The Cuban Missile Crisis

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

INTRODUCTION

While the Cuban Missile crises took place forty-five years ago, it remains a classic example of successful strategic decision making at the level of the nation state. This report details the crisis using the evaluative concepts and framework of strategic decision making.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE

We are nearing the anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis; the 14 days of terror that held American citizens hostage in October 1962. With the war in Iraq, terrorist attacks and probable nuclear weapons capability of countries like North Korea and Iran, the world is again in an unstable state. From a managerial perspective, evaluating historical data can be key to managing the inherent risk involved in strategic planning for an uncertain future. While you may never be called upon to make a decision with as much at stake as did the Executive Committee in the Cuban Missile Crisis, as future managers, you will be called upon to make strategic decisions that will affect your organization, your employees and yourself. Studying the Cuban Missile Crisis where the concepts and techniques of strategic decision making were so successfully employed will enhance your understanding of the process and increase your ability to effectively apply those same concepts when required.

BACKGROUND

Since World War II, the United States has been on edge of a bombing from a foreign country. The hysteria made people practice bomb raid drills and even build anti-bomb shelters under their houses with enough food, water and supplies to last through an attack on the United States. The bomb scare after WW II soon died down, but those feelings quickly resurged with The Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the most terrifying events in the history of the United States. The actual crisis was for only fourteen days, but the growing tensions between the United States and Cuba started in 1959 with the Cuban Revolution. During this time Cuba's dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown by a revolutionary leader named Fidel Castro who then turned Cuba into a Communist country.

Before Castro came to power the United States had influenced Cuba in their politics and economy. Fidel wanted nothing to do with the United States and denounced them by confiscating houses and property owned by U.S. businesses and using the money to improve the way of life for the poor and working class in Cuba. The United States recognized this as a threat that Castro would take over Cuba and implement a Communist government. In 1960 the United States employed a trade embargo that cut off trade between the U.S. and Cuba that is still in effect to this day.

Cuba needed help for importing and exporting goods, and they looked to the "communist governed" Soviet Union for trading. During this time the United States had been in a "Cold War" with the Soviet Union since the mid 1940's, and even though there wasn't actual warfare going on, the United States still felt threatened since Cuba was less than 100 miles away. In an attempt to overthrow Castro as Dictator, The U.S. began arms training with anti-Castro Cubans who fled to the United States. The training was for an invasion of Cuba called the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The Invasion was supposed to be a secret mission, without anyone knowing of U.S. involvement. Castro found out about the invasion and defeated the Anti-Castro Cubans and leaving a bad mark for the Kennedy Administration.

Fidel Castro was now Cuba's leader and more importantly installing a Communist Government. His ties with the U.S.S.R. became stronger and soon Castro and Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev started shipping nuclear warheads from the Soviet Union to Cuba. On Oct 14th 1962, U-2 Spy Planes flying over Cuba photographed missiles and missiles bases being built. Two days later President Kennedy saw the photos and realized he had a Strategic Decision to be made.

Soviet Side

Ð'* Nikita Khrushchev

Ð'* Anatoly Dobrynin

Ð'* Fidel Castro

American Side

Ð'* John Kennedy

Executive Committee

Ð'* Robert Kennedy

Ð'* McGeorge Bundy

Ð'* Robert McNamara

Ð'* Douglas Dillon

Ð'* Paul Nitze

Ð'* Dean Rusk

Ð'* Maxwell Taylor

Ð'* Theodore Sorensen

Ð'* George Ball

Ð'* Adlai Stevenson

STRUCTURE

Objectives

The primary objective for the United States that needed to be met was to have the missiles removed immediately. While there were lesser objectives to be considered, an alternative that did not satisfy this objective would not be acceptable. It was also necessary for the world balance of power remain in United States favor. Additionally, the United States ability to defend the Western Hemisphere must be retained. This would be a delicate balancing act as the world opinion and public sentiment in the United States must also remain in favor of United States and Kennedy's handling of the crisis In addition, America's response could neither strengthen the Chinese and Soviet relationship nor could the response damage or permanently rupture the United States relationship with Russia.

Search For Alternatives

On the surface, it may seem that the primary objective of removing the missiles required a maximizing solution. However, the decision