The Naval Blockade - Research Paper Example

The Naval Blockade The US and the Soviet Union agreed on a test ban treaty on all nuclear weapons. They both suspended nuclear activities during 1958. The Soviet Union was the first to break the agreement in September 1961, and two weeks later USA embarked on conducting nuclear tests on its own. Resuming to nuclear activity by the two states resulted to more emulsions that are radioactive; this exposed the public to serious dangers. This led to development of political pressure and tension, but all in all the two parties had to re-discuss their treaty on nuclear tests. This treaty was between the Soviet Union, USA, and the United Kingdom1. It prevented them from conducting nuclear tests on earth’s outer space, in the atmosphere or even under water. China had so much potential of developing nuclear weapons, to further this; they signed an agreement with Moscow. China was to provide uranium ores to Moscow and in exchange get help to advance its nuclear technology. By 1950’s, China started developing these weapons on their own. This remarkable advancement in nuclear technology china was able to develop the first hydrogen bomb in 1967. In the succeeding years, the Cultural Revolutions disrupted weapon development but other sectors like scientific fields and educational ones experienced slow advancements. Extend to which china had developed in nuclear power advancements remains uncertain. These nuclear weapons developed increased insecurity in the whole world2. After the Second World War, USA was the leading power and had all the potential including nuclear power and well-trained and equipped army. The Soviet Union wanted to counter USA’s influence on the rest of the world, and therefore, they settled on forming nuclear weapons that would deploy effectively the entire European continent. Soviet Union placed their station in Cuba that was more strategically located and would favor the transportation of materials more easily. They had plotted a scheme on how they would invade on USA. the battlefield chosen would give the soviets more chance to win West Berlin into the soviet orbit3. The Soviet Union secretly started to work on building missiles from their location in Cuba. They wanted to build on military power that would be more accurate and reliable as contrasted to that of the USA. They had plans to destroy the whole of the US continent. The nuclear technologically assembled missiles would be the most powerful, giving Soviet Union considerable advantage over the USA. The missiles that the US had constructed were unreliable and with poor accuracy therefore ineffective. Nikita Khrushchev knew that, if the Americans never noticed of the soviets strategy and tried to bargain he would only trade them for West Berlin4. Nikita decided to rebuilt on the Soviets’ political power through the missiles power because, tension had grown between Russia and America after Kennedy had promised to be tough on Russia. They wanted t test the potential of their nuclear power on the Soviets’ land. Cuba in return started trading with Russia to acquire oil, machines, and money. Therefore, this facilitated them with the necessary materials to build up on nuclear weapons. In 1961, Kennedy made an attempt of attacking Cuba, but he failed miserably. At the start of September, the increasing numbers of ships arriving in Cuba raised suspicions to be transporting in new weapons. This was two months before elections took place in the US. Palm trees concealed the missiles, ensuring that they were not easily noticeable because they camouflaged. The leadership in the US transferred to President Kennedy. One of his key aims as he got his position was to reduce the gap in nuclear power possession that existed between USA and Russia. In October 1962, American spy planes gathered information showing Russian built bombs and missiles at eight different locations. President Kennedy got the information immediately, and therefore, he had to get sufficient evidence. He used satellite dish photos that proved that Soviets were proceeding with the manufacture of nuclear weapons. He proceeded by trying to get advice on the best strategy to use on the Soviets. If he tried a nuclear strike, it would result to a nuclear war destroying the whole planet of earth endangering all living creatures on earth. This would extinct all life turning life into a lifeless planet. A conventional attack on Cuba would awaken the Russian troops into war, and this was majorly feared for since they had seen the effects that the world wars had caused on most states. A war with Russia was the last thing the U S had wanted. A collaboration of many states has formed body to help prevent war, the United Nations, but this would not be effective because, it would take too much time to stop Russia from ongoing with its nuclear power production5. Failure to do anything about the nuclear weapons productions would also not help solve anything. The Security Council together with other security personnel resolved that, only means that would be more effective was laying a blockade for Russian activities. The president accepted the decision to quarantine Cuba. The air force was also prepared for attacks on the soviets. The whole world was so anxious of what this would end up like. People protested against the possibility