Exercise 13. Read the text “The Cuban missile crisis” and make up an oral summary of it.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 428.

Speaker's corner

In May 1960, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev promised military assistance to the beleagueredCastro regime in Cuba. Two years later, he saw that the USSR's relations with Cuba also represented a unique opportunity to offset the threat posed to Moscow by US nuclear missiles based in Turkey. In addition to aircraft, air defense systems, armoured vehicles, and troops, Khrushchev offereda selection of nuclear-armed medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles. Castro accepted the offer and within months the USA

and the USSR were on the vergeof all-out nuclear war. On 14 October 1962, following indicationsof increased military activity on Cuba and a growing Soviet presence, an American U-2 aircraft photographed missile sites in western Cuba. Subsequent intelligence indicated that the missiles—SS-4 and SS-5, both with 1 megaton warheads—had the ability to reach almost the entire continental USA, including every Strategic Air Command base. On 22 October 1962, after intense debate in the Executive Committee of the National Security Council, during which the possibilities of aerial bombardment or invasion of Cuba were discussed, US President John Kennedy announced a maritime blockade to prevent further shipments of missiles and military equipment. Kennedy also demanded that Khrushchev dismantle and remove all missiles from Cuba. For six terrifying days, the two superpowers considered their options until on 28 October Khrushchev agreed to Kennedy's demands. In return, the USA agreed never to invade Cuba and (secretly) to remove its missiles from Turkey. http://www.answers.com/topic/cuban-missile-crisis

Exercise 14. Use the information from the internet and speak about:

1. The Berlin Blockade, 2. The Korean War, 3. The Vietnam War, 4. The Soviet war in Afghanistan