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The Cuban Crisis.

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Introduction

The Cuban Crisis: The Cuban crisis was certainly more of a success for the USA than the Bay of Pigs because of many things. It gained popularity for Kennedy both home and aboard. Kennedy was seen by the Russians to be stronger than he was originally seen, especially after the Bay of Pigs. America got a missile free Cuba and a permanent link was set up between Washington DC and Moscow. But after all that America's policy of containment had failed a new communist state had been created inside America's sphere of influence. The Cuban missiles posed a serious challenge for the USA because of Cuba's position to America, it is only 100 miles from the coast of America and with short range nuclear missiles the only area safe in America were northern part of Washington (STATE). ...read more.

Middle

Kennedy had a number of options, with which he could try; "Do nothing", "Surgical air attack", "Diplomatic pressures", "Invasion" or "Blockade". All of these options had there up points and their down points, doing nothing meant Kennedy would be made to look weak in front of Russia again, but perhaps the superiority in numbers of American missiles to the Russians would stop them from doing anything. Next the surgical air attacks would get rid of the missiles, but it could not be sure all were destroyed and it could trigger a retaliation strike against America by Russia. Next Diplomatic pressures could avoid conflict, but it could lead to America being made to back down humiliating them. ...read more.

Conclusion

Kennedy choose Blockade because it would buy time to find a way a getting rid of the missiles already on Cuba and it would stop Russia putting anymore weapons on Cuba. Kennedy personally from the crisis gain greatly he became celebrated for his tactics. He gained support at home and aboard and he was shown to the Russians to be stronger than he had portrayed by his dealings with them in the past like the Bay of Pigs. Overall, the Cuban missile crisis was not a success for containment because a new communist state had been allowed to establish itself right inside America's sphere of influence. Cuba still provided a threat to America's capitalism, but it was no longer a threat of destruction. ?? ?? ?? ?? Page: 1 of 2 ...read more.

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