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KOMITET GOSUDARSTVENNOY BEZOPASNOSTI

Te Cuban Missle Crisis

BACKGROUND GUIDE Letter from the Dais

Dear Delegates, My name is Celeste Abourjeili and I am your chair for the KGB committee in this year’s Joint Crisis Committee. Although this is the frst SciMUNC to ever be held online, I hope to welcome you to our conference virtually and run the best committee in SciMUNC this year. Currently, I am a frst year in the Dual BA program between Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris campus of Menton. Tis unique program allows me to Krish Shah spend two years studying political science on the French Riviera followed by two years at Columbia University in my home city of New York. I live in Menton, France where I am Secretary-General specializing in the Middle East and learning French and Arabic to get closer to my Lebanese background. My hobbies include traveling, reading, and taking long walks. You Byul Sak may notice that it will be dark outside in my Zoom background because I will be Director-General attending this conference 6 hours ahead of you! I am also a Bronx Science Alumnus from the class of 2020, and I competed on the SciMUN team for three years. I served as a Varsity Coach for the team in my junior Omar Darwish year and Crisis Director in my senior year. I also chaired the UN Women committee in USG of Administration 2018, and I oversaw the organization of our six crisis committees as Crisis Director in 2019. Finally, I ran a Women in MUN curriculum among our team at Bronx Science, and I am continuing to address the problems faced by women in diplomacy on my Vincent Harwood current MUN team. Deputy-USG of Administration I am so excited to be participating in this Joint Crisis Committee with all of you, and I can not wait to join you as you collaborate with (or, more likely, against) the CIA Benjamin Raab committee. Feel free to reach out via email if you have any questions or concerns about USG of General Assemblies SciMUNC, Model UN in general, or anything else. We are all here to learn so don’t be and Specialized Committees shy if you have any reservations. See you soon comrades! Your Chair, Karen Phua Celeste Abourjeili ([email protected], [email protected]) Deputy-USG of General Assemblies Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti and Specialized Committees

