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How would that even work, abducting a President and putting him on trial in another country? Would that even be possible? After all, he's the leader of another country, it surely would be a breach on Cuban sovereignty. Didn't expect our spy to get back to Washington though.
 
How would that even work, abducting a President and putting him on trial in another country? Would that even be possible? After all, he's the leader of another country, it surely would be a breach on Cuban sovereignty. Didn't expect our spy to get back to Washington though.

Wheels within wheels, maybe the Golden Circle planned the escape of the spy whithout him realizing it.

Also, Huey Long was or still is, an American citizen. And i dont think America cares about latin american sovereignty, as in our timeline they didnt. See the case of Manuel Noriega, for example.

I will read the other AARs , this world looks interesting!
 
Very momentous stuff. And I can quite see the inspiration :)
As I'm currently preparing for my exams, one of my courses deals with film history and that's how I came into contact with this source of inspiration.
Thats why you always must kill the spy on the spot! This story is becoming more and more intriguing.
Haha I think Huey hasn't seen enough spy movies yet to realize that.
How would that even work, abducting a President and putting him on trial in another country? Would that even be possible? After all, he's the leader of another country, it surely would be a breach on Cuban sovereignty. Didn't expect our spy to get back to Washington though.
Well it wouldn't be the first time someone was abducted and put to trial on the other side of the world (see Eichmann). Also, it wouldn't be Cuban president Hu Wei Long, but American war criminal Huey Long who's on trial.
Wheels within wheels, maybe the Golden Circle planned the escape of the spy whithout him realizing it.

Also, Huey Long was or still is, an American citizen. And i dont think America cares about latin american sovereignty, as in our timeline they didnt. See the case of Manuel Noriega, for example.

I will read the other AARs , this world looks interesting!
Who knows? The Golden Circle is certainly the ideal secret society to use in this story.
Also, I hope you enjoy this little universe I'm setting up. There are a lot more stories and countries to cover in the future and suggestions are always appreciated.
 
Also, I hope you enjoy this little universe I'm setting up. There are a lot more stories and countries to cover in the future and suggestions are always appreciated.
I know I do. :)
 
I know I do. :)
Thank you for your appreciation.

I'm also trying to find ways to make this universe more easily to follow for now readers, that is why I've divided my ideas into 'phases' (much like Marvel's MCU phases). After each phase is concluded, I'll add a timeline which shows all major events in this universe. The current phase still has one AAR to be released. I'm also working on a sort of short-story, outside of the AARs, but within the bigger context of this world. It will include more fantasy and sci-fi elements than the AARs without really 'breaking' the story of the AARs (so like no magical wizards fighting wars or something). This short-story will ideally be realised with the last chapter of the last AAR of Phase One.
 
Chapter VIII: Moscow Mule
Chapter VIII: Moscow Mule

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27th of May – 30th of September 1962

Huey Long had established relations with the Russians for a while now. Already when Randolph Churchill was brokering a deal in Havana in January of 1962, a Prussian delegate was present. The Prussian gentleman was a Knight of the Teutonic Order, an organization similar to the Minute Men. It was the paramilitary branch of Goebbels’ party in Prussia. Upon learning about the Golden Circle, the Prussian hoped that one day the Teutonic Order could grow to similar power, infiltrating other countries and influencing their politics. Prussia was a handy gateway to Moscow. In the footsteps of the Prussian delegate, a Russian delegation came to Cuba by the end of May. On the 27th of May, they had a meeting with Huey Long. Not much was discussed. Long was interested in their offer of cooperation between Russia and Cuba, but nothing in particular was shared. In turn, the Russians invited Long to Moscow to discuss the matter even further. And so in June 1962, Huey Long made a state visit to Russia, meeting the Russian Vozhd in the process. Boris Savinkov had died at the age of 74 in 1953 so now Nikita Khrushchev was the new Vozhd. Khrushchev was a strange case, much like Zhukov during the Civil War, he had made some bad choices, but proved himself during the war against Germany. Over the years he climbed the ranks in the state bureaucracy, until in 1953 when Nikita averted a crisis by quickly assuming control over the party and the state.

