Free Essay: the Cuban Missile Crisis
In October 1962, the world for 13 days waited on the brink of nuclear war because of Cuban missile crisis. All the world could do was to pray for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. This is the time when an American spy plane U-2 was sent on a mission to secretly photograph nuclear missile sites built by the Soviet Union.
President Kennedy discovered the missiles but he didn’t want Cuba and Soviet Union to know of his findings. He had to meet with his advisers secretly for days to discuss the issue. This is when he decided to send the spy plane secretly. He also decided to place a naval ring of ships around Cuba. The quarantine was aimed at preventing the Soviet Union from bringing in more military supplies.
President Kennedy also decided to remove and destroy the missiles. He therefore had to address the nation on his intentions on October 22, 1962. However, nobody was sure of how Nikita Khrushchev would respond to U.S demands and the naval blockade. Even so, there was a possibility of nuclear war.
Soviets had to destroy their weapon sites in exchange for an agreement where the US would no longer pursue its plans to invade Cuba. The U.S also agreed to remove all its missiles from Turkey. The Soviets however escalated their plans building a military arsenal. As a result, the war was indeed over but the Cuba missile crisis was far from over.
Early 1963, there were hopes that the crisis would be amicably resolved. There was less tension between the United States of America and the soviet onion. It is during this period that the US president urged his citizens to reexamine war myths and cold war stereotype. The president called for a meeting and called for creation of a peace strategy that would end the crisis.
A strategy of peace by the president was very crucial because it enabled the citizens of the United States to embrace peace. He aimed at creating a safer place in the world despite cultural diversity. Two actions were also signaled to warm up for the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Therefore, a teletype hot-line between the Whitehouse and Kremlin was established. A nuclear test ban treaty was also signed on 25th July 1963. The treaty was aimed at destroying missiles and creating a safe haven for all. The treaty as a result was honored by the two countries and the superpowers thus, enhancing the peace process between the Soviet Union and the United States.
President Kennedy in June 1963, in a language that is very different from his usual inaugural address, addressed the citizens of the United States. ‘‘For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We shall breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future and we are all mortal’’.
For the 13 days that the world waited on the brink of a nuclear war, all they could do is pray and hope for the best peace strategies. President Kennedy had to hold difficult and long meetings with his advisers to come up with solutions to dismantle the missile bases in Cuba and he delivered.
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Sources
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis
http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Cuban-Missile-Crisis.aspx