Tom the exterminator

[Michael Hoover]

>>> mpollak at panix.com 04/09/02 20:33 PM >>>
The original plan of containment that went
with this economic plan was laid out by George Kennan in the famous memo by "X" in Foreign Affairs on year earlier, 
But Korea changed all that.  And Korea could have been greatly limited in its impact had it none been for our sudden and capricious commitment to
defend Taiwan.  
Michael
<<<<<>>>

hi michael, been awhile, electoral college stuff last time as i recall...

re. korea, most significant factor was truman's decision to sustain war, soviets proposed end in '51 on terms much like u.s. accepted 2 yrs later, quick end would have made it more difficult to implement nsc-68 militarism...

re. kennan, he initially opposed nsc-68 on grounds that soviet foreign policy was driven by geo-political/economic goals rather than 'revolutionism' and then changed view to altering it to get rid of hyperbole and apocalyptic character...doubtful how much u.s. policy would have differed had kennan (and charles bohlen) prevailed since his opposition was constrained, in any event, he was isolated by other, more powerful government officials who had connections to democratic party leadership and corporate sector... michael hoover