Lars Zeana-Schliep USG of Crisis Committees

Rehan Yazdani Deputy-USG of Crisis Committees

Diane D. Steiker Faculty Advisor

75 West 205th Street Bronx, NY 10468 [email protected] www.scimun.com SciMUNC XIV | Page 1

Committee Description

Te bombs in a war, they are far from the only ones to have developed them following their initial Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in use against Japan. One of these countries, the Europe and Japan in the Pacifc, the end of , developed their own nukes a World War 2 in 1945 set the stage for a mere four years later in 1949. Tus, the advent psychological battle which lasted for decades; of nuclear warfare led to one of the defning otherwise known as the Cold War, this battle features of the and the was the political confrontation between the Cold War as a whole: the . Needless to of America and the Union of say, the competitive arms race between the US Soviet Social Republics. While these two and USSR resulted in extremely high military countries were allies during WW2, the political spending. For the United States in particular, tension between them skyrocketed following around $50 billion was spent annually on the end of the war. Te communist states in defense and assistance towards other nations Eastern Europe were dubbed by Winston such as Korea in the name of mitigating the Churchill as an “” that had spread of . descended across Europe, making the Soviet Union seem impenetrable and the rise of Along with forcing the United States’ hand in communism unstoppable. Tis “iron curtain” the nuclear development front, the Soviet separated the world in two, with the countries Union’s decision to have a put inside it largely unable to interact with those the United States in a difcult position very outside. Te president of the United States at early on in the Cold War. Joseph Stalin’s the time, Harry S. Truman, proclaimed they decision to block of all land and water routes would assist all democratic countries who were into the parts of Berlin under Western control in danger of falling to communism. Fully was a direct attempt to weaken the infuence of abandoning the United States’ isolationist the United States over the divided country. Te policies, this demonstrated United States would soon counter via a massive the country’s desire to limit the rise of airlift which rendered the blockade completely communism on the global stage. Tis led to useless. Regardless, this blockade, along with multiple conficts across the world in which the the United States’ which sought US and USSR would assist countries in to bring back economic prosperity to European determining what political ideology they would countries out of Stalin’s grasps, demonstrated be governed by. the tense relationship between the two superpowers at the time. Due to Japan’s relentless nature at the tail-end of WW2, the United States resorted to using Sworn into the presidential ofce in 1953, atomic bombs that were created via the Dwight D. Eisenhower ofered the United Manhattan Project. Tese weapons of mass States a fresh new approach to the Cold War destruction laid waste to Hiroshima and and the arms race that was intrinsically linked Nagasaki, resulting in hundreds of thousands of to it. Believing that the economic expenditures deaths. Additionally, the testing of hundreds of undermined the democracy of the country, nuclear weapons since WWII has caused lasting Eisenhower opted to lessen Cold War wages in impact on the environment. While the United a process he called “waging peace”. Along with States are still the only country to use atomic this, Eisenhower’s Cold War strategy also Page 2 | Central Intelligence Agency revolved around the idea of “Massive and Syria and outright full blown war between Retaliation”; if a country attacked the United the US against China and the USSR. States, they would have to face the full force of Troughout the next two decades after the War, the country’s nuclear power. Tis foreign policy America used all possible resources to subvert used under the Eisenhower Administration any expansion of communism, even if that would later result in Robert McNamara coining meant subverting democracy. Time and time the term “Mutually Assured Destruction” again, America threw its massive weight behind (MAD): the psychological military theory that oppressive dictatorial regimes. two nations with nuclear weapons under their control would not attack each other as the In addition to foreign policy, there was a demise of both countries would be assured. change in America domestically. With Tis theory would well and truly be tested widespread inclusion of women in the labor during the Cuban Missile Crisis, in which the force during the war and desegregation in the thought of nuclear warfare became a armed forces, America became more horrifyingly close reality. revolutionary. Te 1950’s saw the birth of the civil rights and women’s rights movements, Following Stalin’s death in 1953 and its laying the foundation for the counterculture of consequent power struggle, the mid-to-late 1960’s. As with foreign leftist became the man to lead the Soviet Union movements, the United States moved quickly through a large section of the Cold War, and with subverting domestic revolutionary more specifcally, the Cuban Missile Crisis. movements. Te Counter Intelligence Program Unlike past leaders, Khrushchev made it his (COINTELPRO) of the FBI is just one goal to improve relations with the United example of domestic political persecution by States. Known as “”, this the American state. Economically, America political theory revolved around how the US underwent massive growth over the 50’s and and USSR could coexist peacefully rather than 60’s. In fact, the entire capitalist world constantly go head to head. Still, at times underwent what has been dubbed the Golden tensions rose, and threats and insults from Age of , which has been largely Khrushchev were not unheard of. At the credited to the international cooperation between Khrushchev and Vice fostered by the United States through the President Richard Nixon, Khrushchev harshly Bretton Woods system and the United Nations. criticized American consumerism and Legislation also introduced the Council of intelligence. Economic Advisers at home, institutionalizing economic analysis and placing it front and America before the Crisis center in economic policy. America was Te end of the Second World War brought an booming in terms of its economy. end to the unsteady alliance established Alas, the United States was not entirely between the US and the USSR. With the fall of dominant. Te arms and space races were core the Axis Powers, there was an immediate shift to the competition between the world’s of focus in American foreign policy, that being superpowers. With the launch of Sputnik and strict anticommunism. Under Truman and Laika, the Soviet Union claimed victory (for Eisenhower, aggressive American now) and demonstrated the technological interventionism led to regime change in Iran SciMUNC XIV | Page 3 prowess of the communist system. Reactively, Te Soviet Union formed strong diplomatic the Eisenhower administration formed the and economic bonds with following its National Aeronautics and Space Administration transition to communism, engaging in trade (NASA) and dedicated massive amounts of and providing aid to this new communist funding to the . Te administration nation so close to the Soviet Union’s greatest also formed the Advanced Research Projects enemy. Internally, the Soviet Union was still Agency (ARPA) to deliver funding to military recovering from the efects of , with so projects to advance America’s progress in the many people dead due to purges and famines, arms race. Despite America’s dedication of and it was Khruschev’s job to set the country billions and billions of dollars to these back on its feet and establish it as a functional technological competitions, there was no world power. Keep in mind the incredibly decisive end result: beyond Project Mercury, diverse ethnic makeup of the Soviet Union, as America made little progress in spacefight and well as its satellite states which posed threats to the arms race became a cyclical competition, the unity necessary to keep the USSR with the two nations accruing massive nuclear successful. arsenals to one-up another. Cuba before the Crisis Te USSR before the Crisis Communism had a presence in Cuba from its Following the death of Stalin, and before the foundation as a semi-autonomous state in Cuban Missile Crisis, Soviet domestic and 1902. Newly freed from Spanish colonial rule, foreign policy was in a contentious place. Stalin Cuba existed as a Republic from 1902-1959. had ruled the USSR with an iron fst, often to However, one could hardly describe Cuba as catastrophic results for many. In fact, in the truly free or independent. Upon the end of early 50s, there was talk of giving up direct American military occupation in 1902, communism in East Berlin for the creation of a Cuba was granted independence with a catch. unifed, democratic Germany. Khrushchev was A part of the formal agreement forged between the last true believer in communism, truly the United States and Cuba, the Platt believing that communism was the superior Amendment was forced into Cuba’s new ideology, and over time capitalists and capitalist constitution and granted the United States nations would realize this and have to make immense power over Cuban policies and concessions. Because of this moral and actions. Te provisions of the amendment are intellectual superiority, he started the frst as follow: detente. Khrushchev thought that mutual demilitarization could only be benefcial, and I. Tat the government of Cuba shall that the superiority of communism would come never enter into any treaty or other out on its own. Tis policy started in 1955, compact with any foreign power or when Khruschev met with President powers which will impair or tend to Eisenhower. Tis was the frst time that the impair the independence of Cuba, nor Premier of the Soviet Union has met with an in any manner authorize or permit any American president after the foreign power or powers to obtain by following World War II. colonization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise, lodgement in or control over any portion of said island. Page 4 | Central Intelligence Agency

