Cold War And Castro
... 1960, Cuba publicly announces that they are now allies with the Soviet Union.7 When Cuba and the Soviet Union become allies, Nakita Khrushchev, Soviet's premier, received permission from Castro to begin stocking Cuba with their weapons.8 Between July 26 and August 24, the Cubans received around 20 Soviet bulk ships. These ships carried large quantities of electronics and between 3,000 and 5,000 military technicians.9 Since this occurred during the Cold War, anyone who sided with the Communist movement was shut off from America. On January 3, 1961, Cuba was officially removed from American diplomacy.10 While Castro was overthrowing the government, the Soviets had been making many technological advances. The scariest advance they made was their capability to make and drop Atomic bombs just five years after WW II.11 The other major advance was the development of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). These missiles could be launched from Russia and easily reach the United States.12 Now when Czechoslovakia broke off from the Soviet Union, the Soviets had to find another place to build military bases. Therefore, they turned to Cuba to build upon.13 After they found an alternate site to build, he started planning on where to place the ICBMs. Those ICBMs were there to counteract US's lead for world power.14 Also the Soviets planned to build an air defense for Cuba to protect their bases. The whole trick to successfully pulling this plan off was to smuggle all of the equipment in a very high level of security; however, America's National Security Association (NSA) discovers electronics and "highly unusual" aircraft. This hypothesis became a number one issue at the CIA headquarters. The CIA informs Kennedy of the possible Soviet ICBM launch sites in Cuba. To make sure this is what they expect, the Americans fly a U2 spy plane over Cuba on October 14, 1962 to take photographs of Cuba's ground. The next day the photos taken were scrutinized and the CIA spotted several Medium Range Ballistic Missile sites.16 The very next day after the pictures were analyzed, Kennedy was given photographs from the u2 spy plane showing that the Russians were building missile site Cuba. 17 The same day Kennedy calls for a meeting to plan possible diplomatic and military actions.18 On October 17, 1962, Kennedy orders another U2 flight over Cuba. The next day Gromyke, Soviet's American diplomat, and Kennedy meet with one and another. Gromyke states that the storing of weapons is for defense only. So, in order to stop the build up Kennedy issues a "quarantine" around Cuba on October 21, 1962. Also another U2 flight spots bombers and MIGs. Then on October 22, Congress is informed on the latest facts of the crisis with Cuba; Kennedy announces this to the public, and the military goes to Defcon 3. This causes fear to pulsate through America. The only military attempt made to stop this was the Bay of Pigs invasion. This involved 1300 exiles to invade and overthrow Castro. Well on April 17, 1961 Bay of Pigs was launched. This really made Fidel over in Cuba worried, and not...