Imagine you are a senior US military adviser to President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The USSR has placed nuclear weapons in Cuba. It seems the USSR may be poised to strike the US homeland for the first time. However, nuclear weapons are a tricky, dangerous matter . . .
| Stand by and wait | Wait for the USSR to make its move. It is too dangerous to strike first, and you imagine that the Soviets are just bluffing. |
| Strike Moscow with a nuclear weapon | This is the most aggressive move by the Soviets yet, and the stakes are too high to stand back and wait. You must act quickly, attempt to destroy retaliatory will and capacity, and make it clear that the US will not back down. |
| Send a naval blockade to Cuba. | Surround the island with ships. Without beginning a nuclear conflict, send the message that the USSR's actions will not be tolerated. |
| Amass nuclear weapons in Turkey | primed and aimed at the USSR. Show Moscow that the US will not back down and is prepared to fight. Without actually launching a missile, make it clear that the US is displeased and not afraid to retaliate. |