The Ukrainian Revolution and the Russian Takeover ot the Crimean Peninsula

The Ukrainian revolution of 2014 and the Russian takeover of the Crimean Peninsula presented the US with what appeared to be unique political challenges. On closer inspection, the Ukrainian crisis is actually quite similar to the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the opponents in opposite positions. With these two crises in mind, the paper will discuss how the ability to understand one's enemies, gain public support, and effectively utilize nuclear weapons presents a significant challenge for the US to leverage its military power to accomplish its political objectives.

In order to discuss the Cuban Missile Crisis, it is important to go back to the roots of US involvement. According to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, it is clear that the US considered Cuba and the entire Western hemisphere inside its sphere of influence. When the US intervened in the Cuban War of Independence and declared war on Spain in 1898, the US intended to eliminate Spanish influence in the Caribbean. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris in which Spain ceded several Caribbean islands to the US and liberated Cuba. Unlike Puerto Rico, the US did not make Cuba a possession. Instead, Cuba was bound to US influence through the Platt Amendment in which Cuba was unable to incur foreign debt, negotiate treaties, nor allow foreign powers to control any portion of Cuba. Additionally, the US retained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs when US interests were in danger. In September 1906, the Platt Amendment was enforced during the Second Occupation of Cuba which lasted until February 1909.

The US continued to exert its influence over Cuba until January 1959 when Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba and Fidel Castro took control. Formal diplomatic ties were severed in Ja...

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...es attempt to gain nuclear weapons.

Throughout history, the ability to understand one's enemies, gain public support, and utilize nuclear weapons have created challenges to translate military power into political objectives. Even though the Cuban Missile Crisis is considered a success for the United States, the end state did not accomplish all of the political objectives. The missiles were removed from Cuba and Soviet influence in Cuba was damaged, but Cuba was no longer in the US sphere of influence and Castro and communism remained entrenched. It is too early to tell for the Ukrainian crisis. It is possible to gain insight by analyzing US motives and public support during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The nuclear implications to US policy due to the breach of the Budapest Memorandum will certainly have long lasting implications and is worth further research.