[NYTr] Anniversary of "Missile Crisis, " JFK's Naval Blockade of Cuba

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Cuba Defends its Sovereignty from Nuclear Threat

Havana, Oct 22 (Prensa Latina) On October 22, 1962, the world was put
on the brink of a nuclear war, when then US President John F. Kennedy
announced the imposition of a naval blockade against Cuba.

The Missile Crisis, as it is historically recognized, was part of
political harassment against the triumphant Cuban revolution, stepped
up by Washington, after the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 failed.

Constant violations of the Cuban air space and implementation of the
most crazy actions and terrorist operations marked the new White House
policy, aimed at destroying the emerging process.

According to data from the Center of Information for the Press,
simultaneously, in the spring of 1965 [sic; obviously a typo and
probably should be 1962] the former Soviet Union, in its eagerness
to achieve strategic nuclear parity with the US, proposed to Cuba the
installation of nuclear weapons in its territory.

According to documents from that time, it was a method of deterrence,
so that Washington abstained from a direct invasion of the Island.

After a profound examination, Cuba assumed the political decision and
commitment to contribute to consolidate defensive power in the
socialist bloc.

At the same time, it made clear in a bilateral agreement that it was
all about defense of its territory, as well as of military cooperation
and mutual defense.

Thus, Operation Anadir started, which consisted of bringing to and
deploying in the Island a group of Soviet troops (43,000 men) and most
of the strategic weapons agreed on.

According to the pact, the forces were directly subordinated to their
government and would cooperate in the Island's defense in case of
aggression. Their transfer and deployment lasted 76 days.

The Cuban party pleaded to make the agreement public, while the
Soviets opted for avoiding publicity until elections for the US
Congress, scheduled for November 6, 1962, were held.

However, US air surveillance detected the missile deployment, which
triggered a call to action against Cuba, involving 85,000 servicemen,
183 naval war ships (with eight aircraft carriers).

Over 400,000 Cubans joined the militias, as well as revolutionary
organizations, and volunteered in hospitals and blood donors or went to
factories to replace mobilized people in defense of the nation.

Following an intensive, dramatic diplomatic exchange between the heads
of State of the Soviet Union and the US, the Soviets unilaterally
decided to pull out the nuclear weapons without consulting the Island's
authorities.

>From its situation as a tiny nation harassed by a powerful enemy like
the US, the Cuban government deemed indispensable a consultation of the
decision adopted by Moscow, considering the inclusion of a simple "if
satisfactory guarantees are given to Cuba."

In this regard, on October 28, President Fidel Castro made public a
declaration that contained the historic five points of dignity,
demanding the end of the naval and economic blockade, as well as of all
subversive activities and attacks against the Island.

This principled stance in defense of national sovereignty and integrity
of the Revolution was supported by most of the population.

Given the ambiguity of the non aggression pact, the Cuban stance was
repeatedly discussed and thoroughly explained during and after the
crisis, and this declaration of principles remains fully valid nowadays.

iom rma ale crc

PL-38