by Aesha Munaf

Created on: August 24, 2008

Fidel Castro, a bearded modern, Robin-hood kind of a figure, had overthrown the tyrant, Batista. Castro's policies were inclining towards Communism. He hadnt declared himself a Communist yet. America was alarmed as the Cold War was at its height. USA had trade agreements with Cuba and aldo had factories flourishing there. They could not tolerate a Russian satellite in there sphere of influence.

Hence when Castro declared himself Communist, Kennedy decided to invade Cuba. He felt that the fellow Cubans would join him in the revolt. A small army was trained by exiled Cubans and American intelligence and was sent to invade Cuba at the bay of pigs.

Khruschev came to Cuba's rescue at this fiasco, because he saw that Castro was a useful ally in this Cold War. Not only was Castro, communist but also against US policies. Khruschev took very bold steps by openly announcing that he was helping Cuba with weapons etc. He later placed nuclear missiles in Cuba which were primed and ready as if for invasion.
Khruschev might have done this to test US strength, to see if USA really was as powerful as it claimed to be. He might also have installed those missiles there as a sort of bargaining counter to negotiate more favourable terms out of America eg. the dismantling of the Jupiter missiles which threatened Russia.

The Soviet Union wanted to consolidate its position in the cold war as both sides were incredibly powerful and Russia could not let a useful ally like Cuba be under American influence. The cold war was escalating and neither side wanted to back down or else teh other would take advantage.

The installation of missiles in Cuba however, was a huge rick, even for Khruschev. The whole world knew that Castro was hot-headed and iot was not wise to let him start a possible Third World nuclear war but launching an attack on USA mainland. Moreover, Khruschev had not not taken this step with any other of Russia's satellites. This made USA very alarmed as it meant Khruschev had a definite plan in mind. This is why USA took the situation seriously and instead of launchign an attack on Russia or Cuba again, just tried to talk its way out of this sticky mess.

Whether, Khruschev really meant to use those missils will never be known, but his huge risk made both sides see how fooolish this Cold War really was and how easily it could have led to a World War with amdd destruction.

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