Robert McNamara Quotes about War

The war in Vietnam is going well and will succeed.

The war in Vietnam is going well and will succeed.

War, Vietnam, Succeed

If we'd lost the war, we'd all have been prosecuted as war criminals. And I think he's right. He, and I'd say I, were behaving as war criminals.

Robert McNamara

War, Thinking, Criminals

Robert S. McNamara (2004). “Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film”

I want to say, and this is very important: at the end we lucked out. It was luck that prevented nuclear war. We came that close to nuclear war at the end. Rational individuals: Kennedy was rational; Khrushchev was rational; Castro was rational. Rational individuals came that close to total destruction of their societies. And that danger exists today.

Robert McNamara

War, Luck, Important

"The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara". Documentary, August 30, 2003.

To this day we seem to act in the world as though we know what's right for everybody.

Robert McNamara

War, Drug, World

At my age, 85, I'm at age where I can look back and derive some conclusions about my actions. My rule has been try to learn, try to understand what happened. Develop the lessons and pass them on.

Robert McNamara

War, Age, Trying

Robert S. McNamara (2004). “Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film”

Short of nuclear war itself, population growth is the gravest issue the world faces. If we do not act, the problem will be solved by famine, riots, insurrection and war.

Robert McNamara

War, Issues, Growth

I don't object to its being called "McNamara's war." I think it is a very important war and I am pleased to be identified with it and do whatever I can to win it.

Robert McNamara

War, Winning, Thinking

Robert Mcnamara (2017). “In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam”, p.118, Vintage

All those involved in the firebombing of Tokyo .. were war criminals interviews recorded in the movie The Fog of War.. the firebombing of Tokyo occurred before the atom bombs.. 100,000 civilians died in one night from American bombs.. 500,000 altogether over several days say some.

Robert McNamara

Country, War, Night

General, you don't have a war plan! All you have is a kind of horrible spasm!

Robert McNamara

Peace, War, Kind

The greatest contribution Vietnam is making-right or wrong is beside the point-is that it is developing an ability in the United States to fight a limited war, to go to war without the necessity of arousing the public ire.

Robert McNamara

War, Fighting, United States