Re: Muccio-Rhee

[<Jhk789@aol.com>]

In a message dated 1/29/2002 10:46:11 AM Pacific Standard Time, DanFahey@DanSources.com writes:


> General Chiang offered Rhee help in 1949?
> Wow. what happened?  What was the USA doing at this time.


It was not just an offer. A better word would be that they
conspired together on how to start a counter-offensive and roll back
communism in East Asia. Rhee wanted to attack the North
and Chiang wanted to invade mainland China through Korea.
So Chiang was willing to send his troops and Air Force to
S.Korea for the general attack. Apparently their plan did
not go anywhere due to the opposition of Muccio & other
State Dept. officials who did not want to start a WW III.
However, it appears MAC was supportive of Rhee-Chiang's
plan. This difference in anti-communist strategy continued on
until MAC was finally fired by Truman in 1951.

Does anyone know how strong Chiang's Air Force in 8/1949?

John2