‘The Cuban Missile Crisis was triumph for the Soviet Union.’ How valid is this assessment with reference to the years 1962 to 1964? The initial outcome of the Crisis did seem to be a Soviet loss at the hands of the USA. However, these losses were more apparent than real. In the long term the USSR won some vital and long-lasting victories. It also forced some crucial US losses which, due to the bi-polar nature of the US-USSR relations, translated into further Soviet victories.
The overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos was a victory for the U.S. as it lead to democratic elections in which Corazon Aquino was elected. The Bay of Pigs was a major success for the Soviet Union as the U.S. was embarrassed by the readiness of Fidel Castro’s men who quickly ended the invasion. The Cuban Missile crisis was a success for the U.S. as they were able to stop the Soviets from advancing and forced them to move their nuclear weapons out of Cuba. The Somoza overthrown in Nicaragua was a success for the Soviet Union as Sandinistas who overtook the thrown were communists. The Iran Contra affair was a major failure for the United
Japan had made clear overtures to peace, but cultural differences made this nearly impossible (the shame of unconditional surrender goes against their code of honour). The determination to use an expensive bomb instead of letting it rust away; the desire to find out how devastating it was and the opportunity to use the bomb as a strong showcase of US supremacy, made Japan the ideal target. Obviously, the USSR would eventually succeed in creating the a-bomb. Therefore, making Hiroshima & Nagasaki the example of the tremendous power of the bombs would make it clear to the USSR that they too needed such weapons to defend themselves. Moreover, other countries claimed the right of nuclear weapons to defend their citizens.
The 1955 Baghdad pact is an example, where in brief, Nasser launched a campaign to prevent Arab states from joining a British anti-soviet alliance. This shows that Nasser refused to take part in anything to do with Britain. Another example is the 1955 Czech arms deal where Egypt was to be supplied with weapons. Similarly, both impacts of the example encouraged Arab unity because it resulted in Nasser able to defend Egypt while setting an example and persuading other Arab states to do the same. Nasser standing up to Western imperialism is another factor of encouraging Arab unity such as the 1956 Suez crisis.
These developments changed the US policies of brinkmanship and massive retaliations, as these methods only worked while the USA remained militarily superior. The Cuban missile crisis showed how back dated these policies were, something Kennedy’s military advisors failed to notice, his understanding of the dangers and his controlled response helped save the USA from the most destructive war ever seen. However the military assured destruction that came with the power of the nuclear era forced the USA and USSR into the standoff of Cuba. This crisis was inevitable and the only way of bringing the arms race to the end. However the driving
This was ultimately a success however, a complete disregard of the Nuremburg Laws, that is if they were applied to US presidents due to the overthrowing of a non-hostile government for self-indulged reasoning (Hatch). This showed President Eisenhower’s abuse of his power; however he is never tainted by his actions due to its success as well as the fact that during this era, the second Red Scare as in effect and the fear of Communism was at a high. Eisenhower used this fear as an opportunity to wield his power to its zenith and use the public’s fear as an excuse to do
Providing the Confederacy with war supplies influenced Southern power, and their assertiveness towards the Union proved beneficial to international relations. The victory of the Union encouraged the forces in Britain that demanded more democracy and public contribution into the political system. Rather than an outbreak of war, relations between America and Britain were ultimately improved when the idea of widespread famine threatened England. The American Civil War proved difficult but eventually beneficial for Britain, giving them the opportunity to check their growth and rise to power. Keeping within British tradition and diplomacy, Britain never openly partnered with the South and their involvement in the war was to protect their own people, economy, actions and
Reagan firmly believed that the USSR was using Détente and the SALT talks to take advantage of the United States. I believe that Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy helped bring down Communism in Europe. The "window of vulnerability" was fast
Jose Cervantes Period 6 SPANISH AND AMERICAN WAR Although some historians believe that the Spanish and American war was not a turning point in American foreign policy, it is more correct to say that it is a turning point due to the following causes in this time. Before the Spanish and American war the US was neutralizing following the Farewell Address and Monroe Doctrine. These policies helped keep the US safe by not intervening in any foreign countries that are in battle or war also, if intervening with them it’ll put the people in danger not knowing how powerful the other countries could be. America had notice that the USS Maine was exploded mysteriously, the Yellow journalist
In the early 1960’s the Soviet Union and Cuba had a very close relationship was during the Cold War where the Cuban Missile Crisis began. The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred when the Soviet Union offered Cuba protection if they gave them the ability of planting missiles there. The 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was in a breakdown when he discovered ballistic missiles in Cuba on October 16, 1962. By October 29 John F. Kennedy took action from the fear of the ballistic missiles striking Washington D.C. John F. Kennedy considered starting a naval blockade to halt Soviet missiles entering Cuba. The naval blockade became successful on October 29, 1962; Soviet missiles were interrupted from the regular schedule of importation.