Final answer:
The given statement about 'Russian missiles being aimed at New York City' refers to the historical context of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is marked by the passive voice regarding the assembly and aiming of missiles. This event was part of the Cold War, where the Soviet Union and the United States narrowly avoided nuclear conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'Russian missiles were being assembled and supposedly aimed at New York City' is in the passive voice. This implies that the action (the assembling and aiming of missiles) is being done to the subject (Russian missiles), rather than the subject performing the action. The statement pertains to a historical event, specifically referencing the period of intense geopolitical tension known as the Cuban Missile Crisis which occurred in 1962. This crisis was a major confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
During this time, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a Cold War, where both nations had developed powerful nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The Soviet Union had installed missiles in Cuba to deter another US invasion and to balance the presence of US missiles in Turkey. Although the missiles in Cuba were not directed at New York City as the statement suggests, the real fear was that any missile launched from Cuba could reach major US cities, including New York.
The resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis included the removal of both Soviet missiles from Cuba and US missiles from Turkey, and eventually led to the establishment of a direct communication link between Washington and Moscow to prevent future misunderstandings that could lead to a nuclear conflict.