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Robert McNamara

Robert McNamara Quotes

Former United States Secretary of Defense

Robert McNamara was the United States Secretary of Defense during the Cold War era, born on June 9, 1916, and passed away on July 6, 2009. He had a profound impact on American military and international relations during his tenure as Defense Secretary.

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All War Nuclear Nations Ifs World Nuclear Weapons Thinking Vietnam War Weapons Action Important May Policy Call Of Duty Force Has Beens Humans Immoral Increase Issues

Famous Robert McNamara Quotes

“[General Curtis] LeMay recognized that what he was doing would be thought immoral if his side has lost. But what makes it immoral if you lose and not immoral if you win?”

Ifs Men Children Would Be Winning Lost Sides Loses Burned Immoral Civilians Men Women Vietnam War Tokyo

Author:Robert McNamara

“What makes it immoral if you lose and not immoral if you win?”

Ifs Winning Loses Immoral Vietnam War Tokyo

Author:Robert McNamara

“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.”

Ifs World War Problem Faces Growth Poverty Issues Population Nuclear Riot Famine Nuclear War Population Growth Overpopulation Insurrection

Author:Robert McNamara

“...but highly placed sources within the Kennedy Administration disagreed: "[T]he assumption that the strategic nuclear balance mattered in any way was wrong... As far as I am concerned, it made no difference... If my memory serves me correctly, we had some five thousand strategic nuclear warheads as against t heir three hundred. Can anyone seriously tell me that their having three hundred and forty would have made any difference? The military balance wasn't changed. I didn't believe it then, and I don't believe it now..."”

“Elimination of nuclear weapons, so naive, so simplistic, and so idealistic as to be quixotic? Some may think so. But as human beings, citizens of nations with power to influence events in the world, can we be at peace with ourselves if we strive for less? I think not.”

Ifs Thinking World Humans May Nations Human Beings Influence Events Citizens Weapons Strive Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Naive Elimination Idealistic Quixotic

Author:Robert McNamara

“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.”

Ifs Thinking Has Beens War Lost Criminals Vietnam War

Book:Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film

Source: Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film

About the Author

Born: June 9, 1916
Died: July 6, 2009
Known for: Former United States Secretary of Defense
Quotes: 48

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War Nuclear Nations Ifs World Nuclear Weapons Thinking Vietnam War Weapons Action Important May Policy Call Of Duty Force Has Beens Humans Immoral Increase Issues

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Books & Sources

Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris FilmRelated source material

The Essence of Security: Reflections in OfficeRelated source material

In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of VietnamRelated source material

The Changing Nature of Global Security and Its Impact on South AsiaRelated source material

The first century of the nuclear age: can we survive itRelated source material

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