Best Documentaries: "The Fog of War"

Hey folks

Today, I would like to draw your attention to an excellent documentary I viewed recently, titled - "The Fog of War" (full title: "The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara").

The 95-minute documentary chronicles the decisions made in the life of Robert S. McNamara, who was a statistician during WWII that directly aided the successful efforts to eviscerate Japan through the process of firebombing; who became the Group President of the Ford Motor Co. (and eventually its president for five weeks) and who was appointed to the position of Secretary of Defense by President John F. Kennedy during the height of the Cold War (notably during the Cuban Missile Crisis).

What is immediately striking about the doc is director Errol Morris' interviewing technique. McNamara looks directly at a softly-tilted camera, speaking excitedly about former events in a paradoxically tumultuous and yet, sullen manner. At times, he also gives way to some vociferous storytelling and does not absolve anyone, much less himself. It underscores the deep conflict leaders dealt with on a daily basis during those times. War and peace were literally on two sides of a coin and as McNamara stated in the doc, the most rational of leaders were toying with the idea of nuclear war, even when considering the consequences. At one dramatic moment in McNamara's tenure as SecDef was when he met Castro after the missile crisis, and Castro angrily confessed to McNamara that not only did he know that the nukes were on Cuban soil, but he recommended to Khrushchev to launch the weapons knowing that Cuba would be wiped out during the counter-assault by the US.

Errol Morris

McNamara was often berated by his critics for being arrogant, egotistical and even a warmonger. McNamara himself attests to those criticisms and viewers can't help but be cajoled by this candid 85-year old man who had immense influence over the future of the US and by default, the future of the world.

Robert McNamara

I don't want to spoil the fun for anyone, so I urge all of you to pick this documentary up and see for yourself how close the world was to total destruction and to also learn some important life lessons by one of the greatest men ever appointed to the position of Secretary of Defense of the United States. His decisions are still having a reverberated effect on foreign policy today and it is only fair for viewers to witness those events and pay respects to the man who arguably saved the world from utter destruction.

And oh, he was also the President of the World Bank for over 10 years and currently spends his time on matters of world health, economic development and poverty.