The Cuban Missile Crisis:

By; Phil Carradice

Page Number: 120

Originally published: 2017

Kennedy's words regarding the pressure from the congressman who wanted military action in Cuba:

"These brass hats have one great advantage in their favor. If we do what they want us to do, none of us will be alive later to tell them that they were wrong".

About sixty years ago, the world came closer to the threat of nuclear weapons than ever before. The last two weeks of October 1962 perhaps held the highest degree of importance during the Civil War between the mega powers USSR and US. The world had become a battle zone for the two powers, with both attempting to be the leading and ruling nation. Each state desired the expansion of its supported ideologies to be in control of the international political stage. Korea, Vietnam, and Germany had been tension spots between the rival systems of capitalism and communism, democracy and one-man authority.

With growing anti-American perceptions in Cuba, the state began to strengthen its relationship with the Soviets. With the recent revolution under the leadership of Castro and Marxists Che Guevara, Cuba was heading in a direction of Soviet affiliation. The confederation between the USSR and Cuba became definite with the placement of military equipment and missiles on the island. The threat of such advanced weaponry in a region that was only 780 km off of Florida shores awoke a sense of suspicion and uncertainty in the US.

Kennedy, with the EXCOM group, his brother Bobby, McNamara, and Sorensen being the closest circle of advisors, had made multiple crucial decisions on the course of the crisis. Although the validity of the steps Kennedy took during the events is still debated, one can’t deny that he was against the usage of missiles till the last moments and took a defensive approach by issuing a blockade of the island.

Phil implies that, although it is hard to pinpoint who the hero or the devil is in this story, it is indisputable to acknowledge the decisions made by the main actors, Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro, determined the fate of the world.

The horror of possible usage of nuclear missiles is perhaps best illustrated by the words of Wing Commander Peter West, a V-bomber pilot: “In the highly improbable scenario where we would take off, we knew that if we did get back, there would be nothing to get back to".

personal rating of the book: 8/10