Had MacArthur had his way, Hiroshima would look like a safe haven compared to Pyongyang. He suggested using nukes “tactically” in North Korea to take out strategic infrastructure like bridges and tunnels. But that’s kind of like bringing a cannon to hunt sparrows. This was the US’ most celebrated general at the time on account of his success in the Pacific Theatre during WW2 and enormous success defending South Korea; what he said could really only be overruled by the President, which is ultimately what happened.
The top brass didn’t care about civilian casualties. That much is obvious when they suggest using full-blown nukes just to take out bridges.
“Immovable Object: North Korea’s 70 Years At War with American Power” by A.B. Abrams comes to mind. It mostly uses Western or SK sources and documents published/declassified and the resulting picture is so cruel you won’t sleep for nights
Had MacArthur had his way, Hiroshima would look like a safe haven compared to Pyongyang. He suggested using nukes “tactically” in North Korea to take out strategic infrastructure like bridges and tunnels. But that’s kind of like bringing a cannon to hunt sparrows. This was the US’ most celebrated general at the time on account of his success in the Pacific Theatre during WW2 and enormous success defending South Korea; what he said could really only be overruled by the President, which is ultimately what happened.
The top brass didn’t care about civilian casualties. That much is obvious when they suggest using full-blown nukes just to take out bridges.
Do you know of any books detailing all these facts? Trying to build up my knowledge collection before even these events are misrepresented.
“Immovable Object: North Korea’s 70 Years At War with American Power” by A.B. Abrams comes to mind. It mostly uses Western or SK sources and documents published/declassified and the resulting picture is so cruel you won’t sleep for nights