Errors in American History

Adam Yoshida ^ | 29 April 2004 | Adam Teiichi Yoshida

[Lando Lincoln]

Adam is strong in his convictions and direct in his approach. Once more, I need to cobble together the Adam Yoshida ping list. Anyone who wishes to be on or off the list, please FReepmail me.

Lando

[MosesKnows]

What is most notable about these errors, as grave as they are, is that they are all ultimately recoverable and redeemable.

If I am not mistaken it was Winston Churchill who observed that Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, but only after they have exhausted all other alternatives.

Doing the right thing is not an easy decision to take
("One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!" Winston Churchill)

when the responsibility for many is yours.
(The United States stands at the pinnacle of world power. This is a solemn moment for the American democracy. For with primacy in power is joined an awe-inspiring accountability for the future." Winston Churchill)

[wtc911]

Yep, nuclear war with Russia occupying half of Europe and all out war with China using WW2 retreads....that's what we should have done.

[DustyMoment]

The principal flaw in American power is aversion to the use of that power for coercion- not the overuse of it. Either American power is not sufficiently used (as in the case of Korea) or it is used to restrain well-meaning allies. This is as silly as it is dangerous.

Although I am not particularly familiar with Mr. Yoshida's work, I agree with this fundamental assessment of America's use of power. We have always been restrained and tried to find alternatives when, as he points out, sometimes we should have been less restrained. The WOT is a case in point. If we do not completely devastate (destroy) the Muslim extremists in a humanitarian effort to spare their lives, they will forever interpret it as a victory over the US.

Sometimes, you just can't win by trying to leave some of the losers alive.

[u-89]

The world would have been such a lovely place if only we had nuked two thirds of it....

[hosepipe]

The boy totally overlooks the cause of most of the Roosevelt-Truman error(s). They were both riddled with soviet agents answering to Stalin. As was the entire American Communist Party and part of the democrat party at that time. Who also GAVE Stalin the A-Bomb.. Thoughly proved now from the Soviet archives. What he also misses is that communism morphed into and an almost total takeover of the american democrat party and higher and lower learning centers as well as many well funded trusts by dead rich americans. Promoteing the Communist Manifesto that has been completely realized in american life as if it was commanded by the American Supreme Court and Congress.

Barry Goldwater realized it and got himself "Borked" in the process. Long before there ever was a term "Borked". A term Adam is probably ignorant of that also. Adam is probably also ignorant of the extent the Communist Manifest is being shoved down our throats and tamped down by jack boots ever since Newt Gingrich went and got himself "Borked" too.

Poor Adam seems to be a clueless, missing all the important stuff. Missing the Rooseveldt-Truman to Stalin connection I think was on purpose. Because that is the source of the problems he recounts. How could he miss the A-Bomb connection unless it was on purpose. Rooseveldt gave Stalin the A-Bomd and all of Eastern-Urp besides.. Rooseveldt LOVED Stalin, else why would have given him so much. This story has not even begun to be told yet. Ann Coulter tried to broach the subject in her book "TREASON" but did'nt even gloss this iceberg.

[Alter Kaker]

Yes, United States should have dropped nuclear weapons on 50 largest Chinese cities and killed 500 million people. Even if USSR did respond, they had only few nuclear weapons - only enough to destroy 20 largest American cities. But for capture of Pyongyang, it would have certainly been worth it. Yes this is intelligent foreign policy - and good indicator of why this little "Adam Yoshida" is not in position of power.

[Carry_Okie]

Thanks, I didn't feel like writing that. To which I would add that because orders to American combat troops were being routed through the UN, the Russian general in charge had ample opportunity to relay those orders to the Chinese.

As I understand it, McArthur figured it out, which is why he didn't tell Truman what he was up to at Inchon.

[Sam the Sham]

And of course had we started WW3 over Korea all of Western Europe (especially the parts where a third to a quarter of the electorate was Communist, like France and Italy) would have just joyfully fought alongside us to protect Korea. Right.

