Iraq effort is similar to Korea effort - but no censorship, no draft, one-tenth the US deaths

Various documents | 5/9/2007 | syriacus

[syriacus]

Our efforts in Iraq are a lot like our efforts were in Korea, because

we are fighting for the freedom of millions

we are fighting against an "ism"

we are training the military of the newly freed country

the Democrats want us to abandon the newly freed country, about 4 years after we freed it, even though they know there are serious threats to the new country

--------------------------

Our efforts in Iraq are a lot different than our efforts in Korea, because

we freed S. Korea two times (in 1945, and the early 50's)

we abandoned S. Korea in 1949 (against military warnings)

we have one tenth the deaths

we have very little censorship

we have no draft

we don't have a Democratic president

[syriacus]

Democrats pulled our troops out of South Korea in 1949, too soon after the South Koreans were freed (1945).

Democrats were warned the South Korea would be vulnerable, but ignored and suppressed the warnings.

Truman felt obliged to send our troops back to Korea, in 1950 after Kim il Sung's North Korean army invaded South Korea.

30,000 Americans died, during the remaining 30 months of Truman's presidency.

Would so many Americans have died in Korea if we hadn't abandoned South Korea too soon?

Why do Democrats insist on repeating this calamitous mistake?

[weegee]

Rep. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) urged the use of nukes in Korea and elsewhere. A clip of his appeal to the American voter can be seen in the documentary The Atomic Cafe.

[syriacus]

Congress, June, 1949

Republican John Lodge of Connecticut asked,

“(Do) you feel that the Korean Government is able to fill the vacuum caused by the withdrawal of the occupation forces?”

The administration answered: “Definitely.”

http://www.eisenhower.utexas.edu/Korea/documents/ishallgotokorea2.html

[Eagle of Liberty]

Why do Democrats insist on repeating this calamitous mistake?

Where to start? Too many possibilities to list.
- Gullible
- Stupid
- Unpatriotic
- AINO (Americans In Name Only)
- They like to join the enemy
- Dialogue will fix everything
- Spineless
- They got a better deal
- etc

[syriacus]

Great list... and accurate in so many ways.

[syriacus]

Another similarity between the Iraq effort and the Korean effort
The Europeans criticized the war effort there.

They wanted us the world to concentrate on setting up European defenses.

Front page of Syracuse Herald-Journal from December 1, 1950

Marines Battling out of Red Trap
No need for A-bomb says MacArthur Aid*
'We won't be pushed out of Korea'

Must meet Red Challenge
'Facing heavy odds,' MacArthur asserts

Frankfurt, Germany (UP) -- Gen. Douglas MacArthur said today that his United Nations forces are fighting in Korea against military odds without precedent in history, and warned that failure to meet the Red challenge there will leave it to "be fought, and possibly lost, on the battlefieds of Europe."

I told the general that ... European statesmen ...saw war in Asia as a nightmare, retarding the successful organization of European defense. [snip]

As to the opinion in Europe, the general said: "There appears to be a general failure, intentional or from misinformation, to comprehend the mission prescribed for this command by resolutions of the United Nations of which their governments were joint architects and directors, or fairly to recognize that in success or adversity this command has proceeded unerringly in compliance with controlling policies and directives."

MacArthur said he could only attribute such comment to a "somewhat selfish, though most short-sighted, viewpoint.[snip]

"The issue is a global one and failure to comprehend this fact carries the germs of freedom's ultimate destruction. If the fight is not waged with courage and invincible determination to meet the challenge here, it will indeed be fought and possibly lost, on the battlefields of Europe."

*Truman had hinted that we might use the bomb.

[syriacus]

Truman hinted he might use the A-bomb, in December, 1950. A few days later, MacArthur said that would not be necessary.

I'll check the Bentsen clip to see when he suggested using the bomb.

Thanks for the information.

[syriacus]

Difference between Korean and Iraq efforts

Truman hints use of A-bombs

Declares U.N. Won't Give Up Korea Mission

Washington - (AP) - President Truman said today active consideration is being given to use of the atomic bomb against the Chinese communists if that step is necessary. The President spoke of this possibility at a news conference in which he also expresssed continued hope a third world war can be averted.

from the November 30, 1950 front page of Mansfield News-Journal

[syriacus]

I was in error when I wrote

Truman hinted he might use the A-bomb, in December, 1950.

The Mansfield News-Journal reported, November 30, 1950, that Truman had hinted at use of the bomb.

[Mr. Jazzy]

And that war has never REALLY ended.

What brought the combat to a stalemate was the fact that Ike was going to bring nuclear artillery onto the field of battle against the communists. With the change in Administrations, the USSR and China, having lost their “inside information” from the likes of Alger Hiss and his plants withing the government, settled for half a loaf rather than no loaf at all.

[syriacus]

Difference between Korean and Iraq efforts - the American death toll.

Ten times as many Americans died in the first 30 months of the Korean War as died in the first 30 months of the Iraq War

American deaths in Korean War

November 28, 1950 -- 621 American deaths
November 30, 1950 -- 781 American deaths
December 1, 1950 -- 747 American deaths
December 2, 1950 -- 490 American deaths
December 12, 1950 -- 154 American deaths

A news reader would have needed a lot of time to read hundreds of names of American heroes on the evening news each of these dates.

[syriacus]

Good points!

I can imagine you are proud of your son.

[syriacus]

Difference between Korea and Iraq efforts
The severest censorship was imposed under Truman's Democratic administration

At first, there was voluntary censorship, but, about 6 months into the war, a whole host of strict censorship rules was imposed.

Among the new censorship rules

1. Correspondents were placed under the jurisdiction of the Army
2. Correspondents were subject to court martial for the most serious transgressions.
3. Correspondents could not send dispatches which were demoralizing
4. Correspondents could not criticize the Allied efforts
5. Correspondents could not quote officers without authorization
6. Correspondents could not report casuallties until the government released the information.

Quite a difference between Bush's War and Truman's War!!!

From the news account [Waterloo Daily Courier, front page | January 9, 1951 ] :

The Eighth Army ruled that any violator of the code will be suspended from all privileges.

"He may be subject to disciplinary action because of an intentional violation of these and other regulations, either in letter or in spirit, and in extreme cases of offense where investigation proves the circumstances warrant the correspondent may be placed in arrest to await deportation or trial by courtmaritial,' the announcement said.

You can read more of the news account.

Be prepared to be shocked at what Democrats will choose to do to the press during wartime!

[SunkenCiv]

syriacus: Quite a difference between Bush's War and Truman's War!!!