[Rhodes22-list] Politics: How's It Going?

[DCLewis1 at aol.com]

Herb,
 
Re a plan for the end of WWII prior  to the end of WWII, I believe if  you 
read reports of the Yalta conference it was pretty much mapped out  
geographically and geo-politically.  American units were deployed and  operations were 
timed explicitly to be sure we got our agreed territory vice a  land grab by the 
Soviets.  Additionally, units were identified to occupy  Germany (and I might 
add sufficient and appropriate units, none of this better,  faster, cheaper 
crap, we had boots on the ground).  
 
Additionally, I believe MacArthur had a plan for occupying Japan via the  
existing Emperor based government.  It was not a case of  his standing  on the 
deck of the Missouri in Tokyo bay and wondering aloud "Jeez guys, waddya  think 
we ought to do now?".  The need to occupy was clear, explicit  problems with 
any occupation had been identified (which I believe is  why we kept the emperor 
on) and units were available (again, sufficient  units).  
 
But we actually it through back then, that's what's different.
 
Dave