The Cuban missile crisis was a splendid opportunity to see the difference between negotiation and military confrontation. The majority of Kennedy's ExComm was in favor of a military "solution", and invasion of Cuba. Kennedy overruled them and went with a negotiated solution.

The invasion idea had certain attactions. It was thought that the US could easily overwhelm what Soviet troops there were and the Cuban military. A few casualties, of course, but acceptable. Sort of like what the US public was promised for Iraq, only Kennedy would have devoted the resources to really do it.

"However it was recently revealed that the Soviets in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, had been armed with tactical nuclear weapons." Not only did they have them, but they were under local control. The US did not know that. Had no idea.

Think of that. The on-site Soviet commander, seeing a US invasion fleet approaching the shores, had tactical nuclear weapons at his disposal, with the authority to use them.

He was given them for a reason, and certainly repelling an invasion would fit any scenario imaginable for their use. What better use could there be?

So, he sees an invasion fleet, and fires a tactical nuclear weapon. Or two or three or four. Takes out the fleet. The US has now had the gauntlet cast down. Public pressure to nuke Russia would have been enormous, and Cuba irresistable.

Had George W. Bush been president, Cheney would have told him to go for it, teach 'em a lesson. George would have headed to a bunker and then gone on TV and said "Bring 'em on!", with his characteristic hubris.

And millions and millions and millions of people would have died in a nuclear holocaust. For that guy's ego, so people wouldn't think him "chicken", so that the other guy wouldn't get away with anything.

Even so, Cheney-Bush aren't quite as scary as the people who defend them, who encourage them to regard military force as the method of choice. "Grab it at gunpoint" if you want it philosophy.

(To be fair, it has been reported that local control had been taken away. The on-site Soviet commander reported later, however, that he had 'em and the option to use them.)

Arf