resolve the crisis. -After the Cuban missile crisis, both sides realized the danger of nuclear war and began to talk more about peaceful co-existence. -A hotline was established bet the USSR amp; the USA to make immediate telephone communication easier. -This is to allow leaders from both sides to communicate more effectively and prevent any events like the Cuban missile crisis from happening again -It marked the beginning of a thaw, albeit a†¦show more content†¦-Implemented by John F. Kennedy in 1961 to address the Kennedy administrations skepticism of the previous administration’s nuclear strategy. -Flexible response represented a capability to fight across all spectrums of warfare. -Policy options available short of nuclear annihilation. Nuclear Triad -Provides the best level of deterrence from attack. -Nuclear arsenal with 3 components: * Strategic bombers * ICBMs * SLBMs Arms Control -Meant to break the security dilemma. -It aims at mutual security between partners and overall stability (be it in a crisis situation, a grand-strategy, or stability to put an end to an arms race). Other than stability, arms control comes with cost reduction and damage limitation. -It is conceptually differentiated from disarmament since the maintenance of stability might allow for mutually controlled armament and does not take a peace-without-weapons-stance. -A defensive strategy in principle, since transparency, equality, and stability do not fit into an offensive strategy. US and Soviet Nuclear Strategy -Dominant view in the US: -War if not deterred, can be won by disrupting the enemy’s capacity for war amp; undermining his will to fight – by attacking primarily the economic amp; population resources. -Undermine economic foundations of the enemy’s ability and will to fight. -Soviet rejection of reliance on a strategy ofShow MoreRelatedThe Significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis Essay1686 Words   |  7 Pagesspeaking about the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy said, It is insane that two men, sitting on opposite sides of the world, should be able to decide to bring an end to civilization† (â€Å"Nuclear Test Ban Treaty† 1). the Cuban Missile Crisis was a time where these two men, Kennedy and Khrushchev, had the power in their hands to end civilization. In order to understand the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis one must understand, the Cold war drama; the dangerous crisis; and its importanceRead More The Short-term Significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis between the US and the USSR 2124 Words   |  9 PagesThe event of the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 was the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war. Fifteen years into the cold war, the two superpowers continued the fierce competition to increase their milita ry strength. In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperately behind the United States in the nuclear arms race. Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe, whereas the US missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union. In late April 1962, Soviet PremierRead MoreThe Cuban Missile Crisis : The Bay Of Pigs Invasion1272 Words   |  6 PagesProceeding to the Cuban Missile Crisis, American relationships with Castro were previously tense by the Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) where the United States made an unorthodox action towards Cuba by financing and sending insurgent Cubans to help aid in overthrowing and attacking Castro’s supporters and Castro himself0000000. The Bay of Pigs was unsuccessful. This eventual lead to Castro’s joining with communist Soviet Union and leaving Castro cautious of American plans for Cuba. Castro’s suspicionsRead MoreThirteen Days786 Words   |  4 PagesThirteen days is a historical account of the Cuban M issile Crisis. It is told from the perspective of Robert F. Kennedy, senator and brother to President John F. Kennedy. It is an account of the thirteen days in October of 1962. It lasted from the 16th to the 28th. During this time many crucial events in United States. These thirteen days were the time period in which the fate of the world was decided. The focus of the book was on the decision of both the United States and Russia. The UnitedRead MoreThe Influence Of Nuclear Weapons During The Cuban Missile Crisis Essay1700 Words   |  7 PagesIn his article, â€Å"The Influence of Nuclear Weapons in the Cuban Missile Crisis,† Marc Trachtenberg considers three historical approaches to the role that nuclear arms played during the 1962 conflict: first, the view that nuclear arms played no role at all, with U.S. and Soviet weapons cancelling each other out, second, the interpretation that the risk involved with nuclear warfare heavily influenced policy making, and finally the view that the strategic imbalance of nuclear force, characterized byRead MoreFidel Castro And The Cuban Revolution1360 Words   |  6 PagesCastro played a significant role in allowing missiles to be placed in Cuba as mishaps during the crisis may have resulted in mutua lly assured destruction. Despite providing universal education, almost guaranteed employment and free healthcare, the failures far outweighed the benefits as many Cubans have attempted to flee the internationally isolated dictatorship with the economy and standard of living has plunged drastically under Castro’s regime. Cuban revolution Castro has been embroiled in controversyRead MoreThe Cold War and US Diplomacy1296 Words   |  5 Pagesinternational relations was the Cuban Missile Crisis; it was during this occasion that Kennedy had to use strategic and rock solid diplomatic techniques. The Cuban Missile Crisis This incident began in the fall of 1962; a U.S. spy plane had photographed nuclear missile sites being created by the Soviet Union on Cuba (jfklibrary.org). Kennedy was well aware that strategically, it was best if neither the Soviet Union nor Cuba found out that America had intelligence on these missiles; rather Kennedy and hisRead MoreThe Soviet Union During The Cuban Missile Crisis1978 Words   |  8 PagesAccount for the disharmony between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cuban missile crisis. The occurrence of the Cuban missile crisis remains the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war. The placement of Soviet nuclear weaponry on the island of Cuba in October 1962, sparked thirteen days in which the Cold war grew increasingly hotter as tensions between the two superpowers escalated. However, despite marking a turning point in US-Soviet relations it could be argued that OperationRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy: An Influential Person Essay1335 Words   |  6 Pagesinternational relations at Harvard University. In 1961 Kennedy served as President until his assassination in 1963. John F. Kennedy influenced and touched the lives of people everywhere through his efforts with the Apollo 11 space mission, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the founding of the Peace Corps. Kennedy was influenced by his previous accomplishments, world conditions, and his brother’s untimely death. Before John F. Kennedy’s accomplishments he was a war hero. He won the Navy and Marine CorpsRead MoreFidel Castros Role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 19621827 Words   |  8 Pagesquestion: How significant was Fidel Castro’s role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962? The scope of this investigation is to discover the involvement of Fidel Castro in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. First to be analyzed is the relationship of Castro with the Soviet Union and the United States as to identify the significance of Castro’s role in the stages of the Crisis. Castro’s role will then be deduced referring to the early days of the Crisis, the period when a US U-2 reconnaissance plane was shot