II. Tat said government shall not assume being left to future adjustment by or contract any public debt, to pay the treaty. VII. Tat to enable the United interest upon which, and to make States to maintain the independence of reasonable sinking fund provision for Cuba, and to protect the people thereof, the ultimate discharge of which, the as well as for its own defense, the ordinary revenues of the island, after government of Cuba will sell or lease to defraying the current expenses of the United States lands necessary for government shall be inadequate. coaling or naval stations at certain specifed points to be agreed upon with III. Tat the government of Cuba consents the President of the United States. that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation VII.Tat by way of further assurance the of Cuban independence, the government of Cuba will embody the maintenance of a government adequate foregoing provisions in a permanent for the protection of life, property, and treaty with the United States. individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba America additionally exercised great control imposed by the treaty of Paris on the over Cuba economically, with sugar mills United States, now to be assumed and owned by American companies taking up undertaken by the government of immense portions of Cuban land. Naturally, Cuba. using so many Cuban resources to beneft America caused great hardship for Cuba, and IV. Tat all Acts of the United States in many people sufered. Cuba during its military occupancy thereof are ratifed and validated, and Tis subjugation carried on for several decades, all lawful rights acquired thereunder and in 1952, former president (1940-1944) shall be maintained and protected. Fulgencio Batista held a military coup, halting the 1952 elections and installing himself as V. Tat the government of Cuba will president. During this second term of his he execute, and as far as necessary extend, assumed a dictatorial role. Unlike his time in the plans already devised or other plans his previous presidency, Batista acted only for to be mutually agreed upon, for the his own personal gain, which aligned heavily sanitation of the cities of the island, to with American economic interests. Under the end that a recurrence of epidemic Batista, American companies were able to proft and infectious diseases may be even more of Cuban land and resources. prevented, thereby assuring protection to the people and commerce of Cuba, Seeing the efects of Batista’s tyrannical regime, as well as to the commerce of the petitioned for the removal of southern ports of the United States and Batista, but his proposition was rejected by the the people residing therein. corrupt courts. He committed to overthrowing Batista, and with his brother Raul Castro, VI. Tat the Isle of Pines shall be omitted created a paramilitary organization called “Te from the proposed constitutional Movement”. Tis group amassed followers, boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto communist supporters, and weapons. On 26 SciMUNC XIV | Page 5

