The hidden history of the Korean War, 1950-1951 (A Nonconformist history of our times)

In 1945 US troops arrived in Korea for what would become America’s longest-lasting conflict. While history books claim without equivocation that the war lasted from 1950 to 1953, those who have actually served there know better. By closely analyzing US intelligence before June 25, 1950 (the war’s official start), and the actions of key players like John Foster Dulles, General Douglas MacArthur, and Chiang Kai-shek, the great investigative reporter I. F. Stone demolishes the official story of America’s “forgotten war” by shedding new light on the tangled sequence of events that led to it. Contents Preface Author’s Preface Part I. How The War Began 1 Was It a Surprise? 2 The Silence of Seoul 3 Connollys Warning 4 The Role of John Foster Dulle 5 Chiang’s Pilgrimage 6 Time Was Short 7 The Stage Was Set 8 “. . . Only in Very Rough Outline Form” 9 Willoughby Exposes MacArthur 10 “The Best Army in Asia" Part II. THe U.N. Gets a Commander It Can’t Command 11 Classic Incident 12 Stampeding the United Nations 13 MacArthur’s Blank Check 14 MacArthur and Mack Sennett 15 Peace Alarums Part III. Hating War But Fearing Peace 16 Reversal on the Parallel 17 Free Elections? 18 First Warnings 19 The U.N.’s Dilemma 20 A Sudden Change in Plans 21 Mystery at Wake Island Part IV. Cordial Invitation - To Disaster 22 Twin Dangers 23 Mr. Truman Keeps Cool 24 The China Lobby Responds 25 Peking Suspects 26 Home-By-Christmas 27 Danger on the Thames 28 Anti-Peace Offensive Part V. Phantom Warfare 29 The Enemy Was Horrid 30 .. . Like a Poorly Made Fire 31 Phantom Battle 32 Seoul Abandoned Again Part VI. War as Politics 33 Hiding the Lull 34 Lost and Found 35 The Deadly Parallel Again 36 MacArthur Upsets the Applecart Part VII. Stalemate and Truce Talks 37 Why MacArthur Was Fired 38 “Every Time Stalin Smiles” 39 Cease-Fire Switch 40 Ridgwav Stands “Firm” 41 Postponing Peace Again 42 “The Dreaded Softening Process” 43 Talks on Whether to Talk 44 Ridgway's Own Iron Curtain 45 Atrocities to the Rescue 46 Weird Statistics 47 Six Months of Futile Slaughter 48 Van Fleet Sums Up Appendix: New Light on the Korean Mystery: Was the War No Surprise to Chiang Kai-shek? References Index