[AmericaUnited]

That the U. S. and the Soviet Union had been on the brink of world war in 1962, when John Kennedy and Nikita Krushchev went head-to-head over missiles in Cuba, is well known.

My understanding is that the CIA knew how few functional missiles/nukes the Soviets really had, and that Kennedy knew the Sovets were bluffing, so the dramatic standoff was not as real as it is made out to be. Like threatening an all out fight to the death, knowing your opponent has two broken arms, and knowing that they know you know. To onlookers, it looks like something exciting might happen, but not really.

[gusopol3]

isn’t the historical record established that JFK backed down and pulled strategic assets out of Turkey? I think they were supposed to be somewhat obsolescent missiles, but the Soviets were glad to be rid of them.

[Kozak]

My understanding is that the CIA knew how few functional missiles/nukes the Soviets really had, and that Kennedy knew the Sovets were bluffing, so the dramatic standoff was not as real as it is made out to be.

Except that SOME of the missiles became operational during the crisis AND the Soviet general on the ground had orders to use his tactical nukes ( about which we did not know) in the event of an invasion, AND nut job Fidel was urging the Soviets to launch. It really was a close call.