1:47:02
The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
1:47:06
I requested permission to bomb
the Chinese airfields in Manchuria.
1:47:10
The request was denied.
1:47:12
I requested permission for hot
pursuit of enemy aircraft...
1:47:15
into their privileged sanctuary
above the Yalu.
1:47:18
That request was denied.
1:47:20
I requested permission to bomb the Yalu
bridges to keep the Chinese out of Korea.
1:47:24
They said,
1:47:26
you might bomb...
1:47:28
the southern half
of the bridges only.
1:47:31
In my 50 years
of military service...
1:47:35
I have never learned
how to bomb half a bridge!
1:47:43
It's the most imbecilic order ever
given to a commander in the field.
1:47:52
This...
1:47:54
is appeasement.
1:47:56
Unless some positive and
immediate action can be taken,
1:47:59
we should withdraw
our forces to Japan.
1:48:02
Forgive me, sir,
but...
1:48:05
there are some of those
back home who believe...
1:48:07
that it's possible to regain
the offensive without...
1:48:10
well, without danger
of widening the war.
1:48:13
Without widening the war?
1:48:19
Well, the 8th Army is Ridgway's
now. He can do what he likes.
1:48:24
It won't do any good.
1:48:26
For the first time
in military history...
1:48:30
a commander has been denied
the use of his military power...
1:48:35
to safeguard the lives of his
soldiers and the safety of his army.
1:48:40
It leaves me with a sense
of inexpressible... shock.
1:48:50
Well, hallelujah. Matt Ridgway's
retaken Seoul. What'd I tell you?
1:48:56
I wish I could celebrate...