of experiencing a nuclear war in London and Europe. This quarantine aimed at ensuring that no more military equipment was transported into Cuba. The sites where the missiles were being assembled were destroyed. It was at this point that the president gave a public message about the crisis through the media. The whole world understood how devastating it would be to experience a nuclear war. Everyone held their breadth anxiously waiting for to see how everything would end up like. Both leaders of the superpowers agreed publicly to dismantle all the weapon sites in exchange by an agreement by U S not to invade Cuba and agreed to remove their missiles from Turkey. This helped in ending the missile crisis. After several days, the Chinese announced that most of their population supported the Cuban people while the West Germany declared their support for the U S. Fidel Castro the Cuban leader was established, and therefore, this gave him the chances to interact with more superpowers closely6. Fidel Castro who had sent the threat to invade U S knew that his nuclear weapons would be effective, and therefore, this gave him courage. These missiles would effectively destroy the main towns in US, and therefore, this would reduce its superiority among the nations of the world. Cuba had prepared their weapons through support from other Soviet states7. The Soviets challenged the U S of their blockage and continued to work on their nuclear weapons. In response to that, President Kennedy authorized nuclear weapons to be loaded onto aircrafts for a strike on the soviets. Through this, they hoped that the missiles were removed in Cuba would. He applied both military and diplomatic pressure on Cuba, this included low-level flights twice every hour to monitor on the activities of the island. There was also a crash program to implement a new government in Cuba. The U N also agreed to supervise the island to ensure removal of all nuclear weapons8. During this fourteen-day period, human beings lived in the greatest tension ever. This period also characterized by exchange of many letters, meetings, and other modes of communication. This period ended after President Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev met in secret and resolved peacefully on the way forward for both sides. The deal that they settled on remained secret from the public. This agreement lest Soviet embarrassed for bowing down on US, and therefore, Kennedy rather was the winner. In negotiations, all parties should end up on equal grounds. None should lose nor win on the issue. The treaty of Limited Test Ban Treaty was therefore resigned hoping to reduce on arms race. In 1963, there was less tension between the Soviet Union and the US. President Kennedy preached peace to all people based on their previous experiences during the world wars. He urged all people to make earth conducive for diversity and to reexamine the stereotypes and myths of the Second World War. He added that, by destroying the planet earth it would be for our own disadvantage, since it is we humans who, live on the planet, breathe the air, and expect future generations to live on earth peacefully9. By the end of 1963, hundred and thirteen countries had joined the treaty including Brazil, India, Israel, Pakistan, Argentina, South Africa and other Asian countries too. . France and China failed to sign the treaty, and therefore, there this did not hold back their nuclear activities; not by any restriction in the Limited Test Ban Treaty. However, they later joined the agreement in 1996. Unexpectedly, the treaty encouraged an arms race because it never created public awareness. This treaty allowed countries to conduct nuclear tests underground but only within their territorial limits. Since China was not, in the agreement, they never followed the rules of the treaty, and they even exploded a bomb outside its territorial limits. No action could be taken against them since they were not involved in the agreement10. The Cuban Missile Crisis gave prove to the great powers that there was the need for peaceful co-existence. The tension between unfriendly states only ends up in insecurity to humans endangering their lives. The wars that happen between states are not being a sign of superiority but only ends up terminating lives through killings. For example, the bombings not only kill people but also pollute the environment making it unfriendly for human stay. To avoid further pollution of the earth more treaties were signed in an attempt to control nuclear developments. Missiles were outlawed and any defenses by states using nuclear weapons. This was far beyond what U.S.A and the Soviet Union expected. US had tried out various nuclear power uses; these are, “countervailing”“, flexible response,” and “counterforce”11. This being the most dangerous event in human history, it marks its 50th Anniversary. Due to the anxiety between the two super powers, and each trying to gain world superiority, each secretly developed weapons in secret for self-defense. Each betrayed the other in the agreement made on the treaty banning them from the use of nuclear weapons. These leaders have considerable influence on many crises today. The missile crisis has many lessons to the present leaders. It was through the prudence of President Kennedy and Nikita that the world escaped