Ukraine Crisis an Eerie Reversal of Cuban Missile Crisis

 

by Walt Zlotow 

Posted onFebruary 28, 2022

Russia’s war on Ukraine has the potential to spiral out of control, leading to exchange of nuclear weapons between Russia and the U.S. That is because US economic sanctions against Russia and funneling arms to Ukrainians defending against the Russian assault, places America on a potential collision course with Russia. These two countries possess over 11,500 nuclear weapons between them. It just takes one mistake, one miscalculation, one rogue person with the ability to unleash just one such weapon to set off a mutually devastating exchange that could blanket the earth with nuclear destruction.

Russian president Putin alluded to such potential when he announced he put Russia’s strategic nuclear resources on high alert due “aggressive statements” from Western powers. He also stated “No matter who tries to stand in our way or create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history."

This development brought me back 60 years, when as a 17-years-old high school senior, I spent 2 weeks wondering if each day would end in nuclear destruction or if I simply wouldn’t awaken from a restless sleep. That, of course, was the Cuban Missile Crisis of October, 1962.

There is an eerie irony in this scenario. Sixty years ago it was the Russians who nearly goaded the US to launch a bombing campaign, possibly even invasion of Cuba, to remove nuclear missiles American viewed as an existential threat. But it was Russia, who started the crisis, that blinked first, avoiding all-out war. We came much closer to nuclear Armageddon than we knew during the crisis.

In the Ukraine crisis, the West, who provoked the crisis through 31 years of expanding an obsolete NATO up to Russia’s borders, didn’t blink. Russia’s response was criminal war. Now all bets of a peaceful resolution are off.

Worse. All bets are off this crisis won’t turn nuclear.

Walt Zlotow became involved in antiwar activities upon entering University of Chicago in 1963. He is current president of the West Suburban Peace Coalition based in the Chicago western suburbs. He blogs daily on antiwar and other issues at www.heartlandprogressive.blogspot.com.

https://www.antiwar.com/blog/2022/02/28/ukraine-crisis-an-eerie-reversal-of-cuban-missile-crisis/