July, 1953, Te Movement executed an attack assembled an Executive Committee, and upon against the Moncada Barracks in Santiago, but deliberation, ordered a naval blockade of the were easily defeated by Batista’s troops stationed island. Armed confrontation would have been there. Subsequently, Fidel and Raul were imminent, and in fact, upon two separate sentenced to 15 and 13 years. Tey only served instances by the two powers the world came a two years of their sentences, as in 1955 Batista step away from nuclear destruction. was pressured to release political prisoners. Nevertheless, diplomatic communications Te Castros were exiled, but continued their between the White House and the Kremlin led eforts in Mexico, gaining training and advice to a peaceful resolution. Te United States from a veteran of the Spanish-American War, lifted the naval blockade of Cuba as the Soviet and joined by Argentinian revolutionary Union withdrew its missiles publicly, while the Ernesto “Che" Guevara. Meanwhile back in United States withdrew its own from Cuba, protests and public outcries against and Italy. Te intensive nature of the confict, as Batista’s regime were becoming increasingly well as the necessity for quick communication prevalent. Te true rebellion against Batista between and Washington, led to the then happened on April 29, 1956, when creation of the “red telephone,” a means of members of Te Movement attacked another direct communication between the two powers. set of barracks, this time in Matanzas. Te In its relative brevity, the Cuban Missile Crisis Movement had many successes and many was also the closest the world has come to an failures. Te United States lent aid to Batista, all-out nuclear war between the world’s two providing him with military equipment, planes, superpowers. Gradually, with this close of a and ships. On the last day of 1958, the Battle confrontation, the two nations entered of Santa Clara resulted in Batista feeing to the agreements over the next two decades to de- Dominican Republic. Supreme court justice escalate tensions. Carlos Piedra was appointed president and ordered Cuban troops to stand down. Castro marched into Havana victorious on January 8, 1959, and set the frst president of the new communist regime in Cuba. Te Soviet Union rapidly became Cuba’s greatest ally, as Cuba received nothing but animosity and threats from the United States.

What actually happened

Te Cuban Missile Crisis lasted one month and four days. With the and American missiles stationed in Europe, Premier Khrushchev agreed with Fidel Castro to place Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 50 miles away from the United States. Upon US intelligence confrming the existence of Soviet missile sites, the Kennedy administration Page 6 | Central Intelligence Agency

Topics of Debate

Are Soviet nuclear missiles located in Cuba greatly concerned about the presence of nuclear appropriate? Are American nuclear missiles warheads so close to its mainland. After all, a located in Italy and Turkey appropriate? missile launch from Cuba could hit Florida in a matter of minutes, which would not give the Te fundamental problem driving this crisis is United States time to shoot it down or launch a the stationing of Soviet ballistic missiles in retaliatory attack until great damage had range of the United States, prefaced by already been done. Currently, the United States’ American ballistic missiles in range of the missile bases in Europe are much closer to the Soviet Union. To what extent is this a problem? Soviet Union than anything the Soviet Union On one hand, the dealings of bilateral alliances has on America, but that might all change. (Cuba-USSR and Turkey and Italy-USA in this case) should only involve those involved. How can these superpowers manage internal Sovereignty plays an important role here; how unrest while dealing with these critical limited should these alliances be with respect to international afairs? What role does the other, perhaps antagonistic nations? Both the media have in afecting public perception? US and the Soviet Union have military installations close enough to each other for a In the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis, both manned attack. Should manned military superpowers are undergoing substantial installations be treated diferently than ballistic domestic changes. In the United States, missile sites? intersectional human rights movements are calling for progressive domestic reforms. In the What role does the autonomy of Cuba hold in Soviet Union, de-Stalinization and problems of this crisis? national unity are front and center in the domestic sphere. How do these domestic Cuba has been under the heel of problems play a role in this foreign policy crisis from Spain and the United States for decades (especially just after the United States midterm upon decades now. After a civilian lead elections)? Media has an infuential part to play revolution of the tyrannical dictator, Cuba has here as well, as it juggles coverage between these entered a new form of governance under diferent issues, whether it is the state-run communist Fidel Castro. Te USSR treats or the evening news with Walter Cuba as an equal, autonomous state, which it is Cronkite. How can the media portray these attempting to have economic and military trade problems? What role does the state play in that with. Due to the threat this poses to America, portrayal? the United States is interfering in this process. What are the implications of this regarding What role can espionage play in resolving (or international law, and the United Nations? escalating) this confict?

