...buildup of what were being called "defensive" Soviet arms in Cuba. On September 13, Kennedy wrote: "If at any time the Communist build-up in Cuba were...endanger or interfere with our security in any way ... or if Cuba should ever . . . become an offensive military base of significant capacity for the...

...intervention by the United States, therefore, was "currently" needed or justified, "and it is regrettable that loose talk about such action in this country...the Communist pretense that such a threat exists." If American action against Cuba should become necessary, "all of Castro's Communistsupplied weapons...

...military intervention in Cuba saying- that it was not then either required or justified. "But," he said, "let me make this clear once again : If at any time...endanger or interfere with our security in any way, . . . then this country will do whatever must be done to protect its own security and that of its allies."...

...otherwise, "the gravest issues would arise " Two weeks later, on September 13, Kennedy reaffirmed that If at any time the Communist build-up in Cuba were...endanger or interfere with our security in any way . . . or if Cuba should ever . . . become an offensive military base of significant capacity for the...

...their "rash" and "loose" talk. Such calls for military action, the President warned, could only help "to give a thin color of legitimacy to the Communist pretense that such a threat exists. " At this time, Kennedy assured the nation, Cuba did not represent a serious threat to the United States...

...capacity to carry out offensive actions against the United States. "If at any time," the president stated, "the Communist buildup in Cuba were to endanger or interfere with our security in any way ... or if Cuba should . . . become an offensive military base of significant capacity for the Soviet...

...the part of the United States cannot currently be either required or justified, and it is regrettable that loose talk about such action in this country...interfere with our security in any way, including our base in Guantanamo . . . then this country will do whatever must be done to protect its own security and...

...president announced he would not undertake unilateral military intervention but added a warning. If "the Communist buildup in Cuba were to endanger or interfere with our security," he said, he would do "whatever must be done." He pointed out that "as President and Commander in Chief...

...coast of Florida. On September 13, President John F. Kennedy warned Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev: "If at any time the Communist buildup in Cuba were...endanger or interfere with our security in any way. . .or if Cuba should ever. . . become an offensive military base of significant capacity for the Soviet...

...the part of the United States cannot currently be either required or justified, and it is regrettable that loose talk about such action in this country might serve to give a thin colour of legitimacy to the Communist pretense that such a threat exists. But let me make this clear...