Premium Essay

Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy

In: Historical Events

Submitted By doughty0272
Words 1266
Pages 6
How Did John F. Kennedy Deal With Cuba?

Leslie Doughty

Professor Nettles

Augusta

POL 300

July 29, 2013

Strayer University

John F. Kennedy was the first American president born in the 20th century. The Cold War and the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union were vital international issues throughout his political career. His inaugural address stressed the contest between the free world and the communist world, and he pledged that the American people would "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, and oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty." (Roskin, 2010). Cold War rhetoric dominated the 1960 presidential campaign. Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon both pledged to strengthen American military forces and promised a tough stance against the Soviet Union and international communism. Kennedy warned of the Soviet's growing arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles and pledged to revitalize American nuclear forces. He also criticized the Eisenhower administration for permitting the establishment of a pro-Soviet government in Cuba. (Roskin, 2010). Before his inauguration, JFK was briefed on a plan drafted during the Eisenhower administration to train Cuban exiles for an invasion of their homeland. The plan anticipated that support from the Cuban people and perhaps even elements of the Cuban military would lead to the overthrow of Castro and the establishment of a non-communist government friendly to the United States. Kennedy approved the operation and some 1,400 exiles landed at Cuba's Bay of Pigs on April 17. The entire force was either killed or captured, and Kennedy took full responsibility for the failure of the operation. (Schmalleger, 2009). In June 1961, Kennedy met with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna,

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy

...Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy Contemporary International Problems POL 300 March 4, 2012 The Reagan Doctrine was no different. Presupposing a world of evil and good, it operated on the theory that evil, was in the form of the USSR, and was getting the upper hand. To Reagan and his advisers, examples of Soviet treachery, including support for Marxist movements around the globe, were numerous; moreover, Soviet adventurism, from the Horn of Africa in the 1970s to Central America in the 1980s, showed no signs of lessening. Reagan was intent on stopping that trend—a trend, he believed, that President Carter had done little to reverse. Therefore, he adopted the vocabulary of the early Cold War, advocating policies equally aggressive and bold in range (Foreign Affairs). Reagan presented his vision at his State of the Union Address on February 6, 1985. "We must not break faith," he declared, "with those who are risking their lives—on every continent from Afghanistan to Nicaragua—to defy Soviet-supported aggression and secure rights which have been ours from birth." The president went on to compare anticommunist forces with American colonists who had fought the revolutionary war, relating those early patriots as "freedom fighters" for democracy. Providing aid to those groups was not only ethically just but geopolitically sensible. "Support for freedom fighters," Reagan declared, "is self-defense." It would be months before those declarations...

Words: 3080 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Current Events and Diplomacy

...Samuels Current Events and US Diplomacy Strayer University December 8, 2012 Abstract In the history of diplomacy and political thought in general, nothing can influence objectives of the states more dynamically than changes in the international relations and progress of the process of globalisation. In this context, American diplomacy is not an exception. In the previous paper, Eisenhower’s Doctrine was analyzed by its essence and objectives in the framework of the requirements of the international relations and possible threat for the national security. The main aim of the present paper is to view American diplomacy in its evolution from Eisenhower’s approach to the modern diplomatic doctrine. Key words: global responsibility, supremacy, US diplomacy, the Cold War, Poland. Current Events and US Diplomacy In the history of diplomacy and political thought in general, nothing can influence objectives of the states more dynamically than changes in the international relations and progress of the process of globalisation. In this context, American diplomacy is not an exception. In the previous paper, Eisenhower’s Doctrine was analyzed by its essence and objectives in the framework of the requirements of the international relations and possible threat for the national security. The main aim of the present paper is to view American diplomacy in its evolution...

Words: 1491 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Cultural Diplomay

...Center Herzliya Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy Argov Fellows Program in Leadership and Diplomacy Cultural Diplomacy: An Important but Neglected Tool in Promoting Israel’s Public Image Ronit Appel, Assaf Irony, Steven Schmerz, Ayela Ziv May 2008 Table of Contents 1. Introduction and Research Methodology Introduction……………………………………………………………………..3 Research Questions………………………………………………………..……4 Methodology………………………………………………………………..…..5 2. A Definition of Cultural Diplomacy and its Benefits Cultural Diplomacy: A Definition……………………………………….…….7 Benefits of Cultural Diplomacy – In General and Specifically for Israel……………………………………..8 Can the Benefits of Cultural Diplomacy be Measured?.................................................................................17 Examples of the Positive Effects of Cultural Diplomacy Programs…………………………………………18 French-German Relations: A Case Study of Successful Cultural Diplomacy………………………………21 3. Appreciation for Cultural Diplomacy in the United States and Europe The United States of America…………………………………………..……..25 Europe……………………………………………………………………..…..28 4. Cultural Development in Israel Israeli Culture……………………………………………………………….…31 Organizations in Israel Promoting Culture……………………………....……34 Governmental Support of the Promotion of Culture………………………….35 5. The Israeli Government’s Attitude Toward Cultural Diplomacy Does the Israeli Government Value Cultural 1 Diplomacy?.........................................

