USHE
This is an excerpt from a speech given by President John F. Kennedy in October 1962.
This government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the
Soviet military build-up on the island of Cuba. Within the past week unmistakable
evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive military sites is now in
preparation on that imprisoned island. The purposes of these bases can be none
other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.
Why was President Kennedy forced to take action in response to the situation described in this speech?
O The United States had been an ally of Cuba since the Spanish-American War.
O The United States wanted to avoid an influx of Cuban refugees.
O The Cuban government requested help to prevent Soviet invasion of the country.
O Cuba's location gave the United States very little response time if a nuclear weapon was fired.