What matters more: peace or defense? Both the United States and the USSR possess incredibly powerful units for espionage. Te Both the United States and the Soviet Union CIA and KGB wield incredible power and want power over one another, but what prices possess many resources. Tese organizations can are each willing to pay? An armed confict act behind the shadows and drive change between the two nations could result in the loss outside of the public sphere, often with little of millions of lives, but the United States is regard for the law. Delegates should consider SciMUNC XIV | Page 7 how these organizations could be used to their advantage, whether it is to gain information, take out essential, targets, or shift public perception.

What role does the international community have in mitigating globally signifcant bilateral conficts? What can the United Nations (and other IGOs) do?

Tis bilateral confict between the US and the USSR can have world-ending consequences due to the nuclear capabilities of both states. Do other nations play a role in mitigating this confict due to this? If so, what can they do? Te crisis emerged even with international diplomatic infrastructure such as the United Nations. Does the UN play a larger role in this bilateral relationship? Do other states and the international community as a whole have the prerogative to interfere in this situation? Page 8 | Central Intelligence Agency

Dossiers

Colonel Semyon P. Ivanov tactician and his position in the party makes Chief Planner of Operation him an important member of the team responsible for conducting any operation Wields signifcant military power, however as involving military action. head of Operation Anadyr stayed in the Kremlin the whole time with Khrushchev. Yefm Slavski Ivanov therefore can exercise great control over Minister of Medium Machine Building the KGB, especially with regards to the plan to put nukes in Cuba. Leader of Soviet nuclear program controlled the engineering developments within the USSR. Aleksandr S. Feklisov Slavski wields great power with regards to the Chief KGB Representaitve to the US production of the many military resources the Soviet Union requires. High ranking member of the KGB, responsible for intelligence gathering in the US, Vasily F. Garbuzov communicated closely with Khrushchev. Minister of Finance Feklisov will be responsible for bridging communication between the USSR and the Responsible for funding government projects USA, and his position in the KGB allows him and operations, as well as controlling the to conduct espionage operations. general spending policies of the Soviet Union. Keeping a secure budget is essential to the Andrei A. Gromyko Soviet Union, which is blocked of from trade Minister of Foreign Afairs with much of the world due to the Iron Curtain. Garbuzov has to provide for the Powerful minister who worked with people of the Soviet Union as well as fnance Khrushchev as well as other ministries to set any external operations the USSR attempts. and enact Soviet foreign policy. Gromyko is essential for setting foreign policy, and will Marshal Rodion Y. Malinovsky surely play a big role in how this crisis unfolds. Minister of Defense

Yekaterina A. Furtseva Control over military operations and general Minister of Culture policy. Malinovsky wields control over the military, and therefore possesses great power. Responsible for setting and forcing cultural He has to maintain control over the red army ideals within the Soviet people. Large power and use his troops to protect Soviet interests. within media and education. Furtseva will be essential for keeping internal afairs in order, Vladimir Y. Semichastny ensuring that the Soviet Union is strong Chairman of KGB enough to engage in this ambitious international operation. Te youngest Chairman of the KGB there ever was, and comparatively inexperienced in Marshal Matvei V. Zakharov espionage and the dealings of the KGB, Deputy Defense Minister & Chief of General Staf however he wielded great power as he was the chief of all KGB operations. Decorated WWII general, signifcant power over military operations. Zakharovsky’s a master SciMUNC XIV | Page 9

