Lecture 11: CBC Continued

The US isnt able to do high resolution photography while the missiles are being set up. This
photography was illegal because they were violating Cubas air space. However, every time a US
airplane flies over, Cuban strikers may strike it down. And if this happens, the outcome could be
disastrous. Nerves are on an end, and nukes to use are available. A single nuke going off would lead
to an all out nuclear war.

The USA decided a series of steps.

Stop more ships for entering Cuba, which anyway was illegal because it is Cubas decision who to let
enter and not to. They could be taken to the UN for this by USSR, complaining that they were not
allowed Berlin Blockade, how can USA blockade Cuba. Hence, USA decided to call is quarantine and
follow that. USA did not know that with every ship there was a submarine, armed to its teeth with
torpedoes and nukes. The sub commanders had been told to maintain radio silence. So that there
are no signals which can be traced back to USSR. They are able to pick up American Radio and their
messages. These commanders have been told, if blocked use whatever means. And dont try to
initiate contact with USSR. So these people couldnt confirm anything with Russia. They can only
contact the Americans. Americans could feed them any information, but they were the enemy, and
this would create even more paranoia. JFK in this situation goes to meet Jacqueline Kennedy in
Texas. He went and stayed with her because he wanted to solve certain marital problems.

General Lamey was heading the forces at this point and every solution of every problem according to
him was war. People like him were taking all decisions. NK writes a letter to JFK. This letter is
dispatched from Moscow using the basic telegram services. The weekly off takes an additional day.
JFK reads it, and the message isnt an offer for peace. NK tells them, we havent attacked, we have
kept nukes in Cuba like you have in turkey. You feel Turkey is a part of you, we feel Cuba is a part of
us. You are blocking our ships, and that is an act of war. Remove it, we take offence.

All American Generals decide upon a full scale invasion of Cuba. JFK makes an announcement to the
nation about the fragility and risk of the situation. This announcement is also heard in Cuba.

VIDEO

The anti submarine aircraft is carrying a depth-charge. It is a bomb which is launched towards the
ocean floor from where it bounces up and hits the submarine from below. Even if the propeller of
the submarine is grazed, the commanders can use nukes. The aircraft idiotically decides to use a
dummy depth charge.

USA comes up with 180 ships to attack Cuba.

VIDEO

The Cubans cant figure out that in spite of the fact that America knows, and they are flying over
Cuba, they might invade, but the Russians arent doing anything about it. They were there to protect
Cuba, why were they not using anti aircraft weapons? Russia was trying to balance out the
difference in power, and they knew that one shot could make all hell go loose. This was a crisis like
situation. USA declared the placement of these missiles as an act of war and that USA would do
anything to counter the same.

The US still needs high resolution pictures to present in the UN to show what USSR was up to.

VIDEO

The white house receives a letter from NK and says that war is in nobodys interest hence let both
sides take a step back. USSR will take its weapons back to end the blockade. NK has announced in his
own country that USA will take back its weapons from Italy and Turkey, on the promise of USSR not
invading Cub. The letter USA got said nothing like this. USA could now not understand. Were there
two letters? Was somebody just playing some kind of fool? This created even more paranoia. The
two people who could solve this were an American Journalist and a Russian Spy.

John Alfred Scali, a reporter for ABC news and Alexander Fomin a Russian spy decided to meet in a
Chinese restaurant. Does this spy know of NKs letter? Is it authentic? And does the American know
if JFK is serious? They had to trust the words of these 2. This is what caused an end to the crisis. Both
parties have agreed.

The Americans decide to take one more look at Cuba to see if any dismantling is happening. USSR
weapons have never fired at American planes flying over Cuba till date. This time, they do.

VIDEO

Robert Kennedy, JFKs brother also adds another condition saying they would remove weapons
from Turkey and Italy but this part of the deal needed to be completely secret. Because of this
compromise, NK lost face at the pollit bureau in Russia. He was started to be seen as some kind of
weakling.

20th October, Americans send more airplanes to cuba. They see the footage of nukes being
dismantling. This process took 3 months, and tensions were still at their peak. The US airforce
repeatedly sent aircrafts loaded with nuclear weapons. USSR and Alaska come very close, and US
violated the airspace over the Bering strait to see whether USSR would re-stabilize the weapons in
Cuba.

Vasili Arkhipov was the man who saved the world, because despite being depth charged by
an anti-submarine aircraft, he made a smart decision of not using the nuclear weapons under
his control.

The entire crisis went on from July October. The kind of weapons both sides has were
completely devastating.

Both countries looked at the US as winners. They kicked USSR out without having to do
anything. Nobody knew that USA had t move their weapons out of turkey.