Fog of War

A documentary film by Errol Morris, interviewing Robert McNamara.

This is an incredible film, truly remarkable in its complexity. Here are Mr. McNamara’s 11 lessons on the nature of war:

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 of 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.