cuban missile crisis joint crisis committee umass mun...
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Cuban Missile Crisis
Joint Crisis Committee
UMass MUN 2012
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Dear Delegates,
Welcome to UMass MUN 2012 and the historical joint crisis committee: the Cuban
Missile Crisis! Each of you will be playing the role of a highly valued member of the EX-COMM,
or Executive Committee, that will be advising President John F. Kennedy throughout the US’s
encounter with the USSR during the crisis that has shaped nuclear policy and global politics ever
since. The Cuban Missile Crisis is still noted as the closest the world has ever come to full-out
nuclear war and the decisions made by you and your fellow EX-COMM members have the
potential of changing history as we know it- well, hypothetically.
My name is Shalini Jayarama and I am excited to work with you as we face one of the
biggest crises the world has seen. Whether this is your first time participating in a Model U.N.
conference or your 25th time, I want to make it clear that I have high hopes and high
expectations for the committee. What that means is that you have to come prepared. Please
understand that the background guide is exactly that: a guide. It should serve as a general
reference that provides a basic backdrop for the context of your research, nothing more,
nothing less. I cannot emphasize enough that this guide does not cover nearly all that you will
need to know to bring your best game to the conference, so if you want to be serious about
this, then seriously do some real, explorative research and really understand the history. Know
your position inside out and portray your character as truthfully as possible; do not express
your personal opinion or make something up at your convenience. Finally, if you want the
committee to be realistic and engaging, be ready to debate ‘till you drop.
Again, I am looking forward to hearing what you bring to the table. This is supposed to
be intense but fun at the same time, and being a small and joint and crisis committee, I am sure
we can make that happen. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Peace,
Shalini Jayarama
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General Timeline of Relevant Dates1
1945: February 4-11-- Yalta Conference.
Cold War ‘begins’
1954: March -- KGB established
1945: August 6 -- United States first
used atomic bomb in war
1954 -- CIA helps overthrow unfriendly regimes in Iran and
Guatemala
1946: March -- Winston Churchill
delivers "Iron Curtain" Speech
1954: July -- Vietnam split at 17th parallel
1947: June -- Marshall Plan is
announced
1955: May -- Warsaw Pact formed
1948: Communist takeover in
Czechoslovakia
1956: October - November -- Rebellion put down in
Communist Hungary. Egypt took control of Suez Canal; U.S.
refused to help take it back
1948: June 24 -- Berlin Blockade begins 1957: October 4 -- Sputnik launched into orbit
1949: July -- NATO ratified 1958: November -- Khrushchev demands withdrawal of troops
from Berlin
1949: May 12 -- Berlin Blockade ends 1959: January -- Cuba taken over by Fidel Castro
1949: September -- Mao Zedong, a
Communist, takes control of China
1959: September -- Khrushchev visits United States; denied
access to Disneyland
1949: September -- Soviets explode
first atomic bomb
1960: May -- Soviet Union reveals that U.S. spy plane was shot
down over Soviet territory
1950: Joe McCarthy begins hearings on
un-American and Communist activities
1960: November -- John F. Kennedy elected President
1950: June -- Korean War begins 1961: April -- Bay of Pigs invasion
1951: January 12 -- Federal Civil
Defense Administration established
1961: July -- Kennedy requests 25% spending increase for
military
1953: June 19 -- Rosenberg executions 1961: August 17 -- Construction of Berlin Wall begins
1953: July -- Korean War ends 1962: U.S. involvement in Vietnam increased
1962: October -- Cuban Missile Crisis
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The Aftermath of World War II
Germany divided into four zones following Yalta Conference
(http://ldfb.tripod.com/index.htm)
The U.S. and USSR had worked together as the Allies, primarily with nations Great Britain and
France, against the Central Axis powers, mainly Germany. At the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt
was president of the U.S. and Joseph Stalin held authoritarian power in the USSR. Following the
fall of Germany, the Yalta Conference, held by the USSR, the US, and Great Britain, known as
the ‘Big Three’, in February 1945 divided Germany into four distinct zones, controlled by the
U.S., the USSR, Great Britain, and France. It was this division of Germany that eventually led to
the Berlin Wall during the Cold War.However, the Yalta Conference made clear the tension
existing between the USSR and the other Allies powers. This tension was fueled by a
fundamental power struggle as well as the ‘ideologies’ at battle here: capitalism and democracy
vs. communism. The Yalta Conference also founded the United Nations and determined that
the U.S., Great Britain, USSR, and China would be the four permanent members with veto
power. The control of Poland was contested and the USSR essentially forced its rule on the
region. Although Stalin promised to allow the people of Poland to determine its own fate via
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elections soon after, this did not happen and the issue at the Conference proved to further
illustrate the growing mistrust between the USSR and the U.S. as well as Great Britain1.