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Russia’s new Vozhd since 1953: Nikita Khrushchev.

Long and Khrushchev met on the 13th of June to discuss the nature of Cuban-Russian relations. They both held the belief that they could do something that would benefit both countries. Russia’s biggest worry at the moment was the fact that the US had stationed missiles in Cyprus and mainland Greece, missiles with enough range to reach Moscow and St.-Petersburg. Cuba, and especially Huey Long, on the other hand was worried that a US invasion would occur. And so Long and Khrushchev talked about the possibility of stationing short- and medium-ranged missiles in Cuba, along with a considerable amount of Russian troops. These missiles would give Russia the same striking capability as the US had in Byzantium and would hopefully scare off any American invasion. The two leaders came to an agreement: Russia would send missiles and troops to Cuba under the cover of an agrarian expedition. Huey Long could return to Havana, reassured that his back was covered by the Russians.

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A propagandist map depicting the range of Russian missiles in Cuba.

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Huey Long and Nikita Khrushchev after their meeting.

Meanwhile in Africa, June of 1962 became known as the ‘Month of Independence’. While the small amount of British colonies had gained dominion status in the late 1950s, French Africa remained under firm control of Paris. This led to several unrests, most notably Tunisia’s declaration of independence (1956) and the Second Tuareg Rebellion in Algeria, which was still unresolved. As a result of this rebellion, the French Assemblée nationale instated Charles de Gaulle, veteran from the Second Weltkrieg, as Prime Minister of the King’s Government. Charles de Gaulle sought to resolve unrest in Africa and independence referendums were held in all major French colonies. All turned out in favor of decolonization and in June of 1962, the process of independence was finished. However, de Gaulle failed to resolve the question of Algeria, which resulted merely in a cease-fire between the Tuareg Confederation and French Algeria, a dominion-like state largely controlled by the Pieds-noirs (Algerians of European decent). After June of 1962, Africa looked like this:

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The sudden independence of so many African countries set the stage for further decolonization in Africa. The Belgian government increased funding and research for the Belgian-Congolese council, which was now working on a constitution for an independent Congo. Calls for independence also became more vocal in the South African puppet states of Namibia, Zambia and Rhodesia, as well in British dominions such as Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone. The matter of the African continent was briefly discussed between Long and Khrushchev. Both agreed that Africa could become the next theater of the Cold War, where both the US and Russia could involve itself in civil wars or rebellions. Especially the Portuguese refusal to withdraw from Africa would result in a vicious conflict which saw African nationalists backed by Russia fighting against the Portuguese regime which was backed by the US.

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A Portuguese military parade in Luanga, Angola.

In July, Russian specialists in construction of missile sites arrived in Cuba as ‘agricultural specialists’, but instead of irrigating local fields, they set up hidden rocket sites in the Cuban jungle. When these sites were finished, missiles and soldiers started pouring into Cuba. Russian container ships, later known as Moscow Mules, would bring them to Cuba under the cover of trade and material support. Missiles were concealed and hidden by palm trees and troops could be disguised as foreign work forces or specialists. Nevertheless, as early as August 1962, the US suspected that something was going on in Cuba. Spy planes were sent out at an increasing rate in order to learn about Huey Long’s plans and his ties with the Russians. Combined with information from Fidel and Raul Castro’s growing resistance movement, a full on crisis would soon engulf the world, nearly bringing it to the brink of war. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 was in the making.

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By the beginning of September, the US had gathered substantial information on rocket sites in Cuba.

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A Happy New Year to everyone (even though at the moment of updating this AAR it's still 2018 for me). This chapter is filled with a lot of events. I also for the first time used a new method for creating maps. I think they look way better than all my previous ones. My choice to keep Khrushchev as historical leader of Russia is mainly because he as a person has an important role to play in the next chapter. Other leaders might have chosen a different path, but Khrushchev chose to act against his advisers in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
 
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So a new Cuban crisis is on the horizon
 
As in our timeline, the Russians are meddling in the US zone of dominance.

