There are some who for varying reasons would appease Red China. They are blind to history’s clear lesson, for history teaches with unmistakable emphasis that appeasement but begets newer and bloodier wars. It points to no single instance where this end has justified that means, where appeasement has led to more than a sham peace. The quote above is from Douglas MacArthur’s “Farewell Address” to a joint session of Congress on April 19, 1951. He had just been dismissed by President Harry S. Truman as the commander of American forces in the Korean War . MacArthur was a war hawk, there can be little doubt about that. He was also a fierce cold warrior who wanted to stop communism in its tracks in all corners of the globe. The passage about appeasement suggests that giving into the enemy or making concessions to the enemy is a policy that will not meet the objective of peace. He believes that by granting the enemy their way at any point, the end result will be that they will demand more in the future. MacArthur likens conciliation with your adversary to becoming victims of blackmail. He believes the rival will keep asking for more until you have no choice but to fight a war that will be more violent. It will be more violent because you have given the enemy time to recover and your opposition will feel emboldened.

6 0

3 years ago