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[GD]

Just wondering...

What do you suppose would have happened if the Russians HADN'T backed down?

[richie]

this..

[GD]

What's that?

[cc la tarte]

Actually, Khrushchev was a class act on that one in my book.

He knew the "kid" the US had elected was not very bright and had childishly got himself in a pickle and would / could not back off ... and knew that only if he, Nikita, backed off would no bombs go off

A rare bright and BRAVE moment in USSR history. He got fired not too long after but is one of very few political "true heros" to me

Sometimes sticking to it if it means lives is gutless .... and backing off to save lives is true bravery

[GranpaP]

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the US Strategic Air Command was placed on DEFCON 2 for the first time in history, while the rest of US military commands (with the exception of the US Air Forces in Europe) went on DEFCON 3. On 22 October 1962 SAC responded by establishing Defense Condition Three (DEFCON III), and ordered B-52s on airborne alert. Tension grew and the next day SAC declared DEFCON II, a heightened state of alert, ready to strike targets within the Soviet Union.


On 15 November 1965 the day Strategic Air Command (SAC) postured down to defense condition (DEFCON) III.

On 6 October 1973 Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a surprise attack on Israel. On 25 October U.S. forces went on Defense Condition (DEFCON) III alert status, as possible intervention by the Soviet Union was feared. On 26 October, CINCSAC and CINCONAD reverted to normal DEFCON status. On 31 October USEUCOM (less the Sixth Fleet) went off DEFCON III status. The Sixth Fleet resumed its normal DEFCON status on 17 November 1973

[GD]

Ouch! My ears are getting Defcon from all the SHOUTING!

[Leopardsocks]

Actually, Khrushchev was a class act on that one in my book.

He knew the "kid" the US had elected was not very bright and had childishly got himself in a pickle and would / could not back off ... and knew that only if he, Nikita, backed off would no bombs go off

A rare bright and BRAVE moment in USSR history. He got fired not too long after but is one of very few political "true heros" to me

Sometimes sticking to it if it means lives is gutless .... and backing off to save lives is true bravery

Ah...you should read Kruschev's memoirs...whatever he did, it was not courage that drove his decision making, but mathematics.

But he got US missiles out of Turkey, so he wasn't too disappointed.

[EU]

The Turkish missiles were paramount and the mathematics were that the US was winning the arms race.

[Leopardsocks]

Correctamundo.