Strangelove revisited: Newly declassified documents show how close
the world came to nuclear war 40 years ago during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
At a conference over the weekend to mark the anniversary, senior politicians and generals
from the US, Russia and Cuba revealed:
The US planned covert operations against Cuba - operations Northwoods and
Mongoose - well before 15 October 1962, the start of the crisis.
On 27 October 1962, the Joint Chiefs recommended an air attack within 48 hours against Cuba followed by an invasion.
Castro, expecting an attack, ordered his anti-aircraft gunners to fire
on US planes.
The US Navy dropped a depth charge on a Soviet submarine carrying nuclear
torpedoes. The Russian officers prepared to attack. They backed down at the
last minute.
Tension continued past the 13 days of the crisis into November 1962 as Cuba
rejected Soviet concessions.
