on the island. discovery of the missiles led to a 13-day standoff between the u.s. and soviet union. nuclear war appeared imminent until the soviets agreed to remove the weapons. castro in & the u.s. would remain engaged in proxy wars as the cuban leader tried to permit socialist revolutions around the world. for many cubans, u.s. trade embargo and soviet file economic policies made life intolerable. communism was the only ideology permitted on the island. critics of the government faced lengthy jail sentences. castro announced anyone who wanted to doily to the u.s. 125,000 took him up on his offer. castro resisted major free market reforms or lifting prohibitions on life in cuba. as always, castro claimed he knew best. i don t know for his ever present cigar, beard, fatigues