Term used by the Cuban govt?

[Karl Marx's Camel]

CASTRO: I agree with you, and that is why I conclude by ratifying my congratulations to the Cuban people for their overwhelming demonstration of confidence in themselves; a demonstration of maturity, serenity, monolithic unity, discipline, revolutionary consciousness and -- put this in capital letters -- FIRMNESS, which reminded me of the conduct of the Cuban people during the heroic days of the so-called Missile Crisis in October 1962.

Interview between Raul and some Cuban reporter (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15305012.htm)

I've heard in Cuba the missile crisis is called the October crisis. Is this correct?

What does the Cuban govt. call the "Cuban missile crisis", and why do they object to this term?

[Severian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 02:17 PM
[I've heard in Cuba the missile crisis is called the October crisis. Is this correct?
Yes.


What does the Cuban govt. call the "Cuban missile crisis",

The October crisis, as you just said.


and why do they object to this term?

Because, they accurately point out, the crisis was not about the missiles. If the U.S. would respect Cuba's sovereignty, the missiles need not have been an issue, no more than Washington's missiles in Turkey.

The crisis was about Washington's efforts to destroy the Cuban revolution.

Specifically, Kennedy's "Operation Mongoose", which was aimed at building up to an invasion in the near term. (Nobody claimed or thought that "Mongoose" by itself would bring down the revolutionary government.)

During the October Crisis, of course, the possibility of invasion was extremely close. After the military brass made clear how many casualties would be involved, that possibility receded.

It's been on the back burner ever since. But it was very much front-burner up between Bay of Pigs and October '62.

For Cuban communists' view on this, and a lot of otherwise unavailable data, I recommend "October 1962: The 'Missile Crisis' As Seen From Cuba" by Tomas Diez Acosta. Book Review from "Latin American Historical Review" (http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/hispanic_american_historical_review/v084/84.1ramsey.html)