The order not to bomb the Yalu bridges was the most indefensible and ill-conceived decision ever forced on a field commander in our nation's history....I will always believe that if the United States had issued a warning to the effect that any entry of the Chinese Communists in force into Korea would be considered an act of international war against the United States; that the Korean War would have been terminated with our advance north. General Douglas MacArthur in Reminiscences (1964) thus recalled the unyielding position he took in April; 1951; when President Truman relieved him of all his commands in the Far East for publicly opposing the policies of the United States government. Professor John W. Spanier examines the central issue of this crisis--the grave challenge to the traditional concept of civilian supremacy; resting in the President of the United States; over the military; that was posed by MacArthur's stand. He makes it clear that this controversy was not unique; that it stemmed not only from MacArthur's personality but also from tremendous pressures to change a "limited war" into a total effort for complete victory.
#745239 in Books 2013-08-27 2013-08-27Format: Deckle EdgeOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.55 x 1.16 x 6.50l; 1.54 #File Name: 0385524854400 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Since I read the book; I keep talking about it to friends and relatives.By F JulikaMy husband sent me a write-up about this book in English; and a friend in Budapest told me that he read it in Hungarian; so I immediately wanted to have it. Even though the book is about very famous Hungarian families (the author's parents and grandparents) who lived through the dark years of history; it is a smart thing to encourage all Americans who do not have any ties to Hungary to also get familiar with the hardship of the 20th century; how people were able to survive two world wars; two revolutions; nazis and communists etc. It also has a strong message about the author who discovered valuable documents written in a language she could not comprehend; yet after her parents' passing did not just tossed but had them translated. That became the foundation of her extensive research and the publication of this amazing book that I want to give to friends and relatives as gifts.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Love story; WW II; biography in History; with tints of a first person novel.By João RadvanyVery well researched historical background for a moving family novel of the descendants of Manfred Weiss'; the founder of the most important industries of Hungary; all the way into emigration ( and its very unique circumstances) of almost everyone; up to the fall of the Iron Curtain. A love story of the parents of the author; reconstructed from their personal correspondence embedded in the historical millieu. A delicate peeking through the door resulting in a robust document of a very easy and enjoyable reading. I loved it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I enjoyed every minute reading your powerful page-turnerBy Helen M. SzablyaMarianne; thank you for writing this important book. The younger generation in Hungary as well as in America and the entire world know little about those days. Extreme right and extreme left are equally horrific and we should never again allow any of them to get to power. I enjoyed every minute reading your powerful page-turner. Although we personally have not yet met; our families have a similar background. My book "My Only Choice; 1942-1956 Hungary" practically starts around the time when your excellent book ends. I hope people who read your book will read mine too. My book writes more about the Communist years as I was only seven years old when my book starts in 1942. What happened to my family would have happened to yours too would you have returned to Hungary.
