Book Review

Reviewer: Sam Phillips
Book Title: The Fog of War, DVD	Book Author: Director: Errol Morris	Type: Non-fiction

Brief Summary:
The Fog of War, DVD, Sony Pictures, 2004, 107 min. Director: Errol Morris. Available from San Mateo County Library.

Book Review:
This documentary deserves the prizes it has received. Not only does is the subject fascinating -- Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations -- but it is beautifully and entertainingly made. McNamara is close up on camera much of the time, but the few direct questions are almost sotto voce and off camera -- not the usual ping-pong of talking heads. The director weaves in contemporary film, some rapidly jump-cut and giving the impression of overwhelming events.

McNamara comes across as extraordinarily intelligent and, at age 85, with phenomenal recall. He relates his early schooling at UC Berkeley; his wartime Air Corps service under General LeMay, whom he was later to command and whom he assisted in planning the air war in the Pacific; Harvard; his brief presidency of Ford Motor; his summons by Kennedy, first for Treasury (he declined) then for Defense; and his transfer of allegiance to Johnson.

The most significant part of this film for many will be McNamara's acpart of this film for many will be McNamara's acknowledgement of his error in pursuing the Viet Nam war, a mistake rooted in the famous domino theory but contrary to Viet Nam's view of the Americans as a mere replacement of the hated French and its historical opposition to the Chinese, which would have made it impossible for Viet Nam to become their pawn.

Sam Phillips