Multiple ! ! how did kennedy respond to the soviet threat of missiles in cuba? the u. s. placed cuba under a quarantine. a bombing of missile sites was planned. the u. s. threatened to launch missiles from turkey against russia. why did the united states give control of the panama canal to panama? the u. s. was removed by the panama military. a new treaty was negotiated due to riots in panama. the u. s. was no longer interested in maintaining control of the canal.