Remember the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis? When JFK learned the Soviets were building nuclear missile sites in Cuba he initiated a naval blockade of the island.
Castro wanted a Russian first strike but Khruschev refused. This all happened after we tried to overthrow the Cuban regime....
But by diplomacy and luck the very real threat of a nuclear war was avoided. Khruschev would dismantle his missile sites in Cuba if we promised not to invade Cuba and also secretly to remove our nuclear weapons from Turkey,
Both sides had their finger on the button but it was diffused by cool heads and rational thinking unlike the tragedy in Ukraine. We defended ourselves from a threat 90 miles from our coast. I don't blame the Russians for defending themselves from a threat at their border.
BTW, during the missile crisis US blockade warships depth charged a nuclear armed Soviet sub as a warning. The Russian crew thought WWIII had started and needed a total of 3 officers to trigger a nuclear response from their sub. One of the 3 officers refused! Very close call to say the least!
