Your GC movie assignment: Go rent Fog of War
 

Seriously. It may be the most important movie I have seen.

ITs a docu-drama around a long interview McNamara(sp) who was Secretary of state under Kennedy and Johnson for 7 years.

Its a real eye opener.

For example. they only found out in 1992 that when they thought Cuba was waiting for warheads (hence the naval blockade), that in fact there were over 162 nucelar warheads on the island including 90 tactical nukes.

In the 1992 interview with Castro he revealed that he would have used the nukes on the US had they invaded knowing full well that it would have resulted in the utter annihilation of his nation.

McNamara was utterly taken aback. The US hadn't know how close to nuclear destruction we were. A lot of our pre-suppositions were just wrong and it was just blind luck that everyone thing didn't fall out badly, because our generals wanted to attack Cuba so badly.

In fact, I can't help but think that this President would ahve landed us in a Nuclear War had he been president back then.

Interesting how different people at different times can make a major difference.

I think that the current President (or his handlers) should watch the movie and pay particular attention to Macnamara's "lessons" or "rules"... and why these are important.

I've never heard of "Fog of War". I once read "Winds of War", which also contains the Weather/War theme. Does that count? :p

McNamara's "facts" have been questioned before...

I'd say it's a good movie though - especially the lesson about being ready to do evil to bring about good.

In regards to the whole how much influence does a leader really have? Well War and Peace would have been a simpler read on that.

-Rudey