Las razones que explican la acción de la USSR in Cuba

6. Study all the sources.

‘Khrushchev’s motive for putting missiles into Cuba was to protect Cuba from the USA.’ How far do these sources provide convincing evidence for this statement? Use the sources to explain your answer.

Nikita Khrushchev was the Soviet Leader who was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis along with the U.S president John F. Kennedy. In the sources we can find evidence supporting the statement along with evidence that prove the contrary.

First of all some of the sources actually do give convincing evidence that Khrushchev’s motives to put missiles was to protect Cuba. This is the case in the start of source B when it says ‘What happens if we lose Cuba?’ This source is from the memoirs of Khrushchev. Source F then also proves the statement by giving the following evidence ‘and you respond by ending your blockade and also agree not to invade Cuba.’ This source is a letter sent to Kennedy by the soviet leader in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The in the next source, so source G, it says ‘our purpose has been to help Cuba’.

Although these sources are supporting the statement there seem to be other reasons for Khrushchev actions in Cuba. The first reason other than to help Cuba is to balance power. We can see this also in Source B when he says ‘and now they would learn just what it feels like to have enemy missiles pointing at them’. This source kind of contradicts itself as in itself it seems to have different reasons for which Khrushchev did what he did, therefore this source wont be as reliable as other, but this source is also written by Khrushchev himself and therefore making it even more doubtful. Sources A and E are also very doubtful as they are contemporary visions. They are cartoons therefore show the view of the cartoonist and cannot be used as a reliable source to provide convincing evidence to support or deny the statement at hand.

Source C also supports the idea that Khrushchev tried to put missiles in Cuba to balance power between the USSR and the USA. Source D, written by the CIA, being their opinion, therefore not so reliable, says that Khrushchev aim was ‘to show that the world balance of power has shifted so far in their favor’ Then another reason for USSR missile involvement in Cuba is to use as a bargaining chip so the USA would take out their missiles from turkey. This is scene in various sources. For example in source J it is made really clear when Castro says ‘ You do not defend Cuba by withdrawing missiles from Turkey’.

In conclusion I think that that statement is false due to the evidence presented in these sources. I think there were other reasons more influential to explain the actions of the USSR in Cuba.

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