The Korean War - The next big topic

[Idaho]

Just in the middle of Max Hastings - The Korean War (http://www.amazon.com/Korean-War-Max-Hastings/dp/067166834X) and a fine read it is.

What comes across clearly is that the US repeats a number of mistakes over and over, through Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. My feeling is that the Korean war will come under much closer scrutiny, and see a revival of interest in the next few years.

Firstly: favouring personalities, key men, over movements. There is a preference to have 'their man' someone they can rely on in charge, and a grave suspicion of movements or ideologies. Be it Re or Karzai.

Secondly: a tendancy to impose a simple narrative onto what is often a much more complex situation. They are not anti-communist, therefore we much oppose them. They are not anti-islamic, therefore we must oppose them.

Thirdly: choosing allies poorly and overlooking how dreadful they are. Propping up the S Korean government despite how brutal and corrupt it was.

Fourthly: At a troop level, not being able to cope with civil war. They are all 'gooks' or they are all 'hajis'. No appetite amongst the troops to see the complexities.

Fifthly: Constant friendly fire incidents!

[rory_20_uk]

It was their approach in WW2 in the Pacific and it appeared to work and so they've not changed it since.

~:smoking:

[Strike For The South]

Blah blah I'm English son, I've been around the block, I know more than you blah Blah

[rory_20_uk]

Thank you for taking the time to post. Feel free in future to save your time.

~:smoking:

[Rhyfelwyr]

Thirdly: choosing allies poorly and overlooking how dreadful they are. Propping up the S Korean government despite how brutal and corrupt it was.

You have to admit that while these right-wing regimes were nasty at the time, they've at least ended up in democracies only a few decades later.

Look at China/Taiwan, both were historically one state. The nationalists and the communists were as bad as each other, nationalists were maybe even worse, but over time they made Taiwan a decent place to live, while China was run into the ground.

I'm not saying the far right are 'better' than the left in and of themselves, but by doing things like creating a centralised nation state and allowing a middle class to develop, they create the conditions needed for democracy to flourish.

[Hax]

You have to admit that while these right-wing regimes were nasty at the time, they've at least ended up in democracies only a few decades later.

The ends do not justify the means, for me. Perhaps it does for the rest of the world, but it's a negative approach.

But sure, shall we say the same about Iraq? Oh wait, speaking about Iraq..

[Tellos Athenaios]

I'm not saying the far right are 'better' than the left in and of themselves, but by doing things like creating a centralised nation state and allowing a middle class to develop, they create the conditions needed for democracy to flourish.

If they do not immediately kill of any dissidents that is. Look at Nazi Germany or those Nationalists prior to being evicted from mainland China.... There's little creating of conditions for democracy to flourish, everything was done to suppress any voice of dissent.

[PanzerJaeger]

If Afghanistan and/or Iraq end up like South Korea, we'll have done our job and done it well.

[Idaho]

You have to admit that while these right-wing regimes were nasty at the time, they've at least ended up in democracies only a few decades later.

Look at China/Taiwan, both were historically one state. The nationalists and the communists were as bad as each other, nationalists were maybe even worse, but over time they made Taiwan a decent place to live, while China was run into the ground.

I'm not saying the far right are 'better' than the left in and of themselves, but by doing things like creating a centralised nation state and allowing a middle class to develop, they create the conditions needed for democracy to flourish.

It's a fair point, and one I accept. It feeds into my wider political agnosticism. I increasingly agree with Churchill:

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried

The current situation wasn't the intention of the anticommunists - that's the problem. The rightists motivations at the time were negative rather than positive.

[Shaka_Khan]

Just in the middle of Max Hastings - The Korean War (http://www.amazon.com/Korean-War-Max-Hastings/dp/067166834X) and a fine read it is.
Great book. I read that nearly two decades ago. The Korean War was more large scale than most people thought. It was one of those wars that had human wave tactics going on. And it wasn't just soldiers. There were tanks and jet planes on both sides involved.

[Rahwana]

BTW, now the Korean Wars is the most productive wars Americans ever fought, having sucessfully liberating South Koreans as economic tiger and Game Masters, and restore the Majestic Monarchy of the North Koreans under the guidance of Kim dynasty.

So, in respect for Iraq and Afghanistans, bet they'll end up divided but better as well.

Oh yeah, what about the future war on Iran? have you found their nukes? Americans?

[Hax]

Oh yeah, what about the future war on Iran?

No way. They wouldn't do that. Iran is no Afghanistan or Iraq.

[Cute Wolf]

No way. They wouldn't do that. Iran is no Afghanistan or Iraq.

I'll sent you a big cart of Bali Hai Beer if America Finally had the gut to invade Iran Hax... big cart, delivered via DHL to your front door.
American invasion against Iran won't happened*, trust me. :laugh4:

*. Unless Israel provoke Iran first, and goading Americans to invade Iran... that way, no beer for ya...

[Hax]

I don't drink alcohol. Remember the precepts?

[Cute Wolf]

Oh, sorry... so I'll gave you several traditional tropical herbs at your own choie if American invasion happened without Israel goading them first. :grin:

[Hax]

You're on, man!