The Wrong War: American Policy and the Dimensions of the Korean Conflict, 1950-1953

In 1951, General Omar Bradley stated that a war with China would be the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy. Rosemary Foot's book reveals the debate over expansion and the strains it caused within the U.S. bureaucracy and between America and its North Atlantic allies. She also demonstrates that the Eisenhower administration nearly unleashed nuclear weapons on China in 1953 due to the Korean war's potential to grow into a conflict of major proportions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In 1951, General Omar Bradley boldly asserted that a war with China would be an ill-advised endeavor, as it would involve the United States in a conflict at the wrong time, place, and with the wrong enemy. Despite the U.S.'s initial intentions to prevent the spread of the Korean conflict, the debate surrounding extending the war was far more intense and prolonged than previously believed. Rosemary Foot delves into the critical discussion on expansion, shedding light on the strains it created within the U.S. bureaucracy and between America and its North Atlantic allies. Through her analysis, Foot provides valuable new insights into the U.S. government's assessment of Sino-Soviet relations between 1950 and 1953, highlighting that a significant portion of U.S. officials came to recognize the limited support the Soviet Union offered to China. Furthermore, she demonstrates why the Eisenhower administration nearly resorted to using nuclear weapons against China in the spring of 1953, emphasizing that the Korean war had the potential to escalate into a major conflict if the Chinese and North Koreans had not resolved the final issue of the truce talks, specifically the voluntary repatriation of prisoners of war.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501772061