The Cuban Missile Crisis
P-Khan
Join Date: 2003-05-27 Member: 16776Members
Join Date: 2003-05-27 Member: 16776Members
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">What good came from it?</div> Most people will be familiar with the Cuban Missile Crisis. For those of you who don't know what this was, it can be cummarized as the crisis where the USA and the USSR almost had a nuclear conflict. More info on this for you who don't know much about this and want to learn more can send me a PM, or open your history books <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Now, for the question: What did these two governments, the USA and the USSR learn from this crisir? Was there any good which came from this?
In my opinion, the Crisis was a key factor which lead to the resignation of Nikita Kruschev (not sure if the spelling is right), since the crisis showed how 'weak' was him (although I do not believe he was a weak leader, quite the contrary, that he was a strong leader for the Soviet ideals). The crisis also lead to the installing of a 'hot line' between the Kremlin and the White House, which this is still a crucial fact in our age. I also believe that with nuclear war almost occuring with the Cuban Missile Crisis, this was one of the most important factor of the SALT I agreement.
Now, for the question: What did these two governments, the USA and the USSR learn from this crisir? Was there any good which came from this?
In my opinion, the Crisis was a key factor which lead to the resignation of Nikita Kruschev (not sure if the spelling is right), since the crisis showed how 'weak' was him (although I do not believe he was a weak leader, quite the contrary, that he was a strong leader for the Soviet ideals). The crisis also lead to the installing of a 'hot line' between the Kremlin and the White House, which this is still a crucial fact in our age. I also believe that with nuclear war almost occuring with the Cuban Missile Crisis, this was one of the most important factor of the SALT I agreement.
Comments
I agree, in my own opinion, Kruschev was the main person who prevented a nuclear fallout. But due to the Communist Parties ideals, he was forced to step down of power.
But.... uh.... What good came from the Crisis?
What both nations learned I think is that the concept of MAD stoodfast and that nuclear weapons would never be used as anything but leverage. At least that's what is obvious when looking back at it. The missles Cuba had were duds, but nobody knew that at the time.
Two adjacent countries to two super powers.
One of them had nukes to threaten the other country. (Turkey had nukes)
The other adjecent country had no nukes. They were given them.
And at the end of the day, neither of the two adjacent countries had nukes. If I had to give victory anywhere, I'd give it to Russia, as they did a risky tatic that ended up with gains on their side.
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This is bullcrap. Kruschev was the one that ordered nukes to be sent into Cuba. You honestly think that he didn't know how America wouldn't react if they found out...?
The missles in Turkey, by the way, were put installed at the begaining of the war, not in the middle of it when it was most dangerious. In fact, I think they may have been put in before Russia and America were offically enemies... can anyone find out when Turkey got the nukes from the USA? Also, did Turkey pay for the nukes at all for their own protection as well?
Kennedy was hoping for the ships heading to Cuba to turn back, or else he would be forced to sink them and then all hell would brake lose. If it wasn't for Kruschev's decision to order the retreat of the ships, there would have been a war.
And Kruschev did have a good reason to install the nukes at Cuba. He was threatened by the nuclear missiles in Turkey, which lead to the missiles in Cuba. Doesn't matter if the Jupiter Missiles in Turkey was installed before the Cold War officially began, it was still a threat.
One could also argue that the missiles were just for Cubas own personal defence. This can be backed up by the Bay of Pigs, which was an attempt to take Castro down (although, I do NOT AGREE with this last, final theory to why the missiles were installed).
So you see, Kruschev had a good reason to install the missiles, and he also had the good reason to backdown, which was something that the American government were NOT willing to do. They would rather go to war, as would some high ranked officers at the Kremlin.
Kennedy was hoping for the ships heading to Cuba to turn back, or else he would be forced to sink them and then all hell would brake lose. If it wasn't for Kruschev's decision to order the retreat of the ships, there would have been a war.
