David Halberstam Quotes
Other men would … have to pay for that terrible arrogance and vainglory.
See {615887} for one of the general’s statements illustrating his hubris.
David Halberstam, 1934-2007, Journalist & Writer, Reference to the hubris of General Douglas MacArthur in his Korean blunder that caused the Chinese to enter the war, The Coldest Winter, 2007
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
MacArthur’s solders had just executed a brilliant landing at Inchon cutting the North Korean forces. MacArthur, a man of great hubris, assured everyone that such a bold military stroke would certainly intimidate the Chinese Communists keeping them out of the conflict. He declared victory, and was more surprised than most when the Chinese did just the opposite of what he had assured they would do. Their troops crossed the Yalu river and attacked the American forces who suffered terrible casualties. The war was not over and the Third Division did not make it back to Fort Benning for Christmas. Many of the men never made it back at all. It would be over 50 years before another American official declared victory and when President George W. Bush did so in the Iraq War, the nation suffered the same fate—the victim of official leadership hubris.
- Born: April 10, 1934
- Died: April 23, 2007
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Journalist, Historian, Writer
David Halberstam was an American writer, journalist, and historian, known for his work on the Vietnam War, politics, history, the Civil Rights Movement, business, media, American culture, and later, sports journalism. He won a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 1964. Halberstam was killed in a car crash in 2007, while doing research for a book.
