Assignment #26: Cuban Missile Crisis - engine of souls

mre · Senior Member

Assignment #26: Cuban Missile Crisis

BreanneCabral · Member

General Maxwell Taylor

The Chiefs recognize both the importance and the difficulty of obtaining an adequate verification system in Cuba. While sympathetic with their purpose, the Chiefs do not like two of the current proposals for inspection and verification. The first is the proposal from Ambassador Stevenson for a UN inspection system of the Caribbean or Central America. The Chiefs do not favor it because of its reciprocal features, its doubtful effectiveness and the danger of having it regarded as a substitute for effective aerial surveillance. The second is the Brazilian suggestion for the establishment of a nuclear free zone in Latin America. Apart from objections to the precedent of supporting such a proposal for any part of the world, and the divided opinion among our allies on this subject, we do not see any way to obtain from the proposal a satisfactory verification system for Cuba. President Kennedy, would you also agree that we should not support this?

Kelby · Member

Secretary of Defense-Robert McNamara

I agree with General Taylor. I am not in agreement with the proposed inspection and verification procedure proposed by Ambassador Stevenson. The proposed UN inspection system of the Caribbean and of Central America is not sufficient and I believe that it is a poor substitute for air surveillance. First of all, I am not sure that U Thant, the proposed inspector has adequate knowledge and experience to be able to effectively survey the area for nuclear weapons. Secondly, I do not believe that a ground survey is as effective as air surveillance. Mr. Stevenson can you comment on U Thants knowledge in regards to nuclear missiles and nuclear missile sites? Can you provide us with some assurance that his surveillance will be as effective as our air surveillance has been?

Chris · Member

The premier of the U.S.S.R. Nikita Khrushchev would like to state that only in the defense of its ally Cuba and in its own defense were the nuclear intermediate- ranged missiles stationed on the island of Cuba. The Soviet government was well aware of the extensive lead the U.S. had on the U.S.S.R. in terms of nuclear weapons stockpiles and had no intention of conducting an offensive strike against the U.S. or any nation in the Western hemisphere. The U.S. dwarfed the estimated 25 Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles with their 174 Titan and atlas missiles along with the 105 Jupiter and Thor intermediate- ranged missiles several stationed well within striking distance of the Soviet Union. The Soviets would have had no choice but to keep the weapons in Cuba, and within striking distance of the U.S. if the U.S. had not removed its nuclear weapons in Turkey which were within striking distance of the Soviet Union. I stated in an official letter to President Kennedy Do you consider, then, that you have the right to demand security for your own country and the removal of the weapons you call offensive, but do not accord the same right to us? In order to stabilize the state of peace among states we must first stabilize the balance of power between them also. This is why I am supportive of the inspection and verification procedure proposed by Ambassador Stevenson. This proposal would inspect on the spot the fulfillment of the pledges made by each country involved in this standoff (the U.S. and U.S.S.R.) and prevent further potential conflicts from occurring.
Nikita Khrushchev

Chris · Member

Sorry if its a bit wordy (Urr it didn't post the sentence I wrote in Russian)

ashley · Member

As Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba, I feel as if I should defend my position to allow seemingly harmful missiles to be stored and made ready on my land. I fear the United States, for since I have come to power they have done nothing but boycott our goods, such as our sugar, deny our need for oil, and promote my loss of power. I fear that the Americans are on the brink of an invasion on my land. They already staged a mock invasion on a CaribbeanIsland, and because Americans can be very blatant with their intentions, their mock leader was called Ortsac. This, as Im sure you educated men can guess is only my name spelled backwards. It is now that I fear for my land, my leadership, and the people beneath me, so I took the logical course of action and allowed my allies to place short range missiles and IBMs on my land, it is for protection.

revolver29 · Member

As part of ExComm, I like to say that is was I who was most responsible for the development and implementation of the quarantine theory. It is my belief that any other course of action would most certainly be construed as military escalation, these options being 1) an air strike and 2) an invasion of the island of Cuba.

Today, we have with us the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Max Taylor. On October 16^th 1962 the Chiefs of Staff unanimously agreed that a full scale attack and invasion was the only possible solution. They also believed that the Soviet Union would not act to stop America in this military crusade. With this understanding I am with my brother John in saying that military action against Cuba would not go unnoticed by the Soviets. It was vital that we not remain the aggressor and leave Berlin open for attack.

Mr. Khrushchev has already stated that the USSR had no intention of using the weapons stationed in Cuba, that they were merely there to counter Americas nuclear presence in Turkey. But I ask Khrushchev to comment on his position regarding Berlin, and his possible course of action following an American assault on Cuba. In regards to Cuba, I also have a question for Senor Castro. Senor, after the calamity had subsided, how did you feel about Cubas complete absence in the negotiations to end the crisis?

I, Robert Kennedy, am eagerly awaiting your reponses.

Anna · Member

As Adlai Stevenson, U.S. Ambassador of the United Nations, I feel that we need to restore balance in the world by means of negotiation and sanity, not by blackmail and intimidation. An attack by us on a place like Cuba will most likely provoke an attack on a NATO base such as Turkey. It is very important that we have as many countries on our side as possible. Although our reasons for attacking Cuba may be very easy to understand in our minds, other outside countries might not see our motives. Countries, especially in South America might not agree with us and might not support us. We should discuss and negotiate the removal of Cuban missiles with the Soviet Union to prevent unessecary casualties in Cuba as as well as in our nation.

Anna · Member

In a meeting with President JFK on October 26, 1962, i told him that there was a proposal from U Grant for a two-step plan: 1) a 2-3 day complete standstill on both sides (no ships moving toward Cuba, no further construction of the sites and no quarantine). The missiles would be kept inoperable rather than actually dismantled during these next few days.

Source: http://www.hpol.org/jfk/cuban/

revolver29 · Member

Any conversation? Anything at all?

mre · Senior Member

grades updated 4-26-08
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