And Kruschev did have a good reason to install the nukes at Cuba. He was threatened by the nuclear missiles in Turkey, which lead to the missiles in Cuba. Doesn't matter if the Jupiter Missiles in Turkey was installed before the Cold War officially began, it was still a threat.
One could also argue that the missiles were just for Cubas own personal defence. This can be backed up by the Bay of Pigs, which was an attempt to take Castro down (although, I do NOT AGREE with this last, final theory to why the missiles were installed).
So you see, Kruschev had a good reason to install the missiles, and he also had the good reason to backdown, which was something that the American government were NOT willing to do. They would rather go to war, as would some high ranked officers at the Kremlin. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
You saying that since he nearly caused the Cold War to break out but then at the last moment stopped made it so he prevented it? I thought prevention was to stop an action; what Kruschev did was a conclusion, the end to a set of actions.
There was nothing to prevent. The entire thing was a calculated move by the Russian's. The world may have not known any better back then, but the someone sure did.
It is imposible for someone to calculate all this. The Crisis is far too complex for someone to plan this and make the plan occur without flaw. It was too risky for a flaw to occur, so it cannot be a calculated plan. It would be more of a respond to the AMerican threat from the USSR, and which it was prevented by Kruschev. It can also be said that it wasn't him who started this, but rather a combination of things. A corrupt government in Cuba with Batista (not sure if it's correct), Castros rise to power, the Bay of Pigs, the Jupiter Missiles in Turkey and the whole arms race. Clearly, a combination of factors forced Kruschev to install the missiles in Cuba, and it was him who backed off, so it was him who prevented war.
It is imposible for someone to calculate all this. The Crisis is far too complex for someone to plan this and make the plan occur without flaw. It was too risky for a flaw to occur, so it cannot be a calculated plan. It would be more of a respond to the AMerican threat from the USSR, and which it was prevented by Kruschev. It can also be said that it wasn't him who started this, but rather a combination of things. A corrupt government in Cuba with Batista (not sure if it's correct), Castros rise to power, the Bay of Pigs, the Jupiter Missiles in Turkey and the whole arms race. Clearly, a combination of factors forced Kruschev to install the missiles in Cuba, and it was him who backed off, so it was him who prevented war. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dude, nothing was planned as they knew exactly how the event would go, but the term you don't know is called:
"Calculated Risk." That was what the Russians were doing to try and get some leverage over the United States.
No, they couldn't fire at USA from Turkey. Only from Cuba. We had nuclear weapons stashed in the phillipines from after we had world war 2. We could have hit them, and they were trying to make it so that they could hit us. That's what was so controversial. We weren't so sure they were just using it to threaten us. Maybe they wanted to blow up USA? We did everything we could to get them to stand down the nukes in Cuba except stand down our nukes.
What did we learn from that? It is a dangerous thing having two superpowers butting heads. If you don't want nuclear winter, best to let one country have all the big guns instead of two. Even the <u>Art of War</u> could tell you that there is only a struggle of power with both sides are equal. If Russia had no nukes OR if USA had no nukes, it wouldn't have been an issue, simply because one wouldn't have thought the other would use it if they didn't have it.
umm, you just made the point of Forlorn. If Russia would've crossed the blockade it would've been THEM starting the nuclear war not America. Russia knew of the blockade and if they passed it THAT would've have been the challenge that started the war. While I think Kruschev wasn't nearly as crazy as he was made out to be he wasn't the savior of the world. He didn't "save" the world from certain nuclear holocaust, he decided to not start it. Don't make him out as a hero.
anti-communist, although I respect people who believe in the communist ideals.
I just don't believe this idea that Kruschev was a madman, who was the soul responsible for amlost starting a nuclear war. Kruschev had his reasons to why he did certain things, like installing nukes in Cuba, and sending in troops to Budapest. I don't agree that he was the main responsible, and that he was not one of the heros of the Cuban Missile Crisis. For me, both Kennedy and Kruschev were heros, although most people only see the American point of view (at least, most of the people I know)