Words: 20159 - Pages: 81

Premium Essay

Latin

...actual high percentages in immigrant statistics. In present time, this immigration experience assumes as the constant affairs of American life. Because the views of people from other countries are America as the land of full opportunities for their better life no matter that they are coming in America legally or illegally. Juan Gonzales the author of the book titled, Harvest of Empire, criticized and analyzed this view by focusing on the Latino population of immigration and how the America’s foreign policies influences toward it. In his work, Juan Gonzales tries to overviewing how the Latino immigrants started to move in American historically and he also provides an analysis of the current events that showing the effects and frictions on Latino population thereby America’s politics and diplomacy. During reading Harvest of Empire by Juan Gonzales, I thought a lot of time that this book is for all people who want to know about the history of Latino immigration in America in detail. Because Gonzalez delivers Latino’s historical processes of movement and settlement through all over the time periods from past to present day and divides his book into three parts as “Roots”, “Branches” and “Harvest” to give more information in details and help the reader for better understanding. The first part of the book “Roots” tells us only about the historical background of the Latino immigration. This part is pretty much providing the information about the early relationships...

Words: 1486 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Darfur

...Crisis in Darfur: An Educational Simulation July 10, 2009 U.S. Diplomacy Center Department of State PARTICIPANT BACKGROUND GUIDE INTRODUCTION: “CRISIS IN DARFUR” Whether the murder, rape, pillage, and displacement of tens of thousands in the Darfur region of Sudan is labeled a tragedy, or civil war, or ethnic cleansing, or genocide “in slow motion” 1, the world can’t ignore what is going on in western Sudan. According to the UN, over 2.1 million people are believed to have left their homes, and up to 70,000 have been killed. Other estimates put the death toll higher, up to 400,000. International media has only limited access due to the remoteness and instability in this vast region the size of France. So we don’t see all the day to day details of suffering as we did, for example, in late 1998 in Kosovo. Those images and reports helped trigger UN ultimatums and eventual NATO intervention in 1999. After the Holocaust, the world said “never again” should we stand by and watch while millions are slaughtered. After the Cambodian genocide of the 1970s, after the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and after the mass killings in Srebrenica in Bosnia in 1995, the world also stood by, and then said “never again.” And now we have Darfur. Thus Darfur can be seen as a profound test of the credibility of the international community: the United Nations, the international NGO community, the African Union, and citizens and governments around the world. Is there the will to act in Darfur or will we stand...

Words: 7062 - Pages: 29

Premium Essay

Argumentative Essay World War 3 Iran Israel Us

...Argumentative Essay 1915 November 22nd, 2015 World War Three’s a crowd: Iran, Israel, U.S.? Although officials of the United States, Iran, and Israel are currently attempting to solve problems through the use of diplomacy, relations are not improving quickly enough and could lead to the start of a nuclearized World War 3. Recent protests and slayings have led many people to pose the question of whether the heated relations between the two countries could lead to a World War three? Given continuously steady turmoil and mutual feelings of disgust for the two middle eastern countries, settling this dispute peacefully seems to be the furthest thing from possible. This drawn out dispute has the capability to escalate without warning very quickly and result into an outright bloody nuclear war. The United States is currently serving as a mediation tool for the Israelis, to soothe the Iranian government with the threat of the strength of the U.S. momentarily while it figures out it's next move. Little seems to be accomplished regarding peace, instead both sides seem to be preparing for War through their respective actions. However, if called upon the United States will prove to be a powerful and not easily subdued ally for the Israeli people. Though the future remains widely uncertain concerning this diplomatic dilemma in the Middle East, one thing is certain, growing tensions between the two must be settled very quickly if a peaceable solution is to be adopted. The potential...

