If there is one action the United States has always tried to avoid, it has been going to war with China or the Soviet Union (or Russia). The fact that we got into conflict with both on purpose is the outstanding fact that stands. These three super powers (China, United States, and Soviet Union) basically used the Koreans as puppets to do their bidding. While Americans and other counties did fight, it was more for the war against communism than civil rights of Nothern Korea. Also, the United States still engaged in battle despite lack of funds and proper equipment. The funds and arms were there, Washington just didn't want another war like World War II.

A major war, although not nearly as large as World War II, in American history that could have been avoided and/or lessened is the Korean War. In order to understand how war could have been avoided, one must look at how the war started. World War II left many things hanging. The USSR wanted various resources in the Orient for a while. One place more appealing for the Soviets was Korea. There were many resources such as seaports and hydroelectric plants available. Right after the bombing of Nagasaki, Soviets started pouring into Korea. Keeping up with the “Jones’”, the United States quickly followed and agreed with the Soviets to stay in their half, the USSR in the North and the United States in the South. “Democratic” elections quickly took place and left Syngman Rhee leading the South and Kim Il-Sung leader of the North. Washington cut all funding to Korea and left the South wide open for the North to attack (which they did). The troops already had second rate arms and almost no training compared to the Soviet-donated tanks. It was Rhee’s constant talk of invading the North that sparked Washington to cut funds. When the North finally attacked, South Korea was very unprepared. The United States entered under the sanction of the UN and sent a fleet to prevent China from taking over Formosa (Taiwan) while busy with the situation in Korea. In haste, South Koreans quickly blew up the Han River Bridge before the whole unit could cross causing many deaths and the remaining troops to retreat to Suwon while the rest of the army had already fled to Pusan. South Korea hardly held onto Pusan as budgets neared their threshold. Some of the best Marines were pulled out of Pusan and sent to Inchon to create a pincer attack on Seoul. After taking back Seoul, the United States decided to press past the 38th parallel despite warnings from China that they will defend the North.

In reality, one can find World War II quite ironic. For instance, if the League of Nations had been supported by the United States the European terrors would have been neutralized long before they were allowed to capture Poland and France. The League of Nations was actually drafted by a fellow American, President Wilson, in his Fourteen Points which later evolved into the Versailles treaty. Another ironic item of the war is the fact nobody trusted Germany, yet nobody wanted to watch them. Europe was so caught up in the fact that war might be a "thing of the past" that they didn't want to start a war hassling Germany about their arms. By the time the Great Depression shocked the world economy, everyone was so worried about their own country's affairs that they didn't bother wi

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