T. V. Soon Quotes
We have proved that we can fight longer than any other people who are fighting on the democratic side—that given the arms we can really finish the job. We have stuck for five years.
Soong's brothers-in-law were Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. He split with Chiang when he realized that Chiang was interested only of strengthening his power and fighting Mao and the Chinese Communists rather than the Japanese who occupied key parts of China. However, the Chinese had been fighting the Japanese for over 5 years and had while Japan occupied parts of Chine, they Japanese were still pinned down fighting the Chinese Communists, the American Volunteer Flying Tigers and occasional Chiang initiatives against the Japanese. Soong used the word democracy very liberally. China was divided between to power centers. Mao’s Communists and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists. Both had “elections” but the Communists were a classic one party dictatorship of the left and Chiang was a classic dictator of the right. However, both were allies of the United States and enemies of Fascist Japan.
T. V. Soon, 1894–1971, Chinese Nationalist Minister of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank of China, Original Chinese Delegate to the United Nations, Business Man, Letter to OSS Director William Donovan, 1941
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Adams is quoting from Cato, a play by Joseph Addison.
The Americans had attacked the Belgian city of Brest and had been repulsed by a well fortified and led German contingent. Analysis of the wartime situation showed that Brest, a port city was no longer necessary for the Allied supplies as numerous other ports were taken and were available. Many of the officers wondered why Bradley wanted them to attack and defeat the Germans in Brest when all they had to do was surround them and eventually starve them out. Bradley’s response explained a subtle aspect of military and foreign policy. It is that the United States Army, once committed, will never be defeated or stopped. Had the Americans not already attempted to take Brest, they would not have bothered at this stage of the war, but since they had, it was imperative that they succeed. Otherwise, it was felt that Allies and enemies would not take future American threats as seriously and that the morale of American soldiers would even be affected if they thought they could be beaten. A similar problem occurred in the Vietnam War and later in the Iraq war. Once the short term military necessity of fighting was gone, the long-term factors came into play and often will. Others argue that the United States military is so strong and well equipped, that it no longer necessary to take casualties just to prove a psychological point.
The Muslims conquered Spain and controlled it to one extent or another for 600 years.
The general was expressing a principle that is believed to this day by many policy makers, military people and civilians: Once a war has begun, one must not stop it until victory has been attained. It is unacceptable to negotiate an end to hostilities unless the enemy has been badly beaten on the battlefield. There is this view that “honor” would be lost and that enemies and even allies will not respect you and think the nation is weak and fearful. So there would always be extensive pressure to keep on fighting and not negotiate until there is a military dominant position.
This quotation gives us a concept of the WWII home front effort where virtually everyone in American society was personally involved on a daily basis in the war. See also {637440}. This was so dramatically different from the home fronts for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq where most of the American public had no direct contact with the war effort and was not called upon or even needed to do anything.
He always appeared in a military uniform after that.