But the revolutionaries are the real deal here, i want to see if Cienfuegos kills Fidel or Fidel kills Cienfuegos like in our timeline, either way, chaos will take over.
 
So a new Cuban crisis is on the horizon
It does remind me a bit about the crises in Victoria 2
As in our timeline, the Russians are meddling in the US zone of dominance.

But the revolutionaries are the real deal here, i want to see if Cienfuegos kills Fidel or Fidel kills Cienfuegos like in our timeline, either way, chaos will take over.
I have to be honest, before your post I had never heard of Cienfuegos. But now I incorporated him somehow in this AAR. You're question will be answered in a way.
 
Let's see if this crisis does actually turn into a full-scale war, and if Long survives it.
Let's see indeed. And I think if war breaks out, few people in the US would survive it.
 
Chapter IX: Cuban Missile Crisis
Chapter IX: Cuban Missile Crisis

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1st of October - 31st of December 1962

It all began on the 14th of October 1962, when an American U-2 spy plane flew over Cuba and took 928 photographs. The next day, the CIA analyzed the images and identified medium range ballistic missiles. The CIA informed the Department of State, but it was not until October 16 that the photographs were shown to President Kennedy. Kennedy soon summoned the National Security Council in addition with some key advisors. The group gathered there became known as the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM). Notable members of EXCOMM were Vice-President Martin Luther King, CIA Director Lyndon B. Johnson, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, National Security Advisor McGeorge Bundy and General Maxwell D. Taylor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. EXCOMM quickly began with discussing the several options the US now had.

General Taylor began with stating the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: “The Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimously agree that an invasion of Cuba with all our might is the only option available. The Russian State will not attempt to stop us because they can not defend Cuba from a full-scale invasion.”

Kennedy skeptically replied: “They, no more than we, can let these things go by without doing something. They can't, after all their statements, permit us to take out their missiles, kill a lot of Russians, and then do nothing. If they don't take action in Cuba, they certainly will in Europe. We know Huey Long has ties to the Prussians in Konigsberg and to the Russians in Moscow. An attack on Huey might trigger a Prussian attack into their former German territory, backed by Russian ‘volunteers’. No, we must proceed more carefully, after all, we don’t want our allies at NATO to think of us as trigger-happy cowboys.”

Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, agreed with the President: “The missiles stationed in Cuba do not alter the military balance in favor of Russia. We still have around 5000 strategic missiles, while Russia only had 300. The 40 extra ones in Cuba do not give them the upper hand.”

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President Kennedy with Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, by his side.

Once again General Taylor, speaking for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took a more aggressive stance: “If it is not the military balance they are changing, then it is the diplomatic one. The Russian missiles in Cuba are effectively a gun in our back. You said it yourself, you’re afraid of going after Huey Long because he might trigger a war in Europe. More importantly, credibility among our allies and the American people is at stake here. If they see a strong Russia which can force its will upon the US, they will think Russia is the world’s strongest power even though militarily they are not. We must act with strength, as that is the only thing the Russians respect more than anything.”

The other members of EXCOMM all agreed that the diplomatic balance was severely shifted, but they could not agree on how to act. Then, Vice-President Martin Luther King spoke out. He had been silent during the entire discussion, but now he felt that he could contribute on the matter. “I suggest we gather more information before we act. Invite the Russian ambassador, ask him about the missiles and their purpose. In the meanwhile, our spy planes can continue gathering information on the amount of Russian troops and missiles in Cuba.” “You suggest we wait and do nothing?” General Taylor said with a lingering resentment. “I suggest we learn more about the situation before acting on it. A good soldier knows which battle he’s fighting in, General”, the Vice-President responded. And so it was agreed. Kennedy saw the Russian ambassador the next day, while U-2s were taking more photographs of Cuba.

