Comments on: Robert McNamara: reluctant anti-war activist http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/07/06/robert-mcnamara-reluctant-anti-war-activist/ Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:27:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Daily Links for July 6th through July 11th | Akkam's Razor http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/07/06/robert-mcnamara-reluctant-anti-war-activist/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Daily Links for July 6th through July 11th | Akkam's Razor Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:01:28 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=600#comment-38 [...] Jonathan Curiel – ’round the world we go – Robert McNamara: reluctant anti-war act... – During the run-up to the Iraq War, Robert McNamara never joined an anti-war protest, never went on CNN to voice his displeasure at George W. Bush. That wasn’t McNamara’s style. But he did announce his views on conflict in general, in the 2003/2004 documentary “The Fog of War.” And in interviews with reporters – including me – McNamara all-but-said the Iraq War was a big mistake that would lead to scores of American and Iraqi deaths, and the diplomatic isolation of the United States. As the Secretary of Defense under John F. Kennedy, and a still-admired figure in matters of warfare and diplomacy, McNamara had gravitas. He knew this. In his own old-school way, McNamara became an anti-war activist. [...] [...] Jonathan Curiel – ’round the world we go – Robert McNamara: reluctant anti-war act… – During the run-up to the Iraq War, Robert McNamara never joined an anti-war protest, never went on CNN to voice his displeasure at George W. Bush. That wasn’t McNamara’s style. But he did announce his views on conflict in general, in the 2003/2004 documentary “The Fog of War.” And in interviews with reporters – including me – McNamara all-but-said the Iraq War was a big mistake that would lead to scores of American and Iraqi deaths, and the diplomatic isolation of the United States. As the Secretary of Defense under John F. Kennedy, and a still-admired figure in matters of warfare and diplomacy, McNamara had gravitas. He knew this. In his own old-school way, McNamara became an anti-war activist. [...]

]]> By: cvillekid http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/07/06/robert-mcnamara-reluctant-anti-war-activist/comment-page-1/#comment-36 cvillekid Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:32:29 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=600#comment-36 "As someone who oversaw and orchestrated the deaths of many people, McNamara saw firsthand how – in the long-run – those deaths were in vain." Many people? Say, 60, 000 young American men, and many thousands more Vietnamese. And he couldn't admit his role, his reponsibility, his guilt, because it wasn't "his style"? Your post is despicable. Robert McNamara was a war criminal. He lived four more decades after his war crimes, smelling the flowers, enjoying his privileged life, while those whose deaths he was directly responsible for were long-dead in their graves. Gravitas? No, McNamara was a life-long coward. May he not rest in peace. “As someone who oversaw and orchestrated the deaths of many people, McNamara saw firsthand how – in the long-run – those deaths were in vain.”

Many people? Say, 60, 000 young American men, and many thousands more Vietnamese. And he couldn’t admit his role, his reponsibility, his guilt, because it wasn’t “his style”?

Your post is despicable. Robert McNamara was a war criminal. He lived four more decades after his war crimes, smelling the flowers, enjoying his privileged life, while those whose deaths he was directly responsible for were long-dead in their graves.

Gravitas? No, McNamara was a life-long coward. May he not rest in peace.

]]> By: libtree09 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/07/06/robert-mcnamara-reluctant-anti-war-activist/comment-page-1/#comment-35 libtree09 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:30:16 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=600#comment-35 Perhaps if his revelation had come earlier many more lives could have been saved. He may have been stubborn and proud, as was Rumsfeld and maybe both were smart but wisdom came late to McNamara, wisdom he should have gained in watching civilians die in firebombings, bombings of nonmilitary sites. The man had many admirable accomplishments and lots and lots of blood on his hands. Perhaps if his revelation had come earlier many more lives could have been saved. He may have been stubborn and proud, as was Rumsfeld and maybe both were smart but wisdom came late to McNamara, wisdom he should have gained in watching civilians die in firebombings, bombings of nonmilitary sites. The man had many admirable accomplishments and lots and lots of blood on his hands.

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