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Cuban Missile Crisis · US History

Why did Kennedy choose a naval quarantine instead of an immediate air strike?

  1. It applied pressure while leaving room to negotiate and avoid war
  2. It guaranteed that Soviet missiles would automatically launch toward Florida
  3. It required no involvement at all from the U.S. military forces
  4. It allowed the Soviet Union to expand missile sites without challenge
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Correct answer: It applied pressure while leaving room to negotiate and avoid war

An air strike risked killing Soviet personnel and escalating quickly into nuclear war. The quarantine signaled U.S. resolve while giving Khrushchev time to reconsider and negotiate.

Difficulty: Medium Question 6 of 20

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