Be K. (10min.)

[LargoWinch]

Be Kennedy / Be Khrushchev (5min. x 2)



Kennedy




Khrushchev

[Raz]

Re: Be K. (10min.)


I have three books concerning Nikita Khrushchev: a biography by an American author, a semi-biography by his son, Sergei, and Khrushchev's own memoirs.

What he allowed during the Cuban Crisis was unbelievably foolish. He actually gave Soviet naval officers the freedom to decide whether or not to use a NUCLEAR weapon!

The man was a fool.

Better than Stalin (who wasn't?) but certainly no hero.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasili_Arkhipov

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...le-Crisis.html

[metalman]

Re: Be K. (10min.)

good stuff, largo... we all almost weren't. we got lucky that time. next time?

where ya been, man?

[metalman]

Re: Be K. (10min.)

I have three books concerning Nikita Khrushchev: a biography by an American author, a semi-biography by his son, Sergei, and Khrushchev's own memoirs.

What he allowed during the Cuban Crisis was unbelievably foolish. He actually gave Soviet naval officers the freedom to decide whether or not to use a NUCLEAR weapon!

The man was a fool.

Better than Stalin (who wasn't?) but certainly no hero.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasili_Arkhipov

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...le-Crisis.html

the point as i see it isn't khrushchev the hero but that wwii experiences shaped the decisions of the men in that crisis.

put these guys in the same situation... what outcome then?

[LargoWinch]

Re: Be K. (10min.)

where ya been, man?

Thanks for asking MM, the reason I was away is both good and simple; got promoted went from 3 direct reports to 12 and at the same time got a new boss full of ideas... Things should settle down though after this calendar year hopefully.

[Woodsman]

Re: Be K. (10min.)

Khrushchev was indeed reckless, but look at it from his perspective.

He is keenly aware - despite American propaganda to the contrary - that the Sovs are in a position of extreme inferiority in terms of strategic nuclear forces. He misreads Kennedy's resolve following the Vienna conference and the disastrous outcome of the Bay of Pigs invasion. He has a new socialist ally and wants to do what he can to support them against the very real possibility of American invasion. Khrushchev was also the master of the big bluff and was absolutely enamored of novelty.

By putting missiles in Cuba, Khrushchev believed he could in one sweep accomplish the goals of redressing Soviet strategic inferiority and help an important ally; the only socialist country in the Western Hemisphere. He had no intentions of launching a first strike and saw the placement of offensive weapons on Cuba as his best defense - both of his Cuban allies and his own country. Moreover, it was impossible for him to view the placement of missiles in Cuba as anything but a tit-for-tat response to the ringing of his country by American nuclear forces in Turkey, Italy and the UK.

That said, none of these realities make him any less culpable for pushing the world to the brink of total war. It is said that Khrushchev came up with the plan to base missiles in Cuba on his own and without consultation with the heads of Soviet strategic forces or the Politburo. He pushed the plan down the throats of the Politburo and actually believed that he could hand the Americans a fait accompli following the '62 midterm elections.

Yet he was not the only one acting recklessly.

As the excellent video/cartoon points out, the Joint Chiefs were as reckless in their proposed response as was Khrushchev in deploying the missiles. Worse than the warmongering Lemay's simplistic, bellicose response was the action of SAC chief Gen. Thomas Power. In a colossal fit of arrogance, Power actually ordered SAC to move to DefCon 2 - the highest level of alert short of war - on his own authority and without presidential authorization. Compounding that, he issued the order in the clear over an open line so that Soviet listening stations would pick up the transmission.

Add to that Admiral Anderson's insubordination with regard to Kennedy and McNamara's orders to avoid conflict with the Soviet Navy and merchant vessels during the quarantine; the CIA’s Bill Harvey's unauthorized insertion of three ZR/RIFLE commando teams into Cuba at the height of the crisis and in direct opposition to orders from Kennedy halting such operations; and numerous other incidents of insubordination and foot dragging by the military and civilian hawks, it's difficult for me to say who was the more reckless; Khrushchev for miscalculating Kennedy's resolve or the Chiefs and the CIA for miscalculating Soviet resolve.

We are here today discussing these facts of history in the safety of our homes because of the wisdom and courage of one man, President John F. Kennedy.