[virgil283]

"What exactly is the LeMay Doctrine? .. Kozak: Simply put, a nation should think long and hard before it makes the fateful decision to go to war. But if all other diplomatic means have failed and there is no other alternative, then that nation should use every weapon in its arsenal to win the war as quickly as possible. And here’s the kicker: if it isn’t willing to do this, then it should not go to war in the first place. Prolonged conflicts help no one and wind up producing more casualties in the end. Think how the United States would have fought its wars differently since WWII … or not at all … if it had used LeMay’s doctrine...."

[canuck_conservative]

Yes, LeMay was a strong voice for SAC .... but maybe too strong.

In the early 50s, he constantly belittled the idea of using unmanned missiles for long-distance delivery of nuclear weapons, making sure that his SAC got most of the military funding & respect. As a result, US missile development fell well behind the Soviets, who had no problem recognizing the potential of the ICBM. (What’s that quote about old generals always stuck in fighting the last war’s way?)

Von Braun himself admitted that the US could have put a satellite in orbit as early as 1955 - two years ahead of Sputnik - had missile research received the proper funding and recognition. And since those military missiles formed the basis of the space program, the US started from behind and were always playing “catch-up” to the USSR until Apollo - thanks to people like Gen. Curtis LeMay.

[Timber Rattler]

LeMay was probably America's greatest military leader during World War II and afterward. Period.

[Timber Rattler]

All outlined in his little known 1968 book, America is in Danger.

America is in danger

[GreyFriar]

article about General Lemay

[Chainmail]

LeMay Ping

[logic101.net]

LeMay has been one of my heros for years. His ideas would have turned Korea into a victory rather than a constant threat and stale mate. Vietnam would have been a victory rather than a loss. We would have won the cold war many years earlier. Terrorists would have been afraid to attack us.

Plus; he loved good cigars :-)

[SueRae]

Bookmarked. Great thread. More winter reading, thanks.