How Was Nuclear War Avoided?

       There was almost a war that took place after the Cuban Missile Crisis, but what seemed like an inevitable war was cleanly avoided. Under the leadership of the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy and with confrontation with Chairman Khrushchev from the USSR met to discuss the offensive weapons situated in Cuba. With the threat of these missiles that had missile ranges that targeted the States, there was fear of a breakout of a nuclear war. Therefore, how was this avoided? Why weren't the missiles in Cuba launched?

     It is almost effortless to start a war in a situation such as this. The only way that this did not result in a calamity is because of both sides reluctance to start a nuclear war. To avoid this at all cost, President Kennedy first came up with the quarantine idea that would form a sort of blockade on the ships heading to

ward Cuba that could possibly carry materials for the illegal operations going on in Cuba during the 1960s. Following up to this, letters were sent between Khrushchev and Kennedy as a further negotiation to discuss peacefully rather than setting missile launchers at each other. 

    They eventually did come to a compromise, a bargain. They did not resort to quid pro quo, as in removal of missiles in Cuba in exchange for the removal of missiles in Turkey. Instead, the two powers settled on the American's open promise that no invasions will ever be made at Cuba. In exchange to this, Cubans would willingly undergo professional and proper inspection of their weapons situated in Cubans by the Americans. These terms of settlements made, war was avoided. 

    What I think helped the most was both country's desire to avoid war. After all, it was the last thing both super powers wanted. Missiles in Cubans were placed in Cuba to ensure security, but yet it still provided a threat towards the United States. If President Kennedy had not shown empathy and if both leaders had not known to place themselves in each other's shoes, this understanding of wanting to protect one's country would not have been confirmed.