Words: 2233 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

U.S. Foreign Policy - Qatar

...To: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton From: Chad Meyer, Country Desk Officer for Qatar Re: Recommended U.S. Foreign Policy towards Qatar Date: October 22, 2012 Overview of Qatar         Qatar is a peninsula located in the Persian Gulf. This small country used to be known as a pearling state and has grown into one of the largest oil and natural gas producers in the world. The government is a monarchy and has been ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid 1800’s. The current Emir is HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani who took power from his father in 1995. The previous Emir was crippling the economy by siphoning off oil revenues; HAMAD overthrew his father in a bloodless coup and then filed a lawsuit requiring him to pay back the money he had taken from the country. The case was settled and HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani stayed in power. In 2001, Qatar settled a land dispute with Saudi Arabia with the help of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Since this time, Qatar has managed to stay out of the conflicts that have plagued the region as of late. Recently, Qatar has become the world’s wealthiest country in terms of GDP. In 2011, they passed Luxembourg with a per capita GDP income totaling $102,700. The country has plans to continue growth, announcing a plan to invest $60 billion in infrastructure and will host the 2022 World Cup. The country is expecting 18% to 20% growth in the economy as they near the World Cup. This type of growth...

Words: 2592 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

U.S. Involvement in the War on Terror

...U.S. Involvement in the War on Terror The War on Terror is tough to define. It is considered a war, but not in the traditional sense. When one thinks of war they think of enemies, a battlefield, weapons, and death. However, the war on terror is slightly different. The lines that define enemies and allies are blurred, there is no battlefield, and the weapons come in all shapes and sizes. Nonetheless, there has still been death. Starting on September 11, 2001, the War on Terror has been waged for many years and has included many groups of people. On September 11, 2001, hijacked planes crashed in to the World Trade Center in New York City. Known as the Twin Towers, the World Trade Center is symbolic of the United State’s “economic power and military might” (Rahman). Immediately following the attacks, President Bush named Osama Bin Laden at fault and declared the War Against Terrorism. United States Congress had allocated billions of dollars and authorized President Bush to take any measures necessary (Moore). This war, however, is different from a typical war. President Bush told people to “go about their daily lives” unlike during World War II where 90% of Americans helped the war effort in some way. The war on terror is a war “without boundaries…directed against multiple enemies, not just one adversary” (Raz). The United States government has defined the war on terrorism against those who are declared “terrorists” or anyone accused of “harboring terrorists” (Rahman). ...

Words: 2054 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Work

...of religious identities and conceptions, a sea of swirling religious currents. Religions legitimate the existing social system, institutions and values to a certain extent. They also provide a means to contend with and change the system; they are at once conservative and liberal. They motivate people to do things, to change the world in many ways. It might be said that the ultimate purpose and effect of religion is to take humans and their cultures to the “Ultimate”. (Eller, p 330) Owing to the importance of religion in America’s national identity, which is largely shaped by American core cultural values and "mainstream religions", these attitudes and traditions have played an important role in American social life, thus religious power naturally has penetrated into politics and foreign policy decisions more regularly in America than in other countries. Religious values are the sources of American “exceptionalism” and “messianism”. (Xie, p 39) After the Cold War¹, it became evident that religion was a key factor in many conflicts, including Bosnia, Rwanda, and Afghanistan. However, the ¹ “Cold War”: the state of hostility that existed between the Soviet bloc countries and the Western powers from 1945 to 1990. Oxford Dictionaries. April 2010. Oxford University Press. 16 December 2012. <http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cold war?q=the cold war>. U.S. failed to predict the fall of the Iranian theocrats in 1979. (Patterson...

Words: 1177 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Turkish Foreign Policy During the Cold War

...managers of Turkey, protect it from the damage of the war. The end of the war with the options in front of us, pushing us to act together with the Western bloc. The formation of these preferences is not a decision for an instant multi-dimensional factors, factors were created by a process. Turkey’s prefer of Western side, did not lead to acceptance by the West sincerely. European members of NATO did not want to risk of war again because of Turkey who was under the Soviet threat at that time. At the same time, they were not willing to impart that the U.S. Marshall Aid to Turkey. Britain lost its efficiency in the Middle East as in all the world and for that reason Britain was put forward a project that "Commander of the Middle East" which Turkey will play a key role for gain efficiency again. Due to U.S. opposition to this prediction, this project got shelved.In the "Containment Policy" process which started with Truman Doctrine by U.S. against the Soviet Bloc, military and geo-strategic location of Turkey opened the door to NATO membership.With North Korea's attack on South Korea, the Korean War started in 1950-53 and the Turkey participating in United States’s side, this was resulting against all suspicies and prejudice, Turkey took place between NATO member countries.Russians wishes to change of Straits regime which determined with Montreux Convention, played a role in accelerating. Turkey was adopted in NATO after the third application on February 18, 1952. After the multiparty...

