This photo almost started a nuclear war
The Cuban Missile Crisis began with a photograph.
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The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world has ever come to all-out nuclear war, and it all started with a photo.
On October 15th, 1962, Dino Brugioni, a senior analyst at the newly-formed National Photographic Interpretation Center, identified missile trailers measuring approximately 65 feet in an aerial reconnaissance photo. Those trailers were a match for the Soviet SS-4, a medium-range ballistic missile with a range that would cover a huge amount of the United States, including Washington, DC.
Upon seeing this photo, US President John F. Kennedy ordered more aerial recon flights, conducted by the CIA using the high-altitude U-2 spy plane. He used these photographs to make a plan of action about confronting the Soviet Union over their secretive installation of offensive missiles in Cuba.
Note: The headline for this video has been updated since publishing.
Previous headline: The photo that prevented a nuclear war
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@Vox
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
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@gartrux
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
This video massively oversimplified what happened. It tries to make the history look one way. It wasn’t that simple, and no, the soviets didn’t just left
@LukeWilkinson-c9h
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
I love this video I showed my whole entire class of excitable children and they love learning about potential nuclear devastation -llarexi
@j_3009
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
FALSE VIDEO!!!!
THE USSR WITHDRAW MISSILES WITH THE CONDITION OF THE USA NEVER DARE TO INVADE CUBA
@DanStevenson
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
My dad was in army basic training when the Cuban missile crisis went down. The drill sergeants told their recruits that everyone who had training in their firearms will be sent to fight with a shortened basic training. My dad said everyone in his training group was shocked that they could be sent to Cuba or Europe at any moment.
@Gabstermi
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
This is the closest that we have ever gotten on bringing Adventure Time to real life.
@aurenian8247
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
Never mind the hypocricy shown at 4:55. I'm no fan of soviet russia but if only one side has weapons of mass destruction in range of their enemies heartland then it isn't mutually assured destruction. It's just russia waiting for their enemies to rain fire on them at the slightest provocation.
I'm just glad that it ended the way it did.
@darexinfinity
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
The Cold War is an example of why espionage is so crucial to governments, being able to bring down an enemy without a gunshot being heard.
@migdon470
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
I love how America got all mad about missiles being placed near them, but they expect Russia to be ok with it when they do it.
@MyFullers
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
And America already had missiles in Europe pointing at ussr but didn't like it when it happened back. Typical
@obiwansama
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
Plot twist: The Russians knew about the new tech in aerial photography. The Russians wanted the missle removed from Italy and Turkey. Russians put missiles in Cuba. Russians wait for the US to agree to a deal removing US missiles in Italy and Turkey. Everyone happy.
@TheJollymon1
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
1973-1977 USN INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST IS2
@brandon_21ea
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
US government won’t care if they themselves tries to deliver nuclear weapons to Ukraine or Taiwan
@rjeeemilyzaannrichardjhon438
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
The new GM is in the house, is in the Building
@barabaa-f4h
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
Look how USA defended and now want Ukraina in nato 😁
@danedgar1539
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
I remember being told at school that the Russian missile loaded freighters turned back at the very last moment.
Turns out the closest ship was over 100 miles away when it turned around!
@n8deezy5136
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
You guys forgot the part where Kennedy put missiles in turkey first
@ohhnobb
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
I think survival during the war era drove people to the highest intelligence ever
@adamrfu1929
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
Here's i give you ANOTHER CASE of U.S/ western EXCEPTIONALISM :
1. It is NOT Ok for moscow to place it's missile near U.S Border
2. But, it is OK for Washington to placed it's missile near russia's border (POLAND, RUMANIA)
@adamrfu1929
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
Here's i give you some western EXCEPTIONALISM :
1. It is NOT Ok for moscow to place it's missile near U.S Border
2. But, it is OK for Washington to placed it's missile near russia's border (POLAND, RUMANIA)
@henryjraymondiii961
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
I remember that F. Gary Powers, Piloting a U2, was shot down that year– I was born in 1952. I think it was photographed in1962. Kennedy died the next year (1963).
@orionsuniversepart2932
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
1:30 The high altitude U-2 spy plane, in my own words is basically a prelude to the spy satellites that have been launched in the late 20th-early 21st centuries.
@qad951
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
Propoganda for Americans
@diakurosawa5156
August 7, 2025 at 7:33 am
This American aggression during Cold war almost ended the humanity. Now they're doing the same again to Russia but this time there will be no more missile crisis but an immediate declaration of war.
Comments are closed.