Words on the War
Our military success creates the danger of “victory disease.” During the Korean War, Gen. MacArthur’s daring amphibious landing at Inchon sent North Korea’s forces reeling into retreat. That sudden success led U.S. leaders to abandon the original objective of expelling North Korea from the south in favor of the larger goal of reunifying the country. This led directly to Chinese intervention and two more years of war, with far greater losses. Similar temptations are likely to emerge in the gulf, and must be resisted.--Stephen M. Walt, political scientist, University of Chicago
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