Words: 3746 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy

...Assignment 1 - The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy SHAMIKA WARD EMMANUEL OBUAH POL 300: Contemp Intl Problems May 31, 2013 The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy The Reagan Doctrine was the foreign policy in the United States, enacted by President Ronald Reagan. The doctrine was design to eradicate the communist governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America that were authorized and corroborated by the Soviet Union. This assignment will review by what method the United States delivered open and private backing to guerrilla and resistance movements during the Regan years. Additionally, explain the political doctrine detailed events that occurred in Afghanistan when the Soviet Union invaded. As a final point, this assignment will define the benefits and drawbacks established on the Regan Doctrine. Summarize the Situation of U.S. Diplomatic of the Regan Doctrine During the course of the initial years of the Cold War, Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter all endorsed dogmas against communism in order to enclose it. Ronald Regan prohibited their détente policy in 1979, when the Soviet Union attacked Afghanistan. This alone demonstrated that policies that only contain communism were unproductive. Regan criticized in the compromise policy when it emanated to any communist government. As an alternative, Reagan proposed the Rollback policy. The creation of the Reagan Doctrine moved from containment and dispersal to eradicating all current communist governments. Likewise...

Words: 1299 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Social Responsibility

...Ashley White POL 300 Contemporary International Problems Assignment 2: Current Events and U.S Diplomacy Professor Susie Okoro March 12, 2014 Define presidential doctrine and summarize the regional or global events during the Cold War leading up to the formation of the presidential doctrine you wrote about in Assignment 1. A doctrine is belief or policy taught or advocated by either a political party, church or other group. It also can be defined as a body of teachings or instructions. In this particular case President Richard Nixon’s presidential doctrine is being described from previous Assignment 1. A president should want to announce a presidential doctrine because it becomes the foundation on which a country builds its foreign policy upon. After being elected in 1969, President Nixon’s doctrine focused on justifying and accomplishing his goals of withdrawing American troops from South Vietnam during a costly war. With American strength in Vietnam reaching 500,000, it was time for Nixon to act on his promise that got him elected. With Americans extremely displeased with the casualty rate reaching 15,000 and the war costing the U.S economy 25 billion, on July 25, 1969, President Nixon established that from now on Asian countries fighting against communist aggression would have rely on their own manpower instead of American troops. He also stated that in exchange for troops, United States would send military advisors and weapons, and furnish military and economic...

Words: 633 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Politics 300: Current Events & Us Diplomacy

...Pol 300 Contemporary International Problems Assignment 2 – Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy By Monique A. Frey-Jackson August 25, 2014 Professor PAZHWAK, NILLAB President Kennedy, a Doctrine: A doctrine is a form or a system that is put into place whether it is a direction of establishing foreign policy or control politically, that is put into action by a political administrative leader, a community, citizen, group, societies and states. The Presidential doctrine from President Kennedy at the time of the Cold War from 1961-1963 was, “Respond flexibly to communist expansion, especially to guerrilla warfare.” In 1962, when a surveillance plane by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and Soviet Union, took pictures of a nuclear missile site in Cuba, there seemed to be a great need for diplomacy. But looking at the relationship prior to that between the United States and the USSR, it was great when they were allies, as the United States gave the Soviet Union millions of dollars of weapons and additional support for their fight against Nazi Germany. The US and Russia became allies, in the liberation of Europe. As the war started to come to the end, countries that were occupied by Soviet forces, which also included “most” of Germany, people wanted to either choose democracy or communism, as the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill described this territory as being behind an  “Iron Curtain”. The Iron Curtain...

Words: 660 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The United States and the Middle East

...Middle East, America has a vested economic interest into the political stability of the region. However, after a costly war in Iraq that tarnished our image not only in the Middle East but around the world and a situation in Israel that hasn’t shown any lasting progress for decades, it’s time for the United States to take another look at its political strategy for achieving lasting peace in the region. With the events of early 2011 in the Middle East, otherwise known as Arab Spring, the region has become highly unstable and vulnerable to the influences of terrorism. This is a critical time for the United States to reestablish healthy diplomatic relations in the region in order to decrease the spread terrorism and harsh anti-American sentiment as well as bring about a lasting peace. In order for America to improve its foreign affairs in the Middle East it needs to finish strong in Iraq and Afghanistan, reach a peace agreement in Israel, push for more diplomacy with Iran, and support the rebels in Syria fighting injustice. By involving the rest of the world in the current situation in the Middle East the United States can build better diplomatic relations and bring about peace more rapidly, while also decreasing the already massive strain the region has on its economy. The second war in Iraq never should have happened. Though this is a bold statement that possibly discredits the sacrifice of thousands of American soldiers, it is a concept that...

Words: 4029 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Unification of Germany

...Coercive Diplomacy: Otto von Bismarck and the Unification of Germany by Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth R. Kassner United States Marine Corps United States Army War College Class of 2012 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: A Approved for Public Release Distribution is Unlimited This manuscript is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Strategic Studies Degree. The views expressed in this student academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Army War College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information...

Words: 7938 - Pages: 32