ABLE: What is your response to the steadfastness of MacArthur’s insistence on the Inchon landing? How does it change, had the mission gone otherwise?

MacArthur’s insistence on the Inchon landing was vital in his mind because he realized that he had limited ground forces at his disposal and that attacking from further south in an attempt to reclaim Seoul would prove too costly. Also, if he landed his forces at Inchon, he could support them while attempting to reclaim Seoul in an effort that would greatly bolster the morale of his forces and effectively cut the supply chains of the NKPA.

Had the mission gone otherwise, I think it would have been difficult to quickly consolidate his forces and prepare for another attack. It could have destroyed his offensive momentum and prolonged the conflict further, causing him to lose the initiative.