Robert McNamara dies...

**Arreo** · 07-06-09, 02:42 PM

Former secretary of defence under John F Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and architect of the Vietnam War died today at the age of 93.

Say what you want about the Vietnam war and how fucked up it was. But go watch the documentary "Fog of War" in which McNamara talks very, very frankly about how he and others screwed up the Vietnam War. Not only how Vietnam was wrong, but how war in general but be carefully thought out with in advance with clear, winnable objectives and respect for one's enemy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YONEXPMVaQM

I do not agree with the majority of his actions as SecDef, but he has shown himself to be a thoughtful and profoundly moral person.

He will be missed.

**Toker** · 07-06-09, 02:45 PM

A big salute here... Check out his documentary if you haven't already, great film...

**Arreo** · 07-06-09, 02:46 PM

His 11 lessons as laid out in the documentary are as follows:

1. Empathize with your enemy
2. Rationality will not save us
3. There's something beyond one's self
4. Maximize efficiency
5. Proportionality should be a guideline in war
6. Get the data
7. Belief and seeing are often both wrong
8. Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning
9. In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil
10. Never say never
11. You can't change human nature

**Tractorpull** · 07-07-09, 01:20 AM

I loved that documentary. If you really want to watch it, it is on google video somewhere.

**Tractorpull** · 12-30-09, 01:35 AM

epic bumping this even though I generally hate epic bumps

I just watched The Fog of War again and I really think the lessons taught in this documentary need to be understood by America today. The documentary is available for free on google videos here

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...8864462752804#

if you have some time I urge you to watch this. It is very well made and thoughtful and may shake your entire understanding of the world.

**ALPINESTAR** · 12-30-09, 02:42 AM

I wanna say I saw this video a couple years ago in a political science class.. Hmm if i get some time maybe ill check it out again... or for the first time

**jason_jinx** · 12-30-09, 06:44 AM

I have not see the doc but I will check it out.

**ems_goof** · 12-30-09, 07:35 AM

You know, I missed this when it was first posted. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. McNamara and spend a few hours with him a couple years ago. He was one of the most articulate, intelligent, and nice people I'd had the opportunity to meet. Regardless of opinions of his political career, he was a great person.