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Example of a photograph shot by a U-2 spy plane.

On the 21st of October, EXCOMM convened again, this time with more information. The Russian ambassador had told the President that the missiles were merely intended for Cuba’s defense and would only be aimed at the US if they were to attack the island. In the meanwhile, two helicopters had crashed while on secret missions over the Gulf of Mexico. Three options were now considered: a targeted hit by the US Air Force on all rocket sites in Cuba or a naval blockade preventing further missiles from reaching Cuba. Alternatively, the US could ‘ask’ Castro to rise up, giving Huey Long something else to worry about, but the President feared that Russian presence on the island would doom the uprising. General Taylor, as always, favored the more aggressive stance of using the Air Force. But Kennedy was too worried that Russian casualties would provoke retaliation. The other option, a blockade, also proved somewhat of a problem. According to international law, a blockade was an act of war. During the Cuban-Haitian and Cuban-Caribbean war, the US had issued blockades, but with the consent of the Organization of American Nations. Now, the US had to be more careful, as Russia was now directly involved. That is why President Kennedy came up with a plan. Instead of a blockade, the US would instate a quarantine around Cuba to prevent Russian convoys from bringing more missiles. Once again, he asked the consent of the Organization of American Nations, who agreed and some nations even offered to send their own fleet, afraid of Cuba’s aggressive expansion of the last few years.

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The quarantine would prevent ships carrying missiles from reaching Cuba.

On the 22nd of October, after having informed all major world leaders, including Khrushchev, President Kennedy addressed the nation on the radio: “It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Russian State on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Russian State. To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba, from whatever nation or port, will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back. This quarantine will be extended, if needed, to other types of cargo and carriers. We are not at this time, however, denying the necessities of life.”

At the same time as the speech was on the radio, all US troops got the directive that would put them on DEFCON 3. In the following days, the world reacted with both fear and hope. Several newspapers in France and Germany accused the Russians of actively seeking death and destruction in Europe. Pope John XXIII even sent a telegram to Khrushchev, urging him to “do all that is in their power to save peace”. The crisis escalated even further when on the 24th, the Russians broadcasted their answer to the world. They saw the US quarantine as outright piracy and an act of aggression and their convoys were instructed to ignore it. On the 25th, the US requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, while the US military was put on DEFCON 2. In the meantime, the quarantine was challenged by Russian ships succeeding in outrunning the US Navy. The situation seemed at a stalemate, Russia would not back down and neither would the US. Huey Long prepared for the worst. Of course he did not want nuclear war destroying the US, but the Americans could easily invade Cuba and destroy everything he had worked for. Long realized he had lost control and that the Cuban Crisis had transformed into a stand-off between the US and Russia. The only thing he could do was keep his army ready for the worst. On the 26th, Long ordered all anti-aircraft weapons to fire on the US Airforce if they came in groups larger than two.

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Pope John XXIII, concerned with peace in Europe, urges Khrushchev to stay on the path of peace.

That same day however, the crisis took a turn. Khrushchev had sent a letter to Washington for the President himself. The letter made Kennedy realize that Khrushchev was as afraid of war as he was. Khrushchev used the following words in particular: “Mr. President, we and you ought not now to pull on the ends of the rope in which you have tied the knot of war, because the more the two of us pull, the tighter that knot will be tied. And a moment may come when that knot will be tied so tight that even he who tied it will not have the strength to untie it, and then it will be necessary to cut that knot, and what that would mean is not for me to explain to you, because you yourself understand perfectly of what terrible forces our countries dispose. Consequently, if there is no intention to tighten that knot and thereby to doom the world to the catastrophe of thermonuclear war, then let us not only relax the forces pulling on the ends of the rope, let us take measures to untie that knot. We are ready for this.”

