Truman sacking MacArthur...

gi-rene · #1 (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 10:36 AM

This was an interesting question posed to me by my history teacher (of course my favorite else I wouldn't have visited!) if Truman was wise to sack MacArthur during Korea... I'll hold my answer...

Freightshaker · #2 (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 07:59 PM

Definitely. Military commanders do not create foreign policy, they implement it. Mac would've had his ass handed to him by the Chinese anyways.

Jim O · #3 (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 08:24 PM

MacArthur was insubordinate. It would have been wise for MacArthur not to force Truman's hand. Whether it was wise for Truman is irrelevant. It was necessary.

gi-rene · #4 (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2008, 08:33 PM

I agree with that... He certainly was overstepping his limits... My teacher was wondering what a military person would think about the issue but Freightshaker hit it right on the head and thats what I told my teacher. We don't make policies, we enforce them on the behalf of our government and keep our nation secure.

kentek · #5 (**permalink**) March 23rd, 2008, 03:45 AM

MacArthur also committed the cardinal sin of ignoring his chain of command by contacting House Minority Leader Martin about his disagreement with Truman's policies.

Panzermacher · #6 (**permalink**) March 23rd, 2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentek

MacArthur also committed the cardinal sin of ignoring his chain of command by contacting House Minority Leader Martin about his disagreement with Truman's policies.

Ouch !! That dont sit well with the "Commander in Chief"! I think it was necessary to sack Doug.... And it all worked out in the end. You guys are correct, it wasn't the Gen'ral's right to make decisions.....he was there to enforce em.

Biscuit · #7 (**permalink**) March 23rd, 2008, 05:16 AM

I don't think Mac gave Truman a choice. Had Truman chosen to ignore he would have weakened his Presidency and corrupted the chain of command. As Harry said "The buck stops here!"

McCoy · #8 (**permalink**) March 23rd, 2008, 05:49 AM

MacArthur became a loose cannon with way too high thoughts of himself. So Truman made the right call when sackin' 'Emperor' MacArthur.

Biscuit · #9 (**permalink**) March 23rd, 2008, 05:52 AM

Its amazing how many WWII generals I looked up to growing up were really arrogant prima donnas. Mac, Patton, and Monte come to mind immediately. That being said, I still believe they all made great contributions.

Gotthard Heinrici · #10 (**permalink**) March 23rd, 2008, 05:52 AM

Armies are an instrument with which to carry out foreign policy and so are the Commanders of those armies!!

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