The Fog of War: A-
BY PATRICIA DRAZNIN
SWEEPING THE 2004 ACADEMY AWARD for Best Documentary, The
Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara is ripe with
insider information and moral reflection from one of America’s most influential
and controversial political figures, Robert S. McNamara. Bursting with lucidity
and vitality at the young age of 85, McNamara recalls his colorful life with
gusto, including his seven years of service as Secretary of Defense under Kennedy
and Johnson. He shares highlights from his humble beginnings, becoming a Harvard
professor, the President of Ford Motor Company, and serving on President Kennedy’s
Cabinet.
Assertively pointing his finger at the camera, the animated McNamara
elucidates some of the little known strategies of WWII and the Cold War.
We get a glimpse into the minds of decision makers like General Curtis
LeMay. We learn how the resolution of the Cuban missile crisis came from
a subordinate official who understood the mind of Khrushchev. And we gain
insight into America’s misconceptions about defending Vietnam that
almost brought the United States to ruin.
Veteran filmmaker Errol Morris interviewed McNamara for the PBS series
First Person but accumulated enough footage to produce this feature
documentary. Using blackouts between cuts and yelling his questions
from beyond the camera, Morris creates the look and feel of a home movie.
And using his own innovative interview technique, Morris projects his
image on a monitor above the camera lens for McNamara to address, capturing
the power and intensity of sustained eye contact throughout the film.
“The fog of war” refers to the complex business of waging
war that is too huge for the human mind to grasp. The ultimate vision
comes from the hindsight that comes long after the war is over, complete
with its truths, regrets, and twinges of conscience. It is this personal
reflection that McNamara elaborates in his 11 lessons in the art
of defending one’s country. He offers sound principles such
as empathizing with your enemy, accepting the inflexibility of human
nature, and being prepared to reexamine your own reasoning. But some
of us may twinge at his suggestion that engaging in evil may be required
for doing good. Then again, “the fog of war” captures
the mindset of centuries of civilization that considers fighting
and killing the definitive means of conflict resolution. And, some
would argue, present administration included. The wisdom of hindsight
is available through history. Sadly, due to the ever-present fog,
maybe we’ll never pay attention.
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