Page "Cuban missile crisis" Paragraph 47

Kennedy met with members of EXCOMM and other top advisers throughout October 21, considering two remaining options: an air strike primarily against the Cuban missile bases, or a naval blockade of Cuba.

A full-scale invasion was not the administration's first option.

Robert McNamara supported the naval blockade as a strong but limited military action that left the US in control.

However, the term " blockade " was problematic.

According to international law a blockade is an act of war, but the Kennedy administration did not think that the USSR would be provoked to attack by a mere blockade.

Additionally, legal experts at the State Department and Justice Department concluded that a declaration of war could be avoided so long as another legal justification, based on the Rio Treaty for defense of the Western Hemisphere, was obtained via a resolution by a two-thirds vote from the members or the Organization of American States ( OAS ).