World War II also saw the defeat of Japan by the US. Years of research finally led to the
development of the atomic bomb in a secretly and primarily US-funded endeavor known as the
“Manhattan Project”. The US used the atomic bomb to force the Japanese to surrender and
agree to its terms of war victory. The atomic bomb unleashed an era of nuclear arms
development and the nuclear arms/technology advancement race between the US and the
USSR, which was a key component of the Cold War. This will also be discussed in detail further
on.
The Start of the Cold War
Great Britain was one of the ‘Big Three’ and France was also a considerable power in Europe,
but the destruction of the war and the weakening of the economy of mainland Europe left the
US, which had joined the war only in 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and
the USSR relatively unscathed. The US and USSR, the two nations that emerged as the two
world superpowers following World War II, were at war over their respective influences over
other nations, one fighting for democracy, the other for communism. The Cold War was
essentially a hostile stalemate that represented the power struggle between these two powers,
and it threatened the safety of the entire world for more than four decades as each tried to
gain favor with other nations that were forming new governments. As mentioned above, the
USSR forced its influence over Poland, scaring the US about the USSR’s growing ‘sphere of
influence’ and thus its growing power. The Truman Doctrine (1947) pledged support for "free
peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures";
the pledge was targeted at communism and basically gave America a blank check to intervene
in other nations’ affairs if it was ‘threatened’ by communism. The doctrine also devoted
financial aid to Greece in the attempt to prevent the spread of communism there2. The US did
not stop there. The Marshall Plan provided almost $13 billion (from 1948 to 1951) to help
European countries, including Germany, Great Britain, and France, recover from the war3. This
was another attempt by the US to prevent the spread of communism to these nations by
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becoming their primarily ‘caretaker’ and making them dependent on the US, thus making it
necessary for these nations to parlay with the US’s ideology to continue receiving funding.
Finally, and most notably, NSC-68 (1950) focused the US’s foreign policy towards the
containment of the USSR’s influence and the spread of communism. The policy of containment
was championed by George F. Kennan4, a war correspondent who was at some point stationed
in the USSR, who recommended that the US be wary of the USSR’s pursuit of power through
the spread of communism and that the US work to prevent this spread.
The Berlin Blockade
In 1948 the US, Great Britain, and France began reforming their occupied zones of Germany,
which came to be known as West Germany (vs. East Germany, held by the USSR), to prepare it
to assume self-governance. Through this process they introduced a new currency that would
allow it to participate and compete economically internationally. However, the USSR did not
like the prospect of a currency in Germany that it would not be able to control, and the USSR
was concerned about a powerful Germany considering its experience during WWII, having been
invaded by Hitler’s forces. West Germany received supplies through routes controlled by the
USSR that went through East Germany. The USSR decided to levy its power over these supply
routes to implement a blockade against West Germany that would force the western powers,
the US, Great Britain, and France, to basically rethink its Germany-recovery strategy. However,
the US and other western powers responded to the Berlin Blockade by airlifting supplies to the
people in Western Germany for almost one year. Furthermore, the blockade encouraged the
western powers to equip Germany with the economic capabilities needed to ensure that it
would not be a victim to communism. They also formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) in 1949, which basically served as a public statement by the nations in NATO against the
USSR: an external threat against one nation in NATO was considered a threat against all the
nations in NATO. Naturally, the USSR was not in NATO and eventually responded by forming an
organization of its own by and for communist nations, the Warsaw Pact (1955).5
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The Nuclear Arms Race
The atomic bomb used by the US to take out Japan in World War II initiated the nuclear arms
race between the US and the USSR. The US had this awesome power that could take out
anyone it pleased; the USSR did not. And so the USSR began a nuclear weapons development
program of its own to match the US and to defend itself from what it saw as the threatening
spread of the US’s power. The USSR successfully tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, mere
years after the US had first used the atomic bomb. Americans were shocked that the Soviets
were able to decode the nuclear technology so quickly; but a significant amount of information
regarding nuclear development was provided via spying. This espionage and the fear of
communism prevalent in the US and bolstered by the hate talk of Congressman Joseph
McCarthy, contributed to the Red Scare in the 1950’s, in which Americans suspected of spying
for the Soviets or having communist sympathies were reported, arrested and/or punished,
oftentimes mistakenly. One such example was J. Robert Oppenheimer, a leading figure in the
Manhattan project, who spoke publicly about his concerns of continuing nuclear arms
development and the plausibility of a nuclear arms race, in addition to his fears of unleashing a
power that could threaten the very safety of the entire world should it be employed. His
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concerns were misconstrued as Soviet sympathies and he became a victim of the McCarthyism
that was taking over the public scene in the US.
