Saturday, October 24, 2009

Was President Truman's firing of General MacArthur justified?

I know that the reason was insubbordination, and some of the differnences between the two were regarding MacArthurs actions at the Yalu River, as well as his desire to Atom bomb China. Were their any other differences regarding how to conduct the Korean war between Truman and MacArthur? Are there any other reasons to justify his actions of firing him?
Was President Truman's firing of General MacArthur justified?
One of the founding principles of this republic is that the military is controlled by a civilian commander in chief. The purpose of this was the need to prevent a military commander from assuming the role of dictator. It was Washington's refusal to do so at the end of the war that prompted George III to comment that he was one of the greatest men to ever have lived.





If a general, and I mean any general, whether his name is John Fremont, George McClellan, or Douglas MacArthur, begins to act in a manner that goes contrary to the orders of his commander in chief, he has to be reprimanded, and if necessary, removed.





It was President Truman's assessment that he be removed.





If Ike had tried pulling the same stunts as Commander of NATO, MacArthur probably would have agreed that the President remove Eisenhower.
Was President Truman's firing of General MacArthur justified?
MacArthur should have been fired before the Korean conflict ever began, but he was so hugely popular that it was inexpedient. Of course, his position in Japan had only fed into his propensity to edge past being an instrument of policy into an active role in determining policy, which is something that's occasionally thrust on general officers by politicians who really do know better than to do so.
Reply:looks like your first two responses took care of anything i would have said, other than i believe arrogance is as good an excuse as laziness or insubordination to fire someone, because of the difficulties they cause amongst their fellow workers... or in this case, officers.... , and macarthur was truly arrogant


No comments:

Post a Comment

 


Allyn © 2008. Design by: Pocket Web Hosting