Chapter Twelve Flashcards
What was Cuba’s interest to the USA?
Cuba was only 90 miles away from the USA- So the USA wanted to maintain stability there to protect its own interests.
The USA had shown little significant support for the Batista regime during Castro’s revolution, however, since it was home-grown, not supported by the USSR, nor motivated by communism.
What did Castro do in 1959
Lead a guerrilla campaign against President Batista’s regime and on the 1st of January 1959, Batista’s regime collapsed.
What action did Castro take after he had seized power?
He needed great power, in order to manage the inevitable US response to his plans to reduce US economic and political influence in post-revolutionary Cuba.1959 May he introduced proramme of agrian reform, leading to American-owned property being seized by the state.
What caused US fears that Cuba would become a Soviet satellite in the Caribbean?
Soviet First Deputy Premier, Mikoyan visited Cuba Feb 1960 and arranged $100 million dollars to be given to Castro, tying Cuba into an economic and political relationship with the Soviet Union.
What action did the US take against Cuba after Soviet aid and after Castro Nationalising US-owned oil companies?
America immediately imposed economic sanctions on Cuba and reduced their imports of Cuban sugar by 95 per cent. This downward spiral in US-Cuban relations continued when Castro seized $1 billion worth of US assets on Cuba October 1960
What action did the US take in 1961?
Decided it was time to remove Castro and his regime from Cuba. Kennedy had inherited the Bay of Pigs from the Eisenhower administration. 1500 anti-Castro exiles were to lnd on Cuba and carry out a military coup to remove him. Failure and humiliation for Kennedy. Ensured Castro’s power in Cuba was consolidated as he had protected Cuba from American imperialism.
What was Operation Mongoose?
Authorised by Kennedy November 1961. Its aim was to overthrow Castro and his regime, primarily through use of covert operations within Cuba to destabilise ths regime and facilitate anti-Cadtro revolt.
What further military action did the US take against Cuba? What was the Soviet Union’s response to this?
OPLAN 312 (air strike plan) and OPLAN 314 (land based invasion) in 1961 and then in 1962 US military manoeuvres known as Operation Quick Kick started in the Caribbean. Khrushchev’s defence minister concluded that in face of US attack Cuba would stand for no more than a week and so Khrushchev started to deploy Soviet uclear missiles on Cuba in 1962.
Why was Cuba an opportunity for the USSR?
Geostrategically. It would have taken at least a decade for Soviet Union to establish parity with USA’s long-range missile capability. Soviet missiles on Cuba would redress this imbalance. More developed strategic status would contribute to Khrushchev’s obective of reducing spending on conventional military forces. Could focus on expansion and modernisation of Soviet nuclear arsenal and still have resources left to invest in non-military civilian economy.
What happened October 14th?
A U2 Spy Plane fight produced unmistakable evidence of an R-12 missile site in Cuba.
What was Kennedy’s first move upon finding out about the Soiviet missile site?
Immediately assembled ExComm. The groups main role was to consider policy options and their consequences. Consisted of ‘hawks’ who called for US military action and ‘doves’ who favoured a diplomatic action.
What were the USA’s options to respond to the missiles in Cuba?
Could not do anything which might risk spitting the NATO alliance, anything that exposed Europe to Soviet nuclear response. Air strike against installations was unfeasable. Kennedy opted for naval blockade, stemming the flow of missiles entering Cuba as there were too many missiles to guarentee the destruction of all before Soviet actio against USA. Kennedy initially wanted a ‘no warning’ attack but changed to McNamara’s blockade.
In addition to the Naval Blockade, what further action did Kennedy take?
Put US bases on maximum alert in preparation for a possible military strike against Cuba. Kennedy had not lost sight of possibility of a Soviet attack against West Berlin.
Why was Brinkmanship a high risk strategy?
Could only be successful if both sides recognised that any form of military confrontation in a nuclear age would clearly be the least desirable approach.
What was the status of the CMC on October 26th?
Kennedy kept his options open. Using force to overthrow Castro and remove missiles remained an option.
Khrushchev sent a long and rambling telegraph to Kennedy- looking for a way out. Non-invasion pledge from US and the USSR would remove missiles.
Castro was convinced American attack was immiment and ordered Cuban anti-aircraft forces to start firing on low-level reconnaissance planes.
