On War - General Douglas MacArthur

Excerpts from MacArthur’s speech before Joint Session of Congress, April 19, 1951

Efforts have been made to distort my position. It has been said in effect that I was a warmonger. Nothing could be further from the truth. I know war as few other men now living know it, and nothing to me is more revolting . . . But once war is forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision.

In war there is no substitute for victory.

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 new and bloodier war. It points to no single instance where this end has justified that means, where appeasement had led to more than a sham peace.


General Douglas MacArthur on American Policy and the War in Korea

The American tradition had always been that once our troops are committed to battle, the full power and means of the nation would be mobilized and dedicated to the strategic course which would make that victory possible. Not by the wildest stretch of the imagination did I dream that this tradition might be broken. (Reminiscences 334-335)

from http://www.classicalideals.com/Japan%201945.htm