In International Deathmatch, I write:
"During the Korean War (1950-1953), US and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese."I've been raked over the coals - kimchee-hauled, if you will - for that gaffe. The most concise off my ass-kickings reads thus:
"North Korea was (as you pointed out) a Soviet endorsed operation, which the Chinese were not so interested in, except to say to the Americans "don't get too close to the Yalu river (border)". So what did General Douglas 'lets nuke Beijing and Pacify all of Asia' McArthur do? Yep, he got too close to the Yalu river, and then got pushed straight back to the 38th parallel by the Chinese. China only entered the war right near the end of 1950; the whole thing was nearly over without Chinese involvement, but note that they weren't the aggressors."I stand chastised. I should never have used the CIA world factbook as my only source. A greater lesson on the pervasiveness of the American point of view? More likely a comment on my tardiness. Nevertheless, to my corrector goes a bottle of red!