Let me hear your voice level to make sure its the same. The soundtrack of the movie the fog of war features the life of former secretary of defense robert mcnamara. How robert mcnamara came to regret the war he escalated. In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil. The story of america as seen through the eyes of the former secretary of defense under president john f. Jun 18, 2006 the history channel has recently reaired errol morris acclaimed documentary the fog of war in which morris interviews former secretary of defense robert mcnamara and attempts to draw lessons. In lesson one, mcnamara describes how empathizing with the enemy1 can lead to the swift end of a crisis, as well as to help to figure out the next moves.
The film was directed by errol morris and features an original score by philip glass. Robert mcnamara simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In war, the only certainty is that nothing is certain. Mcnamara is a 2003 errol morris documentary consisting mostly of interviews with robert mcnamara and archival footage.
In a particularly inspired use of archival footage during errol morris masterful documentary the fog of war, the devastating firebombs rained down on japan in wwii are suddenly transformed into a cluster of numbers dropping from the skies. See more ideas about the fog of war, war and robert mcnamara. The fog of war, combined with human unpredictability, can create outcomes or present opportunities that no one could predict. The title derives from the military concept of the fog of war. How much responsibility does robert mcnamara deserve for the. He played a major role in escalating the united states involvement in the vietnam war. May 24, 2011 the film examines the life and work of robert mcnamara, architect of the vietnam war. The particular structure of this personal account is accomplished with the characteristics of an intimate. Fog of war, mcnamara, war, kennedy, errol morris it is the story of america as seen through the eyes of the former secretary of defense, robert s. One of the most controversial and influential figures in world politics, he takes us on an insiders view of the seminal events of the 20th century.
Mcnamara illustrated edition by blight, james isbn. The gulf war volume iv lessons of modern war read full. His apparent contrition never silenced his critics, though, who considered him a war. He did not start the war, but deserves credit for screwing it up by applying experience at ford motor to try to run it profit and loss style using the latest management best practices of the day. In 1965, mcnamara called the war in vietnam a battle of this. Sep 14, 2009 an extract from an interview with robert s mcnamara who was secretary of defense during the vietnam war. The fog of war eleven lessons from the life of robert s. Robert mcnamara, jfklbj and the gulf of tonkin resolution. Mcnamara was a truthful, but limited, account of the major eventsevents ranging from the great depression, world war 2, cuban missile crisis, vietnam war, and the cold war that the united states took part in during the twentieth century fog. The piece is a mix between historical footage and an interview with robert mcnamara by the director, errol morris. Mcnamara illustrating his observations of the nature of modern warfare.
It showed his life to be dramatic and traumatic in many different ways. Nov 28, 2017 robert mcnamara during an interview in his office in 1967. Mcnamara by nick grothaus the fog of war is a film about the life and times of robert s. Robert mcnamara explains events that pulled america into the vietnam war with the assassination of president kennedy and the reversal of kennedys withdrawl policies, culminating with the gulf of. Former corporate whiz kid robert mcnamara was the controversial secretary of defense in the kennedy and johnson administrations, during the height of the vietnam war. At my age, 85, im at an age where i can look back and derive some conclusions about my actions.
Mcnamara, the former secretary of defense under the kennedy and johnson administrations. Kennedy administration of 19611963, robert mcnamara had important influence on the early escalation in. Berkeley near the end of fog of war, errol morriss documentary about robert mcnamaras examination of his role in the wars of the 20th century, mcnamara shares his philosophy for dealing with the press. The film examines the life and work of robert mcnamara, architect of the vietnam war. Jul 06, 2009 former defense secretary robert mcnamara, who died monday at age 93, offered an appraisal of the vietnam war in the 2003 documentary the fog of war. His thoughts are organized as 11 lessons from the life of robert mcnamara, as extrapolated by morris, and one wonders how the current planners of the war in iraq would respond to lessons no. Mcnamara war is so complex, beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend all the variables.