The nuclear arms race was but one aspect of the general technology advancement race
between the two superpowers, as each nation struggled to surpass the other to claim
dominance. The launch of Sputnik by the USSR in 1957 was one such instance that accelerated
funding for the US’s own space program.
Foreign Involvement
China was one of the first countries to fall to communism under the rule of Mao Zedong in
1949. Following World War II, the Allies had determined that the region of Korea above the 38th
parallel would be controlled by the USSR and that the region below by the US, because Korea
had been under Japanese control until Japan’s defeat in 1945. In 1950, hostilities within Korea
escalated as Stalin supported the North’s attempted take-over of the South; the clash resulted
ultimately in the division of the two Koreas, the north being headed by Kim-Il Sung under a
communist regime6.
The Vietnam War is perhaps one of the most powerful symbols of the Cold War. Vietnam
fought for independence from France during the First Indochina War under the leadership of
Ho Chi Minh, who was a communist. Minh appealed to the US for aid against France’s
imperialism but the US did not want to support Minh because he was communist. It is
important to note that historical accounts often contend that Minh was more nationalist than
he was communist, but that he was communist was enough for the US to oppose him rather
than help him, which could have led to radically different historical events. Following the war
the Geneva Accords (1954) divided Vietnam into its northern and southern counterparts, with
Minh heading the communist north and the south led by Ngo Dinh Diem. Even though Diem
was a ruthless dictator who had no sympathies for his own people, the US still supported him,
demonstrating the extent to which Americans were “ABC” democrats; they supported Anything
But Communism. In the name of the Cold War and stopping communism, it seemed at times
that anything was worth it for the US. Nevertheless, the US was scared because the ‘domino
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theory’ suggested that if Vietnam fully fell to communism then surrounding nations would also
become communist, ultimately increasing the USSR’s stance as the world superpower7.
Throughout this period the US continued to send increasing numbers of troops to Vietnam to
help defend the south against the North’s aggression.
Cuba and the Bay of Pigs
Cuba became a communist nation under the rule of Fidel Castro (1959) and diplomatic relations
deteriorated with the US. US President Eisenhower approved a secret plan, “A Program of
Covert Action Against the Castro Regime”, codified as JMARC, to overthrow the Castro regime.
Essentially, the CIA trained Cuban exiles who invaded Cuba in 1961 but were stopped by
Castro’s army. By which time John F. Kennedy had assumed the presidency in the US. The plan
failed miserably but succeeded in increasing tensions between Cuba and the US, and ultimately
between the USSR and the US8.
