Cuban Missile Crisis: Blockade vs Air Strike (1962)
by Anonymous
Kennedy's advisors were split. Hawks wanted air strikes on Cuban missile sites. Kennedy chose a naval blockade (quarantine), giving Khrushchev time to back down without losing face.
Naval Blockade (Quarantine)
1962
year
Moderate — proportional response
escalation risk
Bought time for diplomacy
time pressure
Chosen — Soviets withdrew missiles
outcome
Air Strikes on Missile Sites
1962
year
Very high — could kill Soviet personnel
escalation risk
Immediate action
time pressure
Not chosen — too likely to start WWIII
outcome
Full Invasion of Cuba
1962
year
Extreme
escalation risk
Would take weeks to prepare
time pressure
Not chosen
outcome
Do Nothing / Diplomatic Protest
1962
year
Low
escalation risk
None
time pressure
Not chosen — missiles would become operational
outcome
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