1. Decision-Making and Crisis Management in The Cuban Missile Affair
- Author:
- Anouar Boukhars
- Publication Date:
- 04-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Columbia International Affairs Online
- Abstract:
- In what was the most serious "clash" during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union came dangerously close to cataclysmic confrontation when the Soviets in an unprecedented dangerous move had begun a clandestine effort to establish a major offensive military presence in Castro's Cuba in October 1962. This potentially dreadful incident brought policy makers on both sides to seriously question their use of diplomacy and military force. Had it not been for the wisdom of the leaders of the two antagonistic countries, the US and the Soviet Union, no one could have speculated the harm that could have been inflicted on the whole world. This paper will therefore try to examine how the Cuban Missile Crisis came about and how well it was managed by the US and the Soviets political leadership. It will address the importance of the national security decision making in preventing this crisis from degenerating into a tragedy.
- Topic:
- Cold War
- Political Geography:
- United States