Map of Cuba: Bay of Pigs invasion (http://personal.ashland.edu/~jmoser1/eikenberryindex.htm)
The Cuban Missile Crisis (CMC)
It is October 1962. The US has found out that the USSR, led by Premier Nikita Khrushchev, is
planning on working with the communist Castro regime, with whom the US’s relations have
come essentially to a standstill, especially following the Bay of Pigs invasion, to place nuclear
missiles on the Cuban island that will bring the targeted US within range of USSR missiles. The
US also recently placed missiles in Turkey. The USSR’s presence in Cuba poses a significant
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threat to the integrity and safety of the US. JFK is seeking the advice of his executive committee
(Ex-Comm) to deal with the crisis at hand. If the USSR does not agree to stop importing its
missiles to the island, JFK will consider imposing quarantine on the island.9
Operation of the committee
The task before you will require you to devise creative solutions that take into account the
various opinions within the American government, as well as strategic partners around the
world. Representatives from the three branches of government, as well as key players on the
global stage will be on hand at the conference should you require their testimony. Given the
nature of a joint crisis committee, rarely will you put together and pass complete resolutions. A
vast majority of your time will be spent passing directives, which order your government to
take specific action. The opposing government will receive notification of directives you pass,
just as you will receive notification of all directives they pass.
This committee shall follow parliamentary procedure as closely as possible. Please come
prepared.
Just a few critical questions to think about (so think of more):
1. Considering what really did happen during the Cuban Missile Crisis, what else could have
happened had either side taken different actions?
2. Who were the main decision-makers?
3. What was the underlying cause of the crisis? What could have prevented this?
4. The United Nations’ role was not explored in great detail in the guide. Look closely at how
the UN was involved throughout the Cold War. What could the UN mean to the crisis at hand?
5. What is the Berlin Wall? What is its significance?
6. What are the implications of the CMC?
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The Executive Committee advising JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The EX-COMM
Vice President Lyndon Johnson (a.k.a. LBJ)- Served as representative and senator from Texas
prior to election for VP. Succeeded JFK as the 36th president of the US.
Secretary of State Dean Rusk- Served under JFK and LBJ. Championed US aid to developing
nations to promote progress. Favored diplomatic approach to US-USSR relations.10
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara- Close advisor to JFK. Initially supported an air
attack on Cuba during CMC but then preferred quarantine after considering potential
consequences of violent aggression.11
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor- Suggested an air attack and
invasion of Cuba.
Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy- One of
the supporters of an air attack on Cuba.12
Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon- A primary economic advisor to JFK.
CIA Director John McCone- Had suspected USSR nuclear plans with Cuba prior to
confirmation of USSR missiles placement on the island.
Attorney General Robert Kennedy- Brother of JFK. Played critical role in diplomatic
communications during CMC.
Undersecretary of State George Ball- Critical of idea for air attack on Cuba during CMC.
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Special Counsel Theodore Sorensen- Close advisor to JFK. Drafted speeches. Involved heavily
in communications with USSR during CMC.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric- Played pivotal role in urging JFK to pursue
less aggressive response (along with McNamara) to CMC than many others in Ex-Comm
were suggesting.
Soviet Ambassador Llewellyn Thompson- Had lived with Khrushchev when serving in the
USSR and encouraged JFK to pursue diplomatic and conciliatory relations with USSR
leader during CMC.
Former Secretary of State Dean Acheson- Strong opponent to blockade idea. Obtained support
for blockade from French president Charles de Gaulle.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Adlai Stevenson- Demanded USSR ambassador to UN, Valerian
Zorin, for truth regarding missiles in Cuba during UNSC meeting prior to CMC.
Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze- Argued in favor of military action demonstrating
US superiority in western hemisphere to counter USSR missiles in Cuba.13
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Some Recommended Sources
“NSC 68: United States Objectives and Programs for National Security.” National Security
Council. (1950.) <http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nsc-hst/nsc-68.htm>
“The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 18-29, 1962.” (1997.) <http://www.hpol.org/jfk/cuban/>
“Cuban Missile Crisis.” JFK Library. <http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Cuban-
Missile-Crisis.aspx >
“Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962.” Navy History and Heritage Command.
<http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq90-1.htm>
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12 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAtrumanD.htm
3 http://www.marshallfoundation.org/TheMarshallPlan.htm
4 http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/american-foreign-policy4/ch/04/review.aspx
5 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bomb/peopleevents/pandeAMEX49
6 http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/coldwar/korea_hickey_01.shtml
7 http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/vietnamwar/summary.html
8 http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/days/bay_of_pigs.html
9 http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/days/index.html
10 http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/rusk-david-dean
11 http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/people/r_mcnamara.html
12 http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2007/0709/whit/white_rfk.html
13 http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=79831&page=4#.TvrBJPKp10R