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Originally Posted by hunnychile
My hub was in the Navy then and was an 'ear in Key West'. That's all I can say or else he'll have to kill me  Most of you 'young 'uns' have no idea how close the USA came to war during those days. Thank God for President Kennedy!! Be glad your kids aren't needing to learn how to be hiding under school desks = to be prepared for nuclear weapons pointed at them. It was a real threat.
Just a little history for those who skipped class that day... |
I should hope most Americans are familiar with the Cuban Missile Crisis.
I also think it's interesting that you say "Thank God for President Kennedy", implying that he
averted a nuclear war.
The facts are that the US Navy was ordered to attack the ships if they proceeded. If such an attack occurred, it was likely that the Soviets would retaliate. That would have probably escalated into war and then probably nuclear war.
One thing the US forces didn't realize is that the Soviet forces on Cuba
already had tactical nuclear weapons. The Soviet General has gone on record as saying that he would have used them if attacked by US forces, without having to confirm with the Kremlin.
Anyway, all of this is historical fact. But to say that Kennedy averted a war, when his orders were those that would have precipitated it, is a bit disengenous. Don't get me wrong. I think JFK was probably one of the best Presidents the US ever had. But it was Nikita Kruschev who averted a conflict by ordering his ships around.
Both men should be considered when discussing the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Mr Mephisto