TAIWAN: Should be very concerned

I read in the last Armed Forces Dispatch that the U.S. is “committed to Taiwan’s defense.” Remember the three-year Korean War ending in an armistice dividing that country and its people because we didn’t finish the job and chase three million Chinese back across the Yalu River? 36,516 Americans and 137,899 South Koreans died in vain.

Remember the Vietnam War ending in defeat because we didn’t finish the job and 57,939 Americans and 200,000 to 250,000 South Vietnamese died in vain after 15 years of war? We turned tail and ran on that awful day.

Remember the 20-year war (our longest ever) in Afghanistan where 2,456 Americans and 176,000 Afghans perished in vain and, again, we turned tail and ran abandoning huge stockpiles of modern equipment and leaving the people to face the Taliban alone? Women, Christians and those who befriended us face horrible persecution and even death.

Taiwan’s active military of 163,000 is facing China’s 2,155,000 across 100 miles of water. What do you think the chances are that the U.S. would get involved and WIN? Our track record is terrible.

Do you realize that most, if not all, of the wars of the 20th century and since were begun under Democratic presidents? Were they perceived as anti-war or weak — or peace at any price? FDR resisted getting involved until it was almost too late. Check it out. I well remember gathering in our school gym to hear MacArthur’s farewell speech after Truman fired him for wanting to chase the Communist Chinese back across the Yalu River and win the war.

JIM KORVER

Formerly of Post Falls