The Fog of War

The Fog of War presents former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara’s reflections on his life and career, particularly focusing on his role during the Vietnam War and the Cold War era. Directed by Errol Morris, it features extensive interviews with McNamara, who shares his experiences and insights gained from his time in office.

Throughout the documentary, McNamara discusses eleven key lessons he learned during his tenure, which form the structure of the film. These lessons cover a range of topics, including the importance of empathizing with one’s enemy, the limitations of rationality in decision-making, and the need to be prepared to reexamine one’s reasoning. McNamara’s candid reflections provide a unique perspective on some of the most critical moments in 20th-century American history.

The film incorporates archival footage, news broadcasts, and tape-recorded conversations from the 1960s to illustrate McNamara’s narrative. It covers significant events such as World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War, offering insights into the decision-making processes behind these pivotal moments. McNamara’s account of how close the world came to nuclear annihilation during the Cuban Missile Crisis is particularly striking.

While McNamara does not apologize for the Vietnam War, he acknowledges mistakes made during his tenure and offers a nuanced view of the conflict. He discusses how he came to understand that the North Vietnamese viewed the war as a fight for independence from colonialism, rather than as part of the broader Cold War context.