I am speaking of course of the massive Russian buildup on the eastern border of the Ukraine.
But though there are indeed some similarities between these two crises, they are by and large not the same.
So back to the Missile Crisis...Over the course of the middle parts of October and November 1962, when I was a mere pup of 14, the World literally held its collective breath expecting nuclear war to break out at any moment. School Children throughout North America held drills consisting of hiding under their desks. My lovely grandson Patrick and I saw a picture of this in Canada's War Memorial and in his owns words summed up what it was "that would protect them for up to two (2) minutes Grandpa". I am not sure it would even protect them that long but he was bang on about the ineffectiveness of it all.
I believe this had a lot to do with the fact that World War Two had not long ended plus the horror of Nagasaki and Hiroshima were still fresh visions in everyone's' minds.
A brief background...America discovered that Russia had placed nuclear weapons on nearby Cuba only some 250 nautical miles off the coast of Florida...well within range of the entire US Coast and even Canada. President John Kennedy was in the second of his first 4 year term...a term that he tragically would not finish. His Top Generals urged him to invade Cuba asap and blast the heck out of these Russian Soldiers and Their Deadly Weaponry.
To Kennedy's credit he did not follow their advice and in his thinking had the help of Brother Bobby who he had made Attourney General. I say thankfully, since after the fact it was confirmed that the Russian Soldiers embedded in Cuba had strict orders that if they were fired upon they were expected to return fire with their nuclear arsenal.
Instead, Kennedy had a blockade established that surrounded Cuba and stayed the course while Russian Ships with reinforcement and more weaponry ploughed through the waters of the Atlantic toward them.
Who would blink first was the thought and worry of the day.
Fortunately Russia did under the Leadership of Nikita Khrushchev. The Russian Fleet turned back, their Nuclear Weapons were returned to Russia and the rest, as they say, is History.
So what is different this time? First off it does not appear to have caught the attention of the man in street. Most certainly reports from the United States suggests most view this as a European matter so why should we get involved.
But this feeling is not just an American phenomenon... it is prevalent in Europe as well. Germany is more concerned with offending the Russian since it could very easily jeopardize their gas supplies. France has expressed similar concerns. And British Boris Johnson is up to his neck in alligators and those gators have nothing to do with either Russia or the Ukraine.
NATO's response has been simply anemic and as I have said since before the time that Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, they should have flooded the Ukraine with both troops and weaponry. They have done neither and that remains the case right up to now when no better authority than America's own President Joe 'the Schmoe' Biden says that he expects Russia to soon invade. (I know...I just couldn't resist).
Last week, I listened to Biden's first Press Conference held in eons - I can hear your surprise given that I am known to consistently turn the channel when I first see a Politician's Lips begin to move...I know they are lying and moreover know it too. So why did I endure over 2 hours of bafflegab? Chalk it up to Ghoulish Curiosity...I had heard so many comments about Biden being in the early stages of Dementia I wanted to see for myself. But in the end, no real signs of Dementia but it was the most bizarre Q & A , I have ever witnessed.
For instance, He allowed that Russia was likely to invade the Ukraine and even posited that it would likely come down to "which side of the bed Putin woke up on" on any given morning. He did not leave it there saying that it might be quite okay if Russia was to undertake "a minor incursion" whatever that would amount to. And this with the knowledge of what Russia did with regard to the Crimea.
How did this Guy ever get to be in the highest most powerful office of the World?
And sadly, Leadership is also lacking in all other Democracies as well.
Okay, so much for the differences, I began by saying there are some comparisons to the Cuban Missile Crisis ...so what are they?
Not many but the main ones the two major antagonists are once again Russia and the United States.
The other similarity is the fact that Nuclear War is at risk but this time around it would be far worse than it would have been some 60 years ago. Indeed, an all out conflagration could very well spell the end of mankind.
I said at the beginning that there are lots of differences between these two crises...the current one is by far and away the most dangerous and it is not all due to the Nuclear Danger. For a better understanding of what I mean, I refer you to my recent Blog ...dated January 9th and entitled 'NATO'.
As I continue to See It...
'K.D. Bell'
