The Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

What happened on 14th October 1962?

Answer 1

American U-2 spy plane took pictures of what seemed to be launch pads for medium-range ballistic missiles, which could carry nuclear warheads capable of terrible damage to US cities

Question 2

What did American intelligence agencies inform Kennedy after the launch pads were seen?

Answer 2

A fleef of Soviet ships were sailing to Cuba, presumably carrying thr missiles themselves

Question 3

Why did Khrushchev put his fleet in Cuba, despite promising Kennedy he wouldn’t?

Answer 3

. NATO had missiles in Turkey, so USSR wanted USA to feel under threat too. Possible Khrushchev’s real aim was to have Turkey missiles removed
. Building of Berlin Wall seemed like a failure for Soviet Union so outwitting Kennedy would restore his prestige
. Khrushchev may have wanted missiles in Cuba as he feared another American attack. If Castro’s government was overthrown , it would be anther defeat for communism

Question 4

Why did siting missiles in Cuba not make a practical difference?

Answer 4

Soviet Union could have fired missiles at USA from their territory

Question 5

How did missiles in Cuba make a huge political difference?

Answer 5

Soviet Union had to be stopped from siting nuclear missiles on Cuba. But how could he do this without triggering a full-blown war?

Question 6

How was it clear there was no time to waste on missiles in Cuba?

Answer 6

Defence Secretary Robert McNamara advised that the US missiles could be operational in two weeks