The Suez-Hungary Crisis:50 years ago today (November 2,1956

11/2/2006 | Self

[Nextrush]

By early morning on November 2, 1956, all the Egyptian troops that could get out were withdrawn across the Suez Canal from Sinai.

Troops cut off in the Gaza Strip and at Sharm-el-Sheikh would end up surrendering to the Israelis.

Anglo-French bombing put the Egyptian Air Force out of action and forced whatever planes were left to fly out of the country.

The RAF bombed Radio Cairo and hit its main antenna mast, knocking out its signal.

Meanwhile in New York the emergency session of the UN General Assembly broke off at 5 AM so delegates could eat something and get a little rest.

American diplomats approached Canadian Foreign Minister Lester Pearson and said he should work quickly on his plan for an international force because British and French invasion fleets were on their way to Egypt.

When French Foreign Minister Christian Pineau came to London on November 2nd he found Prime Minister Eden already contemplating an end to fighting and an international force, much to to the disappointment of the French.

Eden was crafting a proposal to the UN resolution that he would present in the House of Commons the next day.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Dwight Eisenhower had given his last campaign specch for re-election the day before (November 1st).

War is not something American presidents want to talk about during a re-election campaign, where the focus is usually on peace and or prosperity.

The twin crisis probably helped Eisenhower some but it cost him some votes because of his opposition to Israel's military action. (The loss among Jewish voters)

In the end Eisenhower's landslide over Adlai Stevenson would be even greater that in 1952, when the two first faced each other.

Stevenson was considered a "liberal" and friend of the "do-gooders."

As such he stood little chance in the 1950's when Americans saw Communism as a serious threat.

Democrats in general had to retool themselves from the New Deal days into both "liberals" and opponents of communism. The new breed of liberal Democrats in the 1950's were exemplified by Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey who would advocate more social programs, civil rights and spending as a means of fighting communism.

As for why Eisenhower supported the Soviet-backed Nasser government and did not support the anti-communist revolution in Hungary it appeared that the United States thought it should win hearts and minds in the new "Third World" nations and oppose "colonialism." The fear of war in general and nuclear war in particular hung over both crises.

John Foster Dulles spoke after the Soviets crushed the revolution in Hungary and said of the idea of military intervention to help it: "This would be madness....does anyone in his senses want to start a nuclear war."

So Ike was no Ronald Reagan? Reagan became a Republican during the time Ike was president and admired him.

Eisenhower was the favorite of the Republican establishment and he was maneuvered past Senator Robert Taft to be the GOP presidential nominee in 1952.

But Ike's sharpest critic didn't live to see him as president, even though he saw his future.

General George S. Patton, as quoted in "The Unknown Patton," remarked that Eisenhower commanded nothing even though he had a title, that he was just a figurehead who was afraid of what others would think of him.

Some Patton quotes: "I wish that Ike were more of a solider and less of a politician."

"His is the style of an officeholder rather than that of a soldier."

"How can anyone expect any backbone in a man who is already running for president."

In Hungary on November 2nd, 1956 training was underway for freedom fighters in Budapest with additional rifle ammunition being obtained and positions to defend the city being set up.

Soviet troops meanwhile took over railways in eastern Hungary for the movement of troops and tanks into the country...............

[Nextrush]

The events of 50 years ago in a series posted under the keyword "1956."