Finally saw "The Fog of War" doc.

[AlCzervik]

It was pretty interesting and looked like it had a fairly large budget. I had no idea about the life and career of McNamara prior to hiom being Sec. Of Defense. I found myself really liking him one moment and in another wanting to kick his ass. Anyhow, it was worth seeing if anyone is interested.

[baby_bear]

1. Let me ask you, chimpsrsmarter

I have not seen the film, but Frank Rich's article, as I recall, from the NYTimes, made clear that McNamara knew THREE FULL YEARS before we pulled out that the war was a lost cause (and therefore that American soldiers were dying in vain), but he just couldn't figure out how to pull out with pride intact. Is that what you got from the film?

I was so shocked and incensed when I read that. I thought, if I had lost someone in that war during those last three years, well, I would think McNamara should be awfully careful in dark alleys.

What also shocks me is that I have run across no one else who read that. And I'm not even sure if it is from the film or Mc's book. Either way, why aren't people up in arms, and making the obvious comparisons to what is happening now?

I have all respect and admiration and sympathy for those men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan now; absolutely; but I fear the Bush administration is using a cost:benefit calculation that counts those precious lives are almost worthless. That makes me sick. And it's enough all by itself to get this administration into the unemployment line.

s_m

[AlCzervik]

2. yes, alot of that what i got

hence wanting to kick his ass. There were same oval office tapes made between he and LBJ saying basically that the people won't support you if you talk about the war, we have no exit strategy. It was like almost a mirror of whats going on today. In some parts i really did like him, or maybe i had pity on him, i'm not sure. He stikes me as very guilt ridden and very sorry but still arrogant if that makes sense.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. IIRC, that is from the Pentagon Papers

Not only McNamara, but everyone up and down the whole DOD knew it, they just were not sharing it with the Uniformed side of the department.