The Big Bunglers

["DONALD KILMER" <donskil@msn.com>]

It is generally believed that the U.S. made an serious mistake in early 1950 by

making public announcements about a U.S. defensive line in the western Pacific,

which did not include Korea.   These announcements by Acheson and Truman

were believed in Pyongyang, Beijing, and Moscow, resulting in Pyongyang getting

the green light to launch its invasion of South Korea.

Then Truman, against the advice of a chorus of "doves" in his administration, decided

to defend Korea, after all.

It turns out, as described in the Venona papers, that the upper echelons of the

Democratic Party were riddled with Soviet agents, including some in the administration.

I am unaware of any connection between the Soviet agents and the original

policy itself.  I suspect, however, that the connection, if it existed, would have been in the form of misinterpretation provided by agents -- leading to the Communists'

false belief that the U.S. would not respond.

Anyone care to shed light on this situation?

 

Thanks,

 

Don