Korea - MacArthur's dismissal
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 04-04-17 13:10
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- MacArthur's Dismissal
- Underestimated China
- Overconfident Ch would never interfere in K then mismanaged their onslaught
- Ridgway worried about all-out war with China - MacArthur ignored him
- Ch momentum from gaining territory
- Asia-Firster
- His power and prestige in Asia highlighted importance of preventing Communism there
- MacArthur criticized Truman's wartime policies and being too focused on Europe
- Arguments between MacArthur and Truman over strategic importance of Asia v. Europe
- Wanted to use atomic weapons?
- General Curtis Le May supported MacArthur's opinion
- Insisted in vain
- Complained he was having to fight with 'an enormous handicap...without precedent in military history' when denied permission to bomb Chinese territory
- Wanted to unleash Jiang
- Wanted to use Jiang's forces but Washington did not want to crank up war with China
- Jiang's army had already been bested by Mao's in Chinese Civil War
- Ignored Ridgway and wanted to use Jiang's forces against Ch and Korea
- Ridgway showed how it was done
- Ridgway worried about all-out war with Ch (MacArthur ignored him)
- Willing to challenge MacArthur
- Ch onslaught - morale of men affected
- He was liked by the troops
- Not afraid to remove inept officers
- Excellent military tactician
- Used tanks and artillery effectively
- Operation Killer - To inflict morale damaging losses against Ch + K
- Two final acts of insubordination
- Communique
- Publicly insulted Ch
- Sabotaged Truman's plan
- Truman very angry
- Spring 1951
- Sent letter to Republican Congressman which opposed Truman's Doctrine of Containment
- Violated directive to obtain clearance before commenting on war
- Communique
- JCS supported President
- Joint Chief of Staff fully supported Truman and publically against MacArthur
- May 1951, Congressional hearing on war empasised JCS support
- Wanted more troops
- No more troops available in US or other UN nations
- Underestimated China
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