13 days of missile crisis

• What started off missile crisis?

  U-2 plane found R-12 missile site at San Cristobal on 14th October, Kennedy being told on the 16th felt action was needed.

  • Assembled ExComm, an advisory committee, to figure policy options and their consequences.
  • opted for a naval blockade, or 'quarantine' which allows Kennedy time to think and focus on a solution.
  • could argue blockade= brinksmanship. Forces the Soviets to recognise the quarantine.
• What was Khrushchevs response?

  Cuba was in great danger of US invasion so Friday 26th October, Khrushchev sent a telegraph giving a basic proposal that if if the US made a non-invasion pledge then the Soviet Union would remove their military presence on Cuba.

  • Peaceful resolution could occur but it's impossible with Castro being present, on 26th October he ordered Cuban anti-aircraft forces to start firing on low-level reconnaissance planes.