THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER
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Even though America had been concerned about the
rise of Soviet communism under the tyrannical rule of
Joseph Stalin during pre-WWII years, the United States,
albeit a bit late in the game, fought alongside Russia
as allies against the Axis powers during the WWII
years. United States foreign policy regarding Russia
and communism had been one of containment,
keeping Russia from influencing or being involved in
global affairs as much as possible. Following WWII,
distrust between the two nations continued to grow.
Russia’s post-war expansion into Eastern Europe at a
break-neck pace contributed to America’s concerns
that Russia was out to control the world. America’s
response was to engage in building up its armed
forces, its weapons, and continuing efforts to keep
Russia from expanding its influence. A strategy of
“long-term, patient but firm, vigilant containment”
evolved which formed the nucleus of United States
policies towards Russia for decades.
In 1945 George Orwell coined the term “Cold War” in
an essay called “You and the Atomic Bomb.” The name
took hold and stuck as the definitive term describing
this period of America’s relationships with Russia.
In 1947 the House Un-American Activities Committee
held hearings detailing the evolution of communism in
the United States. It was alive and well, and continues
to this day under the guise of “progressivism,” with the
CPUSA flourishing in many areas of the United States.
In June of 1950 the first military action related to the
Cold War took place when the Russian-backed North
Korean People’s Army invaded western-friendly South
Korea, giving rise to the fears that this was the first
step taken by Russia to take over the world. President
Truman sent American troops to Korea in