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Cuban Missile Crisis. “Missiles of October” 1962. Post Bay of Pigs. Soviets want to capitalize on “weak” U.S. position and president Need Cuba as ally Balance w/U.S. presence near USSR (Turkey) Install nukes in Cuba as deterrent US Disruption in trade with Cuba
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Cuban Missile Crisis “Missiles of October” 1962
Post Bay of Pigs • Soviets want to capitalize on “weak” U.S. position and president • Need Cuba as ally • Balance w/U.S. presence near USSR (Turkey) • Install nukes in Cuba as deterrent • US • Disruption in trade with Cuba • Assassination plots against Castro
The Discovery • U-2 spy planes over Cuba spots MRBM sites • Soviets deny
US response • Debate (EXCOMM) & Problems • Negotiate? * TIME. If Nukes are operational, then what? 2. Military action? * Soviets will move on W. Berlin NATO = WWIII 3. Blockade/Quarantine * Risky – may get same result
Brink of War • Kennedy addresses nation • Secret negotiations begin • Soviet ships stopped at sea • U-2 shot down – Rules of engagement? • Soviet field commanders given permission to use nukes if U.S. invades
Secret agreements • Kennedy wants missiles out – NO conditions • Khrushchev wants guarantees for Cuba • AND missiles out of Turkey
Results • Soviets remove missiles • US “eventually” removes missiles from Turkey • Promises not to destabilize Castro • Red Phone concept implemented • Soviets embarrassed at UN • Khrushchev loses credibility in USSR • Out in 2 years • Kennedy Assassinated in 11 months • World NOT blown up