Alexander N. Shelepin Soviet Media and garner the support of Soviet Chairman of the Party & State Control citizens. Commission Valerian A. Zorin In control of many state matters, particularly Ambassador to the United Nations stopping corruptions. Former Chairman of the KGB and mentor to Semichastny. Shelepin’s Wields veto power in the UNSC, extensive experience makes him a perfect communicates and advocates for Soviet watchdog over the events happening on the interests in the UN. Zorin will be essential in highest level of governance. handling this crisis on an international level, as this crisis afects the entire world, and needs to Aleksandr M. Sakharovsky take into consideration its global implications. Chief of FCD Anatoly F. Dobrynin Te “Father of International Terrorism”, famous Ambassador to the United States for breeding insurrection around the world to further Soviet interests. He wields signifcant Holds the most formal line of communications power in the KGB. with the American government. Dobrynin acts as the ofcial communicator of Soviet policy, Ivan Serov and should attempt to act with transparency to Chief of GRU ease the responses of the United States.

Former leader of the KGB, now chief of GRU, Anastas I. Mikoyan the military intelligence agency of the Soviet First Deputy Prime Minister Union. Skilled in interrogation, said to be capable of breaking every bone in a man’s body Deep in negotiations with Castro, and held one without killing him. of the highest positions of power in the Communist Party. Mikoyan has been and will Nikolai S. Patolitshev be essential in working with Cuba to establish Minister of Foreign Trade an operational missile base.

Responsible for keeping the Soviet Union’s Aleksandr Alekseev economy strong by means of international Ambassador to Cuba commerce. Maintaining trade and keeping the people of the USSR fed after the time of Stalin Holds the most formal line of communication will be essential for conducting international with Castro and the Cuban government. operations. Responsible for swaying them to Soviet political interests. Nikolai P. Psurtshev Minister of Communications Nikolai S. Leonov KGB ofcer in Cuba Controls all state communications, including Psurtshev Communications propaganda as well While young, Leonov is a skilled and as the systems of communication available to experienced KGB agent stationed in Cuba. He Soviet citizens. It is up to Psurtshev to control regularly communicated with Castro as well as Page 10 | Central Intelligence Agency the USSR, receiving information from agents in Blas R. Calderio Florida. President of the National Assembly of People's Power Ernesto “Che” Guevera Argentine Revolutionary Calderio was a veteran politician of the communist party. He served as an excellent Che was instrumental to so many aspects of foreign diplomat, living in China. Cuba’s development as a communist nation. A skilled revolutionary and tactician, Che played Celia Sánchez a key role in negotiating the shipment of Fidel Castro’s physician & Secretary to the nuclear weapons to Cuba. Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Fidel A. Castro Sanchez learned to be a doctor from her father, Prime Minister of Cuba and became friends with Fidel Castro as he was planning the . She fought Fidel was the revolutionary who led the Cuban with the Castros and Che in various operations, Revolution, turning Cuba into a communist and was the frst woman to be a part of a state. As the Prime Minister of a one party guerilla unit. After the revolution she acted as socialist state, Castro had immense infuence on Fidel Castro’s physician and played a role in the all matters of the state. Fidel was a staunch government. Her actions made her a feminist believer in global revolution, and supported icon in Cuba, proving that women were capable uprisings of the oppressed around the world. of doing anything that men were. Raul M. Castro Second Secretary of the

Fidel’s younger brother and second in command, Raul worked with Fidel to revolt in Cuba, and run the state after. Raul’s relationship with the KGB and USSR allowed for easy communication and collaboration with the Soviet Union after the revolution.

Osvaldo D. Torrado President of Cuba

While mainly a fgurehead for the Cuban people, President Torrado shared many ideological principles as the Castro brothers. He acted as an important legislator for many fundamental laws and programs within Cuba. SciMUNC XIV | Page 11

References

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