Vietnam War architect Robert McNamara dies.
- Thread starter Colin1
- Start date
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lingo
Airman 1st Class
I always thought that he possessed an exceptional brain.
syscom3
Pacific Historian
I do think he shares much of the blame for what went wrong in Vietnam.
He screwed up in a big way.
I wont celebrate his death, but I also wont salute his achievments.
He screwed up in a big way.
I wont celebrate his death, but I also wont salute his achievments.
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Bucksnort101
2nd Lieutenant
What are we supposed to be rejoicing here, the death of this man or something else? I'm a bit confused to the title of this thread?
Doughboy
Staff Sergeant
As Bucksnort said.... What is there to rejoice about?
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Probably not a good choice of title....but McNamara was the Secretary of Defense who mismanaged the Vietnam War. I've always thought he ranked right up there with Jane Fonda on the Vietnam Vet Loathing List. Could be wrong, though...if I am, could a Mod edit the title of this thread?
Bucksnort101
2nd Lieutenant
That's is why I asked the question. Not trying to stir the pot, just wanted some clarification. No need to comment further.
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
No worries. Dad never talked much about his Vietnam time, but he was consistently adamant about his hatred for those two individuals. I haven't had much opportunity to spend time with other Vietnam vets, so I wasn't 100% sure it was a universal thing.
Bucksnort101
2nd Lieutenant
I think most Vietnam Vets have more respect for a rabid dog that just bit them on the leg than they do Jane.
drgondog
Major
very close to my own sentiments! Not sure what his achievements were except as an architect for poor execution for war in Viet Nam. Certainly not Edsel or the F-111.
- Thread starter
- #13
Colin1
Senior Master Sergeant
Errrrr hang on a minute...
I didn't title this thread 'A time to rejoice' - I don't care what he's done, I wouldn't ask anyone to rejoice over a person's death
...and what's my Vietnam thread doing in Off Topic?
I didn't title this thread 'A time to rejoice' - I don't care what he's done, I wouldn't ask anyone to rejoice over a person's death
...and what's my Vietnam thread doing in Off Topic?
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Catch22
Major
It got merged with RA's thread.
- Thread starter
- #15
Colin1
Senior Master Sergeant
If it's got my name down as the originator, do you not think it could have kept my title? It was a little more civil.
Edit: Well, almost. Can we just get rid of the 'Time to rejoice' nonsense? I don't think a person's death is anything to cheer about
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RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Heh. Anything I'm associated with tends to get kinda screwed up. Sorry, Colin. Shoulda thought to run a search (or look in another forum) before posting mine. And I'll blame my title on a brainfart. I'm not happy he's dead, but I'm not heartbroken either.
- Thread starter
- #17
Colin1
Senior Master Sergeant
It's not a problem RA
I understand you guys will likely have different sentiments to anyone outside of the US (it was principally you guys that it was aimed at for comment) but I don't promote threads that actively invoke dancing on peoples graves.
wheelsup_cavu
1st Sergeant
McNamara did serve during WW II in the office of statistics.
Their main function was to assess the damage being caused by the bombing raids.
He also had a crucial hand in helping John Kennedy manage the Cuban Missle crisis.
The M-16 program was one of his achievements/failures too.
I thought some of the things he did other than the Vietnam experience should be mentioned.
Edit:
If you "go advanced" when you edit the post you should be able to edit the Thread heading and rename the thread.
Wheels
Their main function was to assess the damage being caused by the bombing raids.
He also had a crucial hand in helping John Kennedy manage the Cuban Missle crisis.
The M-16 program was one of his achievements/failures too.
I thought some of the things he did other than the Vietnam experience should be mentioned.
Edit:
If you "go advanced" when you edit the post you should be able to edit the Thread heading and rename the thread.
Wheels
Last edited:
lingo
Airman 1st Class
These words are timely...........................
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by John Donne (1572 - 1631)
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by John Donne (1572 - 1631)
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
BombTaxi
Tech Sergeant
I saw a documentary film featuring McNamara a while back - I forget the title. It strikes me that he was an exceptionally talented and intelligent man, but perhaps not the best choice to steer the US through Vietnam, as his experience of analysing the bombing campaign against Japan was not really the best preparation for the kind of war the US needed to fight in Vietnam.
OT, lingo, glad to see anothe fan of John Donne around
8)
OT, lingo, glad to see anothe fan of John Donne around
8)
