Political Science // Case Study: Cuban Missile Crisis
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Case Study: Cuban Missile Crisis
- Since time in memorial, Cuba has always been an interesting country to the United States. This feeling dates back to the Spanish-American War, when Cuba was fighting for their independence against the Spaniards. The Americans and the Cubans maintained a close trading relation for years until after the Cuba’s Prime Minister Fidel Castro refuses to support the US during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. This started the tension between the two countries, until eventually Castro declared revolutionary Communism in Cuba which garnered support from Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the interest of the United States with Cuba had something to do with the political and economic relations. Geographically, Cuba is in a strategic position that proves advantageous and detrimental to the United States’ national security and trade relations. Cuba is just a couple of kilometers away from Florida. Thus, trade is conducive and favorable among the Cubans. Nevertheless, this close proximity proves to be a threat to the United States’ national security. Going back to the Cold War, the risk of involving the US in any military activities of Cuba would significantly affect the affairs of the United States both political, economic, and social.
- The government formed a group called the ExComm, which is furthered subdivided into two groups. The two subgroups are the (a) hawks, and (b) the doves. The “hawks” recommend assault and military confrontation. According to this group, the best way to prevent the Cubans from becoming a threat, while at the same time serve as a precedent to other nations who would posed as a threat to the US. People behind this team included General Maxwell Taylor, Former Secretary of State Dean Acheson, and Wall Street lawyer and former High Commissioner of Germany John McCloy. On the other hand, the other subgroup of the ExComm is the “doves” who recommends negotiation. Based on the doves, it is imperative that the US maintain a civil, amicable relations with Cuba at least for economic reasons. Members of the doves included Robert Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric
- The Cuban missiles would have proved to have changed the military balance of the Civil War. Cuba has the capacity to launch missiles that may significantly impact Florida which is a few kilometers away from the coast of Cuba. If that happened, the United States would have retaliated causing an all-out war which may not only involved Cuba and the United States. Considering the advocacy of the United States to be the peacekeeper and safety enforcer in the Western Hemisphere, with the European Expansionism in the Western Hemisphere would trigger an alert to the US to enforce all action necessary to protect its territory and sovereignty.
- Yes, it missiles in Cuba will create political imbalance because the threat would prompt the US to protect its territory and sovereignty. This would entail exhausting all means to force Cuba to destroy its missiles to ensure continued international relation with the country. Problems will result to trade and economic pressure which will affect the economy of the two nations. Furthermore, this could cause tension along the borders of Florida and Cuba.
Work Cited
Brussel, Gabrielle. The Cuban Missile Crisis: U.S. Deliberations and Negotiations at the Edge of the Precipice. Case Study. Washington, D.C. : Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, 1988. Print.
2017/5208