The film, the fog of war, is about a life experience of robert mcnamara who is a former secretary of defense, president of ford motor company, and president of world bank. Mcnamara was responsible for the institution of systems. Such programs are often based on reason, and will be relatively ineffective in the early dwvid of an insurgency when passion is the prime mover, but as the conflict progresses and the pragmatic implications of the war become the the prime mover, rational programs which improve the. Remembering robert mcnamara nbc nightly news, new york, ny. Mcnamara reflects back on his life and shares 11 lessons he had learned as he lived and served during one of the most dark times of human history. We and you ought not to pull on the ends of a rope which you have tied the knots of war. It chronicled mcnamara s world war ii experience targeting cities for fire bombings, and the staggering toll of civilian deaths. Mcnamara lived another six after that, dying in his sleep on july 6, 2009, at the age of 93. A gripping documentary accompaniment to the fog of war, the collaboration of mcnamara and morris, and blight and lang, is destined to eclipse graham allisons essence of decision with an altogether darker, and even more equivocal vision. Aug 12, 20 this entry was posted in documentaries, foreign policy, history and tagged data, datadriven decisionmaking, decisionmaking, ford motor company, lesson 6, robert mcnamara, seatbelts, tet offensive, the fog of war, the fog of war analysis, vietcong, vietnam war by rites of patches.
Berkeley near the end of fog of war, errol morriss documentary about robert mcnamara s examination of his role in the wars of the 20th century, mcnamara shares his philosophy for dealing with the press. I personally thought the movie was a tad bit on the boring side, but it was a. Aug 12, 20 this entry was posted in documentaries, foreign policy, history and tagged dresden firebombing, evil, genocide, kent state massacre, killing, lesson 9, norman morrison, robert mcnamara, the fog of war, the fog of war analysis, the pentagon, tokyo firebombing, vietnam war, world war ii by rites of patches. I suspect history will not look kindly upon either, but i cant walk away from fog of war judging mcnamara too harshly, while rumsfleds film just solidified my view of him as an amoral monster. His opinions, policies, and actions have led to a firestorm of debate, ignited most recently by errol morriss academy awardwinning film, the fog of war.
For most of my adult life, i blamed mcnamara for everything that went wrong in vietnam and held him personally accountable for the deaths of 58,000 americans and 100,000s of vietnamese. The lessons he learned and shared during the documentary movie were truly astounding to me. Mark danner in conversation with robert mcnamara and errol morris. The fog of war is a 20th century fable, a story of an american dreamer who rose from humble origins to the heights of political power. May 08, 20 what robert mcnamara essentially describes in the fog of war, at least in the first five lessons, is the best way to achieve an end to war with minimal losses of both humans and resources. He reflects on his part in the bombing of tokyo, the cuban missile crisis, and the vietnam war. Mcnamara, morris and the fog of war filmmaker errol morris focuses on history through the eyes of a single man in the fog of war. Robert mcnamara, the fog of war sincerely, susan graseck, director the. Nov 29, 2016 eight years after that editorial was written, fog of war premiered.
Dec 20, 2003 mcnamara, morris and the fog of war filmmaker errol morris focuses on history through the eyes of a single man in the fog of war. His department absorbs 10% of the national income of this country, and over half of every tax dollar. Mcnamara, in full robert strange mcnamara, born june 9, 1916, san francisco, california, u. This academy awardwinning documentary, augmented by archival footage, gives the conflicted mcnamara a platform on which he attempts to confront his and the u. Mcnamaras earliest memories include armistice day in 1918, marking the emergence of the united states to the heights of international power. This symposium responds to errol morriss documentary film the fog of war about the life of robert s. Learn more about the 1995 hanoi conference, when mcnamara met with vietnamese general vo nguyen giap, in argument without end. After being an executive at ford motor company, mcnamara served as defense secretary from 1961 to 1968, during the vietnam war under presidents john f.
Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth united states secretary of defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under presidents john f. Morris is notably effective in presenting the historical context for mcnamara s career. I can recall even in the late 50s when lemay laid down what were his priorities for new weapons systems a replacement for, a successor for the b52 was very high on his list and ballistic missiles were lower on his list. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Years later, it was a haunted mcnamara who appeared in errol morris acclaimed documentary, the fog of war. Mcnamara mentions, seemingly in passing, that he learned very early to never say never. Mcnamara, a member of the harvard faculty in his youth, says in the film that his commitment always has been. Robert mcnamara simple english wikipedia, the free. While allowing mcnamara to tell the story from his perspective, morris also divides the film into eleven lessons that can be.