a nuclear war. Though none of them wanted to compromise on the demands of the other, they could not evade the situation, and this made the soviets withdraw from Cuba while the U S withdrew from Turkey. They understood what it would cause the world to experience a war that was more determined than the Second World War12. Castro had to make all the necessary efforts to get at peace with the US. This was after the failure of their missile plan embarrassed them. They wanted to establish friendly ties with the US, and therefore, they had a meeting with President Kennedy. During the agreements made by the soviets and the US Castro did not bow down to any demands, and therefore, did not lose in any way. Castro enjoyed having the weapons within his territory, and therefore, the president only agreed for informal contacts with the Cuban state. Before the end of 1963, President Kennedy was shot dead by unknown people. One of the suspects, Harvey Oswald, also was shot two days later13. Currently the world is experiencing so many crises due to the increased development of nuclear weapons. These weapons are so destructive, they release toxins in the atmosphere, and this affects the climatic cycles. The ozone layer is destroyed, and this increases the temperatures on earth; this results to melting of ice at the poles increasing sea level, and therefore, affecting aquatic life. Life in the seas has to migrate, and even some become extinct. Human life is too affected by these dangerous emissions in the atmosphere, once inhaled they change the structure of human genes, and this results to death of deformed people14. Nuclear emissions affect the whole globe and it uncontrollable. With the technological advancements in nuclear production, the earth is at a great risk. There is a need for the whole world to develop on ways of curbing these effects. The media have a prominent role to play in creating awareness to the public and making them informed of the risk it takes. President Kennedy through the media report told the whole world that there was the need for peace; he wanted the earth to be conducive in supporting human life. Nuclear weapon possession gives a state superiority, and this makes it have so much influence on the other world states15. The leaders should follow President Kennedy’s principles, and therefore, help save the world from such crisis. He led to massive political success for US and the whole globe. The cool role that he played during the missile crisis showed that compromise should only be made on equal grounds and taking considering the possible effects on other parties who are indirectly involved. International conferences have been conducted to help discuss the need to stop nuclear developments and the dangers that it posses. Authors have also come up with articles that discuss the Cuban missile crisis and how this caused so much devastation to the world16. To conclude, the missiles in Cuba led to the worlds awakening. The whole world was at a considerable risk and fear of experiencing another war just after the Second World War had ended. These missiles were under the soviet power but located in Cuba since it was strategically located. It was easy to ship in equipment to Cuba, and therefore, this made it more favorable. After the shipping raised suspicions to the US a blockade was put to stop further exchange of materials within Cuba and its environs. This blockade gave an opportunity to exchange ideas between President Kennedy and Nikita on termination of nuclear developments. Cuba was not getting affected by the negotiations since he was on neutral grounds17. He did not actively indulge in any negotiations. President Kennedy tried to defend the world from an attack by the soviets by interfering with their nuclear weapon processing. His goal was not only to have victory for the US, but he wanted peace and freedom for the whole hemisphere. Both the US and the Soviets seriously paid for the worlds’ freedom. Today’s leaders understand that they have a significant role to play to help ensure that the world is at peace. Bibliography Byrne J. Paul. The Cuban Missile Crisis: To the Brink of War (Lewes: Capstone, 2006), 42-56. Cimbala, J. Stephen. The Past and Future of Nuclear Deterrence (Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998), 150-200. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). New Yorks Times, Retrieved on 28 October 2012, from http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/c/cuban_missile_crisis/index.html Garthoff L. Raymond, Reflections on the Cuban Missile Crisis (Massachusetts: Brookings Institution Press, 1989), George L. Alice. Awaiting Armageddon: How Americans Faced the Cuban Missile Crisis (Carolina: UNC Press Books, 2003), 3-87. Shmoop, Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis to Detente: Shmoop US History Guide (Shmoop University Inc, 2010), 3-50. Symonds L. Craig and Clipson J. William, The Naval Institute Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2001), 204- Symonds L. Craig and Clipson J. William. The Naval Institute Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2001), 21-110 Watts, Duncan, Dictionary of American Government and Politics (Edinburgh University Press, 2010), 66-81. Welch, A. David, Intelligence and the Cuban Missile Crisis (London: Routledge, 1998), 170-215. Read More