The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam
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- čas přidán 2. 11. 2011
- Former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara offers a mea culpa in 1995 for the United States' actions in the Vietnam War. [2/2000] [Show ID: 1521]
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This lecture is from 1999 but clearly nothing was learned as illegal occupations of Iraq & Afghanistan now look nearly identical & have lasted even longer than Vietnam. Sad
here is a man working out his own guilt
It is very difficult here in the 21st century to put ourselves in the shoes of those who were trying to deal with the Cold War. I'm glad McNamara finally opened up as he neared the end of his life and gave his honest views of the Vietnam War. He and those he worked with were obviously flawed human beings working under immense pressure and fear. I do not intend to absolve them of their faults, perhaps even crimes. But it is hard to look back objectively. I do think the hawks in our government and military had and still have today too much influence.
"I'll tell you something. It's not a legal question. We should never think of it as a legal question. It's a political question. This nation should never be taken to war by a president without the authority of the people.". - Robert McNamara
How did our involvement in Vietnam make us any safer? The Domino's still fell. The Vietnam War was a tragic waste of our National Treasure.
As usual, no lessons were learned...just look at the outcome of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I've read extensively on the subject of Vietnam. My conclusion is everyone, democrat and GOP, all were in agreement on the domino theory. Johnson was left holding the bag, but if Kennedy had lived he'd have been despised for Vietnam. Had Nixon won in 1960 he'd have been left holding the bag. Ho Chi Minh was a butcher who sacrificed his people with no limits, and America didn't understand that anyone would such behave. Never underestimate a communist and their total disregard for human life and desire for absolute power.
"What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? We are the strongest nation in the world today. I do not believe that we should ever apply that economic, political, and military power unilaterally. If we had followed that rule in Vietnam, we wouldn't have been there. None of our allies supported us. Not Japan, not Germany, not Britain or France. If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning". - Robert S. McNamara
You don't put a president of a car company as your secretary of defense. That one is on JFK
"A nation's strength lies not in its military strength but the unity of its people". Awesome truth.
The fact is there were many many occasions when to withdraw from Vietnam was possible
I was lucky, turning 18 , just after Nixon got rid of the draft.
The historian Tacitus said of the Romans that 'they make a desert and call it peace.'" He turned to Jia. "The Carthaginians never forgot.
Wow, I uninformedly hated McNamara and wasn't even going to watch this when I figured out in the first minute who the speaker was. But I gave it a chance and I'm lucky to have done so.
29:29
Also because the Draft at the time was having a hard time getting bodies to go to Vietnam, Mac started drafting guys with IQ's of 70 or so to fill the quota. Like let's let the Military try and teach them something; we're doing those guys a favor. Forgive maybe, but don't forget.
Americas treatment of the Vietnam Vets was nothing short of shocking,yes there was wrong doing in Vietnam,but not by every soldier
Power corrupts, unmitigated power corrupts absolutely.
Catch that? “I suggested to the Council on Foreign Relations….”
The most arrogant of the world……