Former defense secretary robert mcnamara, who died monday at age 93, offered an appraisal of the vietnam war in the 2003 documentary the fog of war. This film could have been titled the evil that men do. The man is former secretary of defense robert mcnamara, whose. Mcnamara is one of modern americas most controversial figures. His job has been called the toughest in washington, and mcnamara is the most controversial figure that has ever held the job. Dont answer the question they asked, the former secretary of defense 19601968 advises with a smile. While allowing mcnamara to tell the story from his perspective, morris also. Rumsfeld in contrast seems utterly incapable of introspection, regret, or remorse. Mcnamara and eleven lessons for american foreign policy. Mcnamara was both witness to and participant in many of the crucial events of the 20th century. Mcnamara was a much hated and rabid anticommunist who dedicated his life to u. My rule has been to try to learn, try to understand what happened. The fog of war is a film about the life and times of robert s.
It went on to win the academy award for documentary feature. The gulf war volume iv lessons of modern war ebook. Lang is adjunct associate professor of international relations research at brown. Eight years after that editorial was written, fog of war premiered. Mcnamara died in washington dc in july 2009, aged 93, and was buried at arlington national cemetery. War ii where he had been the commander of a very large and very effective bomber forces. In 2003 mcnamara appeared in a television documentary, the fog of war, where he explained his decisions and admitted his failures during the vietnam war. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and former united states secretary of defense. Mark danner in conversation with robert mcnamara and errol morris duration. More fog of war official website synopsis watch clip storyboards academy awards acceptance speech fog of war glossary mcnamara gallery b29 cluster layout fog of war vs. Robert mcnamara, errol morris return to berkeley to share. See more ideas about robert mcnamara, the fog of war and john f kennedy. Reducing the risk of conflict, killing, and catastrophe in the 21st century with robert s.
A battle for the hearts and minds of the vietnamese people. Mcnamara and the pentagon harry reasoner this is the secretary of defense of the united states, robert mcnamara. Because the more the two of us pull, the tighter the knot will be tied. Directors statement the fog of war is a 20th century fable, a story of an american dreamer who rose from humble origins to the heights of political power. The fog of war the fog of war is a documentary that features robert mcnamara. Mcnamara is a documentary that features the life and the role played by the then us secretary of defense robert s. Morris is notably effective in presenting the historical context for mcnamaras career. On the morning of july 6, vietnam war criminal robert mcnamara died at the age of 93. Robert mcnamara and lessons from the fog of war bills us.
Our judgement, our understanding are not adequate, and we kill people unnecessarily. Opinion rethinking mcnamaras war the new york times. Robert mcnamara 1916 during the late 60s, many americans change their opinion of the vietnam war, gradually becoming opposed to the policies they once supported. From the fog of war if we cant persuade nations with comparable values of the merits of. The documentary also illustrates the observation of how modern warfare should be carried. The fog of war, winner of the academy award for best documentary, is the story of america as seen through the eyes of the former secretary of defense, robert s. Mcnamara was in so much as a great representation of the life of robert s. Rumsfeld seemed to step into the confessional and proceed to spin everything he had done.
The fog of war felt almost like mcnamara in a confessional, bearing his soul, sharing the lessons he had learned, and admitting some of his mistakes. Mcnamara s earliest memories include armistice day in 1918, marking the emergence of the united states to the heights of international power. Although i remain conflicted over our involvement in vietnam, the fog of war has caused me to begin to reassess my longheld animus against mcnamara. This entry was posted in documentaries, foreign policy, history and tagged data, datadriven decisionmaking, decisionmaking, ford motor company, lesson 6, robert mcnamara, seatbelts, tet offensive, the fog of war, the fog of war analysis, vietcong, vietnam war by rites of patches. Mcnamara is a 2003 american documentary film about the life and times of former u.
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