"We should consider any attempt on the European powers part to extend their system," to subversion and control by international communism. -Monroe Doctrine
"We are afraid of communism, but fear is not the best defense against an enemy. Fidelismo is what should frighten the powers in Washington not communism." -Suarez
In less than a month the U.S. got wind of this operation. On August 23, 1962, the director of CIA, McCone, told President Kennedy that Russia was preparing to place 'offensive military capacity for the Soviet Union'. Kennedy responded by saying that the U.S. would do whatever must be done.
On October 5-7 1962, U.2 reconnaissance flights were made over east Cuba. It was said that IRBM's of 2,000 mile radius were being prepared. The U.S. confirmed this information between October 18-21. Kennedy said that Khrushchev's conduct was caused by a desire to prove that the U.S. was weak before the world.
On October 17 of 1962, Kennedy and his government were divided on the choice as to whether to investigate an immediate attack by air on missile sites or whether to blockade Cuba. The decision was made to conduct a naval blockade. While implications of this recommendation were made, Kennedy was assured by Russian Foreign Minister, Gromyko, that Russia would never give offensive weapons to Cuba. This angered Kennedy, since the U.S. had already discovered Russian weapons in Cuba. It was very important to Kennedy that these matters be concealed from other allies for the moment in fear that they would not approve of a possible world war. The crisis was concealed though the British Embassy heard of matters by October 17. On October 22 Kennedy's speech avoided linking Castro with Russia. There was no suggestion that Cuba would be invaded or Castro overthrown. A 'quarantine' or blockade was to be established. Kennedy asked Khrushchev to withdraw both bombers and missiles from Cuba and to abandon launching sites and establishments. The blockade consisted of 16 destroyers, 3 cruisers, an anti-submarine aircraft carrier and 6 utility ships were disposed in an arc from Florida to Puerto Rico. The world waited for Russia to respond. Kennedy told ambassadors in Guinea and Senegal to ask the government to refuse landing rights to Russia during the crises. Both parties agreed.
In Cuba 2 medium range missiles were ready to operate by October 23 1962. About 20,000 Russian troops were in Cuba in 4 units of 5,000 men each. Two were near Havana, one in central Cuba, and one in the east. That same day Castro called for general mobilization and moved to Santiago to take command. He also held a speech which condemned the 'privacy' of Kennedy and said anyone who wished to inspect Cuba should come ready to fight.
On October 24, 1962, Khrushchev announced in a public missive that his country would 'do everything in our power to prevent war'. He said Kennedy was risking a world war, and that if U.S. ships tried to halt Russian ships they would sink. Finally Khrushchev had admitted to having missiles in Cuba.
That same day in America newspapers proclaimed, "Showdown can come tonight," and Kennedy received a letter from Khrushchev stating that Russia would withdraw all weapons from Cuba if the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba. Kennedy soon sent a letter to Russian Ambassador in Washington stating that he accepted this letter, however, unless the U.S. received assurances within 24 hours, the U.S. would take military action on October 30.
On the night of October 27-28 Kennedy received a letter from Khrushchev confirming the letter he had written Kennedy. Khrushchev stated that he was prepared to stand by all of the promises and demands drawn out in the letter. Kennedy welcomed Khrushchev's 'statesmanlike decision'. Castro was not consulted by Khrushchev and heard the news while talking with Guevara. The Russians dismantled the missile sites and returned both the missiles and the jet bombers back to Russia. The Cuban government, however, refused to permit any U.N. observation. Because of this, the U.S. did not in the end give a public promise not to invade Cuba.
