The publication of Pathfinder’s October 1962: The ‘Missile’ Crisis as Seen from Cuba by Tómas Diez Acosta makes a new political weapon available to working people and youth, helping them to analyze and act in a world marked by the widening impact of capitalist depression, imperialist military aggression, and rebellions and resistance.

Working people will take ideas and inspiration from the book’s presentation of the Cuban perspective--or, to put it another way, the working-class point of view--on the events of four decades ago.

During those days the superrich rulers of the United States, determined to roll back the Cuban Revolution, pushed the world to the precipice of nuclear war. The threat to use their missiles carried real weight, given the U.S. atom bombing of the civilian populations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki less than two decades before. To this day, Washington remains the only power to have ever used nuclear weapons against human beings--a fact that puts into perspective its threats against Iraq, north Korea, and Iran for their alleged possession of "weapons of mass destruction."

In face of the imperialist colossus, the workers, farmers, and leadership of the Cuban Revolution did not flinch. As they mobilized militarily to defend their socialist revolution and its conquests of land reform, literacy, and human dignity, it was the Kennedy administration that blinked and halted its invasion plans, having been informed of the huge losses that would be inflicted on invading forces.

The book’s text and photographs shed light on other aspects of the events as well, including the actions of thousands of young people and others who took to the streets of U.S. cities to oppose Washington’s drive to war.

In addition to reading and studying the book, and encouraging others to do the same, socialist workers and youth have launched an international sales campaign to take advantage of the opportunities that have opened up with its publication. Starting several weeks ago and continuing over the next month, supporters of Pathfinder have given the new book pride of place in their efforts to place the revolutionary publisher’s titles on the shelves of commercial bookstores, public libraries, and on the reading lists of college courses.

At the same time, socialist campaigners will feature the book on sales tables at plant gates, in working-class communities, and on college campuses. They will take the book, along with other Pathfinder titles, to conferences organized to discuss the meaning of the events of 40 years ago. The interest being generated by the anniversary--a special window of opportunity that will be open for a few weeks--provides a particular incentive to get these efforts up and running immediately and to carry them out as a collective, concerted campaign.
 
 
Related articles:
After 1961 Bay of Pigs defeat, U.S. planned new invasion of Cuba  
 
 
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