On the 27th, Radio Moscow broadcasted Khrushchev’s proposal for a solution to the Cuban Crisis. Russia would remove its missiles and military personnel from Cuba if the US would remove its Jupiter missiles from Byzantium and Italy. Khrushchev had ordered this to be broadcasted, to much opposition of his fellow party members, who still believed that an aggressive stance would bring the Americans on their knees. While all seemed to be calming down, a US aircraft was shot down over Cuba, killing its pilot. Huey Long had made the first blood as it was he who ordered anti-aircrafts to be on high alert. President Kennedy, however, chose to not act too soon. He would only strike if Cuba were to shoot down another aircraft. And so the first blood also remained the only blood shed in the Cuban Missile Crisis. That same day, the world was nearly thrown into a nuclear war, when American depth charges hit a Russian submarine equipped with nuclear weapons. That sub was permitted to use its nuclear arsenal if it was attacked. The use of the nuclear weapons, however, required unanimity among the three officers aboard. Because officer Vasili Arkhipov objected, the world was saved from mutually assured destruction.

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The Russian sub which was hit by depth charges, forced to the surface.

On the 28th, after heavily debating with EXCOMM and with the Byzantine and the Italian Prime Ministers, President Kennedy accepted Khrushchev offer. The Missile Crisis was seemingly at an end. In the following days, the world press admired both Kennedy and Khrushchev for their ability to keep their heads cool. The US removed the Jupiter missiles from Italy and Byzantium, while Russia retreated from Cuba. Huey Long was disappointed. With all his attempts to have some kind of safeguard against the US, he nearly destroyed the world. He realized now that Cuba had no equal voice in the global conflict between Russia and the US. His attempt to use Russia for the interests of the Golden Circle had failed. Now unrest was boiling hotter than ever and Russia was not willing to stick out its neck for Long again. As a result, the Golden Order decided that for a while, they had to not cause any further trouble. The message was spread, also among loyalists inside the US.

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The world lives to see another day, Long's plan to play out the US against Russia has failed. Now, it is just a matter of time for Huey Long to meet his end.
 
Long has gambled, but at the end of the day he is small fish. And when small fish play with big fish, it rarely goes well for the little ones.
 
If i were Huey, i would flee the island for good, this time its seems that hes doomed and without friends as he has dug his own grave
 
If i were Huey, i would flee the island for good, this time its seems that hes doomed and without friends as he has dug his own grave
Well, Huey is almost 70 at this point, he's getting to the end of his tether. I highly doubt he will have much choice but to stay in Cuba, especially if he wants to get back into the US.
 
Long has gambled, but at the end of the day he is small fish. And when small fish play with big fish, it rarely goes well for the little ones.
That's a perfect metaphor to describe what just happened.
If i were Huey, i would flee the island for good, this time its seems that hes doomed and without friends as he has dug his own grave
Well, Huey is almost 70 at this point, he's getting to the end of his tether. I highly doubt he will have much choice but to stay in Cuba, especially if he wants to get back into the US.
He is indeed getting to the end of his natural life. It depends on what events will occur in the future, but I would say the future of the Golden Circle is up to a new generation.
 
Surprised the Russians was so quick to admit their play, but their goal was realized. Now US can't have a first strike that don't get detected. Let us hope the Russian leadership see it as the victory it is, as opposed to the OTL ousting of Krutchev.
 
That's what you get when you leave it to the bigger fish to handle the matter.
A lot of people in the Golden Circle are frustrated with this outcome, needless to say that something will happen soon.
Surprised the Russians was so quick to admit their play, but their goal was realized. Now US can't have a first strike that don't get detected. Let us hope the Russian leadership see it as the victory it is, as opposed to the OTL ousting of Krutchev.
Given Khrushchev's background in the Russian Civil War, some might think he has a hidden agenda. But in this timeline, there is no strong communist party which controls everything. The power of the Russian Vozhd is more based around his control over the army, the state bureaucracy and the small party who appoints politicians.
 
I've just caught up with this whilst looking for an AAR to nominate for the Weekly AAR Showcase, and believe this the perfect candidate! Very much enjoyed the read thus far - Keep up the good work, and many congratulations! :)