Trip Renner

Fog of War reflection

Fog of War was a documentary done in an interesting and refreshing way. It was Robert
McNamara and only Robert McNamara showing us the Cold War as he saw it. He told us about
his relationship with John F. Kennedy and the things he did as the secretary of defense. He did so
in a plethora of different segments or lessons that each focused on a different part of the Cold
War. These lessons were based around the human part of military leadership; learning from and
empathizing with your enemy all the while working towards the ultimate goal of their
destruction. McNamara was a man and nothing more, he wanted that to be known. He felt that he
was merely doing his job.
The most memorable lesson was maximize efficiency, where McNamara tells about the b29 bombers how they did exactly the opposite. They were less susceptible to being shot down
due to their ability to fly at a higher altitude than previous WWII bombers. But, McNamara
explains, that despite their advantages they were only effective if they flew at lower altitudes
than they were designed for, which left them with fewer defenses against retaliation. These facts
paired with the facts that transporting them to japan was arduous and roundabout and that most
of the personnel were under-trained, made it apparent that the effort wasnt worth a damn.
McNamara also tells about General Lemay in this Lesson, He was the only person that I
knew in the senior command of the Air Force who focused solely on the loss of his crews per
unit of target destruction, according to McNamara. Lemay was incredibly ruthless; he devised a
plan to fire-bomb Japan. These raids left Tokyo, and many more cities, destroyed. The loss of life
was incredible and awful. Only against civilians were the b-29s efficient.
After watching the documentary and seeing McNamara speak, I thought that it felt and
sounded familiar. After thinking about it for a few days I came to the realization that the way he
spoke and the way he held himself was similar to both of my grandfathers. McNamara was, in a
way, a combination of the stubbornness and old fashioned ways of my grandfather on my dads
side and the calmness, wit, and military stoicism of my grandfather on my mothers side. It was
also nostalgic in the way that it reminded me of watching the military channel at my
grandparents house after my grandfather would put it on and fall asleep.
Fog of War was fascinating and eye opening. I am particularly fond of how it was done.
There was no soaring 50s spy soundtrack and it wasnt filled with more historians to keep track
of. It gave off a sense of personal interaction in the same way as Johnny Cashs American
recordings; it was only Cash and a guitar, only McNamara and a camera.