1:42:07
The formal resistance,
I believe...
1:42:12
should end in Korea
by Thanksgiving.
1:42:16
And now that we've authorized military operations
above the parallel,
1:42:20
do you include North Korea
in that estimate? Yes, I do.
1:42:23
By the time I'm finished, we should
have the entire peninsula under control.
1:42:27
General, you do understand the
limitations on your directive...
1:42:30
from the Joint Chiefs
of Staff?
1:42:32
No military operations beyond
the Chinese and Soviet borders...
1:42:37
and no American troops
near those borders.
1:42:40
Yes, I believe I understand
that directive fully...
1:42:43
and our boys should be home
by Christmas, Mr. President,
1:42:46
provided that Red China
stays out of the conflict.
1:42:51
Well, I'm glad
to hear that, General.
1:42:53
I've got the whole
United Nations on my back.
1:42:56
A couple dozen members have got troops under you
in Korea,
1:42:59
and the bunch of them are scared stiff
that we're pushing them into World War III.
1:43:03
There's no doubt that Stalin's
pact with Mao Tse-tung...
1:43:05
pledges that the Soviet A-bomb backs the
Chinese if we should tangle with them.
1:43:10
You mentioned Chinese intervention.
Is there any chance of that?
1:43:13
Mr. President,
you must have...
1:43:16
more complete intelligence
on that matter than I have.
1:43:19
- Anything that I would say would be purely speculative.
- Of course.
1:43:23
I'm sure that you
also realize that...
1:43:25
any question
involving China...
1:43:27
requires a political evaluation,
not simply a military one.
1:43:31
Our intelligence
on the Chinese is limited.
1:43:35
They're believed to have
about 300,000 men in Manchuria,
1:43:40
but I doubt they could get more than 50,000 across
the Yalu River.
1:43:44
They'd be highly vulnerable
to our air attacks.
1:43:47
So in my opinion, the chances
of Red intervention...
1:43:52
are minimal.
1:43:54
And if they were to try
to get down to the parallel,
1:43:56
they'd be walking into disaster,
a crushing defeat.