I love the bit about Suez. Sure, the Anglo-French-Israeli plan would have worked. Why, there is nothing Muslims like more than having "crusaders" and "infidels" pick their leaders ! And hey, Israel could simply occupy and rule Egypt. Considering how little trouble they have had with the Palestinians, Egypt would have been no sweat.</sarcasm>

[little jeremiah]

Add me to your Yoshida Pinglist. Very interesting article; clearly written, and convincing.

[hosepipe]

[ As I understand it, MacArthur figured it out, which is why he didn't tell Truman what he was up to at Inchon. ]

Mac figured out alright. He sent a message to us all by his disobedience. He was so far ahead of Truman, Harry played right into his game, by outting himself as the commie sympathizer that he was. Mac read the writing on the wall. That only a revolution could solve this mess. What he didn't know was that Most American men were wimps unless forced to get assertive. Patsy Schroeder(D-Co)(Tailhook) did observe that and did something about it. Voila!.. todays military is weaker at the top than at the bottom because of her.

[Carry_Okie]

As I understand it, every order from Truman to MacArthur had to go through the Russian military attache at the UN, which of course was relayed to the Chinese. What happened at Inchon was that MacArthur didn't tell Truman what he planned to do. Is that correct?

Truman should have been arrested. Another 33° Mason, just like his predecessor, Roosevelt.

[expat_panama]

Let's give Adam Yoshida credit for selecting an accurate title - after all, his essay was just loaded with errors in American history. 

Stalin did not authorize the attack by North Korea-- it was a surprise to both Russia and China.

Sure Macarthur promised that he could win the war if he was allowed to attack China-- right after promising that the Chinese would never be crossing the Yalu River in the first place.  When they did, he was so unprepared that he was nearly pushed off the peninsula.  Truman was patient to a fault with Macarthur who flat out admitted that he was incapable of organizing a defense of Seoul without sending troops into China.  Both Truman's cabinet and the JCS knew that was loopy, but Macarthur didn't get sacked until he willfully disobeyed his commanding officer's direct orders (shooting his mouth off to the press) one time too many.  He was lucky to only get sacked.   Fortunately, Ridgeway was more than able to clean up Macarthur's mess.

Two reasons the JCS didn't want to nuke 50 Chinese cities is (first) in April 1951 we didn't have 50 bombs, and (second) it was the Russian cities that were arming North Korea.  We tried bombing railroads and highways but that kind of interdiction needed 'boots on the ground'; a lot more boots than were available at the time.

[Zeroisanumber]

I get mighty nervous when a commentator suggests that the world might have been a better place sans 50 or so Chinese cities. Nukes are awful weapons, and even with perfect 20/20 hindsight I probably wouldn't have used them.

That said, 50kt on Tor Bora in 2002 might have saved us a hell of a headache.

[Alter Kaker]

Considering how little trouble they have had with the Palestinians, Egypt would have been no sweat.

I fought in the 1956 war. Israel in 1956 was not Israel in 2004 - we were still a very weak country. Idea of conquering Egypt at any time is idiocy.

[edsheppa]

He's mostly wrong about Korea but mostly right about Suez.

[Alter Kaker]

No, he is wrong about Suez as well. The British and French were totally incompetent. And it was precisely because of Suez that Eisenhower could not intervene in Hungary as he wanted - an entire nation subjected to slavery.

[edsheppa]

because of Suez that Eisenhower could not intervene in Hungary

?

[dagnabbit]

The biggest U.S. error in the last century was the 1965 Immigration Act, which will eventually bring the nation to an end.

[JohnGalt]

The author, Adam Yoshida is a Canadian who lives at home with his parents...no, I am not kidding. I read on a blog that he once claimed he went to Harvard, when the truth is that he took classes with the Harvard Extension School, which Burkeman1 does as well.