The world was on the verge of Hengiflugs
When the Soviets were found to stack up nuclear weapons in Cuba, almost 700 kilometers from the Florida Peninsula, everything went to one end in the US government system. There was no recipe for how to respond, and US Army influencers suggested that the island be attacked in the south with the aim of destroying the weapons and military forces that had been established there.
Recent stories confirm that key members of President Kennedy’s government said goodbye to their families in the morning of this day in October 1962, in complete uncertainty as to whether they would look other sunrise. They knew that the world hit the brink of nuclear war that could end up with the community they knew them.
Leaders of Khrushzjov and Kennedy met in 1961. They had to cook gray silver, but most of the leaders in later history have done.
AFP
Still in many memory
More than 60 years have passed since these high -dramatic events and the main actors have disappeared long ago. In fact, Kennedy only a year later when he was murdered in Dallas in November 1963.
But these events are still in the smaller many who now live. Others can learn about this world historical event, and serve better than most other books of British historian Max Hastings, which was published at the end of 2022 and in Icelandic translation by Magnús Þór Hafsteinsson a year later. The book is simply called the Cuban dispute in 1962 and on almost 550 pages it runs the event and puts in a context that serves our contemporary.
This book is the subject of the Watch Club of Sponsor this May, but the club began its walk in April and the reception has been beyond hope.
Why the Cuban dispute?
Some may ask why this book will be chosen in the field where the intention is to learn about politics and today’s community. The answer is really super -simple. The events in October 1962 tell a story that can be learned. What’s more: Much of what we see happening in front of our noses these days is an uncomfortable likeness to what the global population looked up to these days in the first half of the 1960s.
It points out Hastings himself in the introduction to the book. At the end of it, the author says: « Today, in the wake of the unbelievable new attacks and aggression of Russia, this story has a shocking appeal. It shows the dangers of superpowers that dare on the outer name of the abyss that they succeeded in 1962. »
Here you can secure a copy of the book on special discount terms.
But he adds: « The world cannot trust that we must always be so fortunate to have national leaders who show similar wisdom. »
Many leaders on stage now
Obviously, wisdom is not found in Russia’s Putin, just as Hastings points out. But there are more big players on stage. Donald Trump in the White House, which calls for peace but also seems ready to knock their muscles and has actually done so towards his NATO colleagues wide and wide, Xi Jinping who speaks soft but aims for the invasion of Taiwan, the madman of the Pyongyang who has sent to the Pyongyang South Korea, Japan and other democratic nations in the Far East. Then there are countless other proclamations of violence and aggression, men such as the supreme clerk in Iran, new terrorist government in Syria and thus could continue to count.
Unfortunately, in this connection, the leader of India and Pakistan will not be avoided. Their turns in the Kashmir region could launch a scenario that led to a major event. Both states have nuclear weapons.
What is the lesson?
And that is perhaps the big lesson of the Cuban dispute. Leaders weigh and evaluate the state of affairs and even make devastating decisions without having a complete overview. The Soviets, for example, knew that technical deficiencies in their nuclear weapons were such that if they intended to have the upper hand in war based on such weapons, they would have to exist. If the United States’ wings were sent off, it would be too late to the butt to respond. What kind of decisions and food does such a situation call? At least it is clear that calculating the shaky can have endearing consequences.
Extensively
One of the things that makes the Cuban dispute particularly interesting is the fact that there were big characters. John F. Kennedy is known to everyone, the image that Hastings draws up by Khrústjov is more interesting. Fidel Castro fascinated the whole world, even his opponents, out of his shoes and all around are more interesting men. Bobby, the president’s brother, is one of them, but also men like Georgy Bolshakov, the notorious spy, and ambassador Aleksandr Alekseev.
Powerful partners
The Spur’s Book Club began its walk last April. There are books that enhance our understanding of politics and society in a broad sense.
Membership of the club is free of charge. It is due to powerful sponsors as possible.
The companies Brim, Kerecis, Penninn and Samsung contribute to the club and support increased book reading and education.
