omatic and strategic events caused what is known as the Cold War. The United States found itself in the position of defending much of the world against the perceived onslaught of endemic socialism and on many fronts (Greece, Turkey, Asia, Middle East, South and Central America) found itself facing an increasingly volatile Soviet presence. The Soviet Union believed itself committed to assisting underdeveloped countries in revolution against capitalism and imperialism. For that reason, each time the Soviets assisted a nation with arms or advisors, U.S. foreign policy remained committed to thwarting their purpose. The situation became more intense, however, when the Soviets began supplying arms to other countries that were considered threatening to the security of the United States (Dinerstein 1-149).
Tensions between the United States and Cuba certainly played a predominant role in the crisis. Fidel Castro's coup d'etat against the U.S. sanctioned Somoza regime in 1959 completed Cuba's turn toward the left. In fact, "the 1962 missile crisis was rooted in America's inability to promote the successful evolution of a democratic government in Cuba" (Brune 4). Tension mounted when Soviet party leader Nikita Khrushchev greeted Castro with open arms, probably delighted that the Soviets would have an ally just off t
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