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Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:54 pm
by galukal
Model UN Security Council
Historical Debate

Cuban Missile Crisis

Participants

Permanent Council Members:
Republic of China
France
Soviet Union
United Kingdom
United States

Elected Members:
Venezuela
Chile
Ghana
Romania
United Arab Republic
Ireland

Nonmembers invited to attend:
Cuba

Notes: The Republic of China is the place now known as Taiwan with disputed national sovereignty. At the time of the Crisis, it was still recognized by the United Nations. The United Arab Republic was a union of Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961. Syria seceded in 1961, but at the time of the Crisis Egypt still used the name United Arab Republic.

Summary

The Cold War was a highly unusual conflict that lasted from 1945, shortly after the end of World War 2, to 1991. Rather than direct military action between the two main belligerents, it involved primarily intelligence, diplomatic intelligence, and proxy wars. The Cold War was a quest for geopolitical and ideological supremacy between the Communist Soviet Union and the capitalist United States. Both nations amassed a great number of allies and/or satellite states. They also acquired large amounts of nuclear weapons and warheads to threaten each other with mutually assured destruction. This policy essentially kept the world on the edge, though it also served as a strong deterrent to war.

Tensions increased following the 1959 takeover of the nation of Cuba of Communist forces led by Fidel Castro. The spread of Communism and the appearance of a Soviet ally so close to Florida alarmed the United States. It became US policy to remove Castro from power and undercut the Communist regime and ideology. Various plots emerged ranging from the realms of ridicule to assassination.

The overthrow of Cuba was attempted by the United States in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. The invasion consisted primarily of over about 1400 Cuban exiles led, trained, and transported by the Central Intelligence Agency. It was a dismal failure and became a propaganda victory for Fidel Castro. However, it did lead to increased Cuban fears of a full-scale American invasion.

Fidel Castro and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev decided that the best defense would be to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, which would provide an adequate defense and extend the Soviet Union’s ability to strike America. This occurred in 1962.

On October 15, 1962, American reconnaissance aircraft (Lockheed U-2) discovered the presence of the missile sites in Cuba. Further flights were later to uncover more sites. President Kennedy was informed of this the next day. His top advisors, the Executive Committee of the United States National Security Council (EX-COMM), discussed the options in the following days with him. On October 22, President Kennedy announced the presence of the missiles to the nation at large. He also announced the intentions of the United States to engage in increased surveillance and the initiation of a military quarantine around Cuba to prevent offensive materials from entering. The quarantine was only directed at military items and not at food, medicine, etc.

In the same speech, he asked for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council as soon as possible.

This simulation is the Security Council meeting that took place on October 23, 1962. The meeting involves all of the member nations of the Council, permanent and elected. Because it is directly involved, Cuba has been given an invitation to this meeting. Delegates need to remember that this is not a meeting of the General Assembly. For one thing, Cuba is not actually a member of the Security Council, so while the Cuban delegates may speak (plural for the purposes of HHS debate) may speak, they may not vote. For a resolution to pass it must have a majority of the delegates. It must also be remembered that the five permanent members may veto any resolution and it will not pass, even if every other member of the Security Council supports it. If a resolution is intended to be passed, it must be acceptable to all of the P5 members. Even more importantly, it is to be remembered that the goal of this meeting is to prevent violence in generally but more specifically a nuclear exchange between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Not only are they both permanent members, but both of them are the world’s dominant superpowers who actually control the arsenals concerned. Any resolution intended not only to pass but to be effective must be acceptable to the United States and the Soviet Union. After all, the real Cuban Missile Crisis was solved through a private deal between the two nations. However, as the United Nations, delegates must think on a multilateral basis and not expect to leave the problems to the two nations. Finally, delegates should remember to act as their nations would act at the time. National ideologies, interests, and allegiances are to be factored in, not a delegate’s real-life opinion.

The goal is to provide for collective security and save the world. Good luck.

Links:

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Re ... Crisis.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/htt ... crules.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/244974.stm

The text of President Kennedy’s speech may be found on the second website listed. Audio of the speech is available on the Wikipedia page Cuban Missile Crisis under the section “Quarantine”.

Optional Countries (nonmembers of Security Council):
Federal Republic of Germany
German Democratic Republic
Haiti
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Canada
Turkey
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The above is my incredibly fancy and amazing brief. Anyway, the Historic Debate will take place two weeks from now, Oct. 21. YOU MUST SIGN UP ON THE FORUMS BY 9PM ON OCT. 14, 1 WEEK FROM NOW. Remember that you are not signing up for particular countries but simply to participate. If you sign up by the deadline, I will sort you out by the deadline and assign you countries (if necessary, people will be paired up. That would also be good practice for some conferences.) So sign up, this should be really interesting. Remember to do research for this one: I would recommend knowing your the relevant bits of military history, your country's ideological leanings, and diplomatic relations at the time.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:32 pm
by vallada
I'd like to participate

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:25 pm
by BeWang
I'm going

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:20 pm
by gotrimski
I think its safe to assume that all of the officers are participating, but just for good measure, I'll officially say I'm participating.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:21 pm
by JCasto
Ditto.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:28 pm
by galukal
Dittoing the both the ditto and Garrett.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:56 pm
by VSharma
this is Vaibhav. I would like to participate. Do we pick the countries now or later?

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:07 pm
by galukal
galukal wrote: YOU MUST SIGN UP ON THE FORUMS BY 9PM ON OCT. 14, 1 WEEK FROM NOW. Remember that you are not signing up for particular countries but simply to participate. If you sign up by the deadline, I will sort you out by the deadline and assign you countries (if necessary, people will be paired up. That would also be good practice for some conferences.)

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:12 pm
by VSharma
am i signed on?

George's edit: Yes. Everyone else, read the above post. Gracias.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:13 pm
by egagliardi
I'd like to participate.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:50 am
by EWang
Sign me up too.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:37 am
by bromano
Glad to see we are starting to have some new members starting.... Now we just need more! And of course i will participate

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:36 pm
by mlind
Sign me up please.

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:07 pm
by SRaghavan
I will participate.

-Thanks,

Shree

Re: Historic Debate- Cuban Missile Crisis

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:36 pm
by MMoccio
I'll participate.