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It traces the life of Robert Strange McNamara, United States Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968. While the Vietnam War is clearly the focus of the debate about McNamara's legacy, the film begins during perhaps an even more crucial event in world history: the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. From this event comes one of the 11 lessons McNamara recounts of his life and service: "You have to empathize with your enemy."
McNamara was interviewed for over 20 hours for the film. He can sound cruel at times, such as when he recounts his job in target damage analysis from bombing runs led by Colonel Curtis LeMay over Japan towards the end of World War II. It is soon obvious however, that he understands the moral dilemmas of warfare and the death of civilians. He also recounts many of the mistakes of the Vietnam War.
In an appearance at UC BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley (also known as Cal Berkeley UCB or UC Berkeley is a public, coeducational university situated in the foothills of Berkeley, California to the east of San Francisco Bay, overlooking the Golden Gate and its bridge., Morris said that he was inspired to create the movie after reading McNamara's 2001 book (with James G. Blight), Wilson's Ghost : Reducing the Risk of Conflict, Killing, and Catastrophe in the 21st Century.
1. Empathize with your enemy.
2. Rationality will not save us.
3. There's something beyond one's self.
4. Maximize efficiency.
5. Proportionality should be a guideline in war.
6. Get the data.
7. Belief and seeing are both often wrong.
8. Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning.
9. In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil.
10. Never say never.
11. You can't change human nature.