Mwleach,  Hey man if you are trying to compare Bush with Truman with low approval ratings.  The buck stops here.  First of all Truman was not a war monger.  He tried to stop the Korean  War quickly before China and Russia get involved.  He had to fire General MacArthur because of "The General" tried to provoke China into the war.  As you probably know MacArthur was a hero to the American people after World War11.  It was the firing of MacArthur that caused his low approval rating.  When Truman left office our middle class was starting to thrive.  Our trade balance was super against all other countries.  The housing market was booming.  The dollar was at a record level. Our school systems even though not integrated, was on the up-swing.  American manufacturing was going strong. Health care was not an issue for the majority of Americans.  The cost of staying in a hospital was nominal.  Our US borders where strictly enforced.  Mwleach I am sorry to say ,but our present President has done none of the above. Please do not try to compare the two.

"warmonger"

Good grief, grow up.

Mark 

 

Mark,

I am grown up.  The problem is are you !  If you want to talk about stopping this useless war, by all means , let's talk

mwleach:

Qh,  

Wow - my absolute bust, requiring a MASSIVE apology!

I should just edit, but I will leave it as proof of my carelessness.

Forgive me?

MWL

Alas, Mike, she has worked her way into your brain.  Flea, flea for your life.

Here's your penance:  you are Royally Commanded to chase a little white ball around a big green area and relax.

And I do know you know the difference between Hillary and me.  I'm Queen...she's only running for President,

;)

qh1 the benevolent and forgiving 

Hank,

When you resort to name calling, the level of discourse goes to the adolescent level, and intelligent discussion gets a little difficult. It is a common tactic to attach labels to try to discredit the opposition, but it does nothing to help understanding.

Mark 

Mark, "What we have is a failure to communicate" I thought my statements were inteligent Unfortunately, you call me to grow up and stop descredit the opposition. Just why are you on this forum if you cannot accept criticism when warranted.

 First of all Truman was not a war monger.  He tried to stop the Korean  War quickly before China and Russia get involved. 

Uh ..., well Truman wisely did not want the war EXPANDED.  However, Truman was the one that ordered US troops in to begin with, and also concurred with the decision to take the war into the North after NK troops were driven out of South Korea.

Hank, at least I am glad to see that you (unlike some Truman critics on the far left) are apparently willing to overlook that earlier little episode of Truman's involving those two bombs :-)

MWL

mwleach, I agree with you Truman did order the original troop build up. He did so because he unfortunately listened to General MacArthur.  He did learn his lesson  by  stopping the expansion into North Korea.  I still feel bad about all those innocent people who lost their lives thanks to the monster bombs.  I only hope this will never happen again.

Truman went to the UN and persuaded that august body to defend South Korea from the North's invasion. He was successful because the Soviets were boycotting the UN and failed to veto Truman in the Security Council. MacArthur was the emperor of Japan at the time and had nothing to say about Truman's or the UN's decision to go to Korea.  North Korea had pushed US and SK troops all the way to the southern tip of South Korea. MacArthur's invasion at Inchon cut North Korea's lines of communication and stopped their advance cold. Truman never stopped any expansion into North Korea, the Chinese communists did that at Chosin. MacArthur was fired because he publicly disagreed with Truman's decision not to go north of the Yalu.

Mark 

Mark

On June 30, 1950 President Truman and the United Nation authorized US ground forces to stop the invasion of North Korea onto South Korean soil.   The USSR had assured President Truman that they will not intervene.  That is why the Soviets boycotted the UN.  I believe General MacArthur had a lot to say about Truman's and the UN decision to employ US troops.  The General personally flew from Tokyo to South Korea during the 2nd week of June to check the South Korean strengths and weaknesses and watch the enemy movements through binoculars close up. The President would not have authorized troop movements without MacArthurs and the Defense Dpt. recomendations. I do agree with you the "Old Soldier" was fired because he publicly disagreed with Truman's decision not to go north to Yalu. MacArthur was definitely out of control and wanted more power than Truman. I think he was eyeing the White House.

Hank:

Mark

On June 30, 1950 President Truman and the United Nation authorized US ground forces to stop the invasion of North Korea onto South Korean soil.   The USSR had assured President Truman that they will not intervene.  That is why the Soviets boycotted the UN.  I believe General MacArthur had a lot to say about Truman's and the UN decision to employ US troops.  The General personally flew from Tokyo to South Korea during the 2nd week of June to check the South Korean strengths and weaknesses and watch the enemy movements through binoculars close up. The President would not have authorized troop movements without MacArthurs and the Defense Dpt. recomendations. I do agree with you the "Old Soldier" was fired because he publicly disagreed with Truman's decision not to go north to Yalu. MacArthur was definitely out of control and wanted more power than Truman. I think he was eyeing the White House.

Hank,

I really don't know what you are saying here. NK attacked the South. US troop movements were in the southern direction because they were in full retreat (bugging out is a better description). The Soviets did not boycott the UN Security Council because they wanted the UN to vote to go to war against NK, they were boycotting because the UN would not admit communist China. NK did approach the Soviets prior to their invasion to seek approval, which Stalin did and even equipped and trained the NK's. Truman was so incensed at the communist aggression, he didn't even consult Congress before going to the UN. Truman himself decided to invade North Korea. He fired his Sec of Def because American troops were not ready to go to war. The first troops out of Japan were occupation troops and were not properly equipped or trained. MacArthur's landing at Inchon and drive north was implementing Truman's policy. China was supplying NK forces and MacArthur wanted to attack those supply lines. Truman said no, so MacArthur went public. That is why he was fired. It had nothing to do with troop buildups or "invading" North Korea. Truman wanted that.

Mark