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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

September 25 at 7pm Hoff Theater, STAMP - FREE Admission

Synopsis

"It is the story of America as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara. One of the most controversial and influential figures in world politics, he takes us on an insider's view of the seminal events of the 20th Century. Why was this past century the most destructive and deadly in all of human history? Are we doomed to repeat our mistakes? Are we free to make choices, or are we at the mercy of inexorable historical forces and ideologies?" (Errol Morris)
* Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary

More questions to think about:
  • What are the lessons from McNamara from the Vietnam war? Would you add any more lessons?

  • Are there lessons from our engagement in Iraq? Afghanistan?

  • Is the "fog of war" an adequate excuse?
Teacher's Guide for the Fog of War
Fog of War Official Site
Director Errol Morris' Site
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Diamondback Dialogue
  • Journalist calls war a 'powerful narcotic' by James B. Hale (October 30, 2008).
    War is a terrible drug that can break you down and leave you begging for more. That was the lesson Chris Hedges imparted to a crowd of hundreds at a lecture about his book, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, on Tuesday in the Colony Ballroom of the Stamp Student Union.
  • Not so radical after all by Kyle Garton (September 24, 2008).
    "... does Hedges really claim that war is always wrong? In his introduction, Hedges writes, "despite all this, I am not a pacifist. I respect and admire the qualities of professional soldiers. ... There are times when we must take this poison [of war]." Certainly Hedges spends the bulk of his book explicating war's insidious cultural effects, but Harris misses Hedges' crucial introductory qualification."

  • Defending free speech by Matthew Parrilla (September 17, 2008).

  • In defense of ROTC by Richard Garcia (September 16, 2008).

  • Book: A force that gives the campus meaning by Malcolm Harris (September 11, 2008.)