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Letter to the editor of Time magazine

Sir:

    Essentially, President Kennedy’s action with respect to Cuba is a declaration of war, yet
a declaration in which the opportunity to make the surprise move, to take the initiative, is ineptly left to the enemy.  It is a prime example of the half measures that are so disastrous in the field of international affairs.

    By calling for a limited blockade, the President is in no manner harming the Castro
regime or effectively eliminating its offensive capabilities.  Yet once again, he is handing the
Russians a huge advantage-the opportunity to take the initiative, to choose the time, place and form of a new crisis.

    The U.S.S.R. has been given ample time to calmly consider the present situation and
chose that course of action which will maximize Soviet gain at our expense.  The U.S., by
contrast, has no such advantage.  The U.S. has been placed in an extremely dangerous position; yet no conclusive action has been taken, no advantage gained.

    This pathetic situation would not exist today had the president acted courageously, and
staged a rapid, forceful and decisive invasion of Cuba, presenting Russia with a fait accompli.

E. G. E. Embircos
Warren G. Heller
Tom Emerson
George A. Gratsos

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Mass.