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Former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara Dies
foxnews.com ^ | 07/06/09 | Staff

Posted on 07/06/2009 6:21:18 AM PDT by DFG

Former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara has died.

McNamara, 93, died at home in his sleep Monday morning, his wife Diana told The Associated Press. She said he had been in failing health for some time.

Known as a policymaker with a fixation for statistical analysis, McNamara was president of the Ford Motor Co. when President John F. Kennedy asked him to head the Pentagon in 1961.

McNamara worked for seven years as the defense secretary in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, longer than any other person in that post. He headed the war department during the build-up of forces in Vietnam.

He is considered the architect of the concept of "mutual assured destruction," a key feature of the nuclear arms race during the Cold War.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: dod; jfk; lbj; mcnamara; michigan; secdef; whizkids
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To: Mr Rogers

Your father was a hero.... God bless him.... and you.


141 posted on 07/06/2009 10:27:34 AM PDT by Bob Eimiller (appeasement "it's the idea that if you feed the alligator he will eat you last." Winston Churchill)
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To: mad_as_he$$

“Reading Giap’s book made me sick. We had them beat after Tet and we folded up and went home. Cost South Vietnam I do not know haw many lives.”

Millions, not including Cambodia and Laos who also toppled shortly after Vietnam fell.


142 posted on 07/06/2009 10:30:10 AM PDT by 2CAVTrooper (For those who have had to fight for it, freedom has a flavor the protected shall never know.)
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To: se_ohio_young_conservative
The problem is, we didn't really "survive" what happened in the 60's, so we can't really "move on."

We are living presently, with Barack Obama, in the hell created by the leftist traitors of the 60's. What happened then is directly responsible for what's happening now, culturally, politically, in many ways.

While I agree that many of the comments on this thread are way out of line, you should pay attention to what's being said by many here and learn from it. You don't have to hate McNamara, but you do have to try to understand the damage he did, and the deaths he was in part responsible for.

(I think too many are placing blame on him above LBJ, who was ultimately responsible).

143 posted on 07/06/2009 10:32:42 AM PDT by ohioWfan (Proud Mom of a Bronze Star recipient!)
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To: dfwgator
Aspin didn’t live very long as Defense Secretary so at least in his case there is a mitigating factor.

Yes... his Blackhawk Down disgrace was so profound it killed him. Bubba Clinton just kept on smiling, lying, and frolicking in the gutter.

144 posted on 07/06/2009 10:33:11 AM PDT by Bob Eimiller (appeasement "it's the idea that if you feed the alligator he will eat you last." Winston Churchill)
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To: saminfl; Chode

The F-111 flopped as a Navy fighter but excelled as a low level strike fighter for the Air Force.

The failure of the naval F-111 also gave us the excellent F-14 Tomcat.


145 posted on 07/06/2009 10:35:53 AM PDT by 2CAVTrooper (For those who have had to fight for it, freedom has a flavor the protected shall never know.)
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To: DFG

“I’ve nothing good to say about that departed soul.”

I will have to answer for what I thought when I heard the news!


146 posted on 07/06/2009 10:38:45 AM PDT by BellStar (May the Fourth be with you all year long!)
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To: se_ohio_young_conservative
"Does anyone doubt that Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon LOVED this country?"

Yes, for one of them at least.
147 posted on 07/06/2009 10:46:03 AM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast (1st call: Abbas. 1st interview: Al Arabiya. 1st energy decision: halt drilling in UT. Arabs 1st!)
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To: 2CAVTrooper; Chode; DFG

You guys are right. The naval version of the F-111 was a failure. You are also right when you say it gave us the F-14. I know one Hughes guy who flew in the Navy version. If I remember, Hughes lost a couple of aircrews in that aircraft.


148 posted on 07/06/2009 10:46:18 AM PDT by saminfl ( FUBO)
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To: AzSteven
I think there are probably less than five people whose death notices I would genuinely celebrate,

Molly Ivans is still dead. Yay!

/johnny

149 posted on 07/06/2009 10:47:31 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
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To: Tammy8

Great post Tammy8.


150 posted on 07/06/2009 10:47:57 AM PDT by saminfl ( FUBO)
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To: Mr Rogers
God bless the men that fly and fight.

Bless your father for his service under terrible conditions, and prayers for your continued loss.

/johnny

151 posted on 07/06/2009 10:49:33 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
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To: Hat-Trick
"I would make some room for Les Aspin on that list, maybe not top 3, but definitely top 5."

And let's not forget Anthony Lake (whoops, guess he was just a deputy). Or Colin Powell, in view of what he has become.
152 posted on 07/06/2009 10:53:39 AM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast (1st call: Abbas. 1st interview: Al Arabiya. 1st energy decision: halt drilling in UT. Arabs 1st!)
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To: ohioWfan

This thread just reminds me too much of something I have seen somewhere else.

I am not comparing Robert McNamara to Tony Snow personally in anyway. but I felt tortured when I made the mistake of clicking on a link and seeing what I saw being post about Tony. I imagine I would feel the same way if I were one of Robert McNamara’s grandchildren reading this human cesspool of a thread.

I am sick to my stomach. one of those things that knocks your faith in humanity down another notch.


153 posted on 07/06/2009 10:57:58 AM PDT by se_ohio_young_conservative (Palin 2012)
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To: se_ohio_young_conservative
one of those things that knocks your faith in humanity down another notch.

Stand, in uniform, with the family of a fallen comrade, and slow march his coffin to a cold, dark hole in the ground, listen to Taps from beyond the trees, and the 21 gun salute, and the chaplain saying the final prayers, and your faith in humanity, and your 'objectivity' of our leaders will more than knock your faith.

If you are sentient, that bleak reality will require you to hold your leaders accountable, and excoriate them (if they screwed up), even after their death.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

/johnny

154 posted on 07/06/2009 11:03:23 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
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To: Mr Rogers
My Dad died in Vietnam. I'm glad McNamara has just provided me another place to take a public piss...

Looking at the picture of your father in your post and those of your beautiful family on the web page you link on your personal page, I have to comment that you bear a particularly strong resemblance to your father. Thank you very much for your service, for your father's service, and for the incredible sacrifice your whole family has had to endure. Every American owes you and your family an immeasurable debt.

155 posted on 07/06/2009 11:10:14 AM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: Ronaldus Magnus
Robert McNamara to save a couple of dollars per weapon ordered that the M16 not have the chrome plating in the receiver. This led to fouling and jamming during firing.
It is time that this S.O.B. died and faced the soldiers that died, including friends, from their rifles jamming because of $5.
156 posted on 07/06/2009 11:18:59 AM PDT by Wooly
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To: ohioWfan

No only did LBJ/McN have a direct hand in the deaths of thousands of Americans, their handiwork continued through the deformed children born to Agent Orange-damaged fathers. Two of these kids, now grown, are close to my family.


157 posted on 07/06/2009 11:19:20 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: se_ohio_young_conservative

You’re obviously young and with your assesment of this thread being a human cesspool, your dumb as well. Don’t comment on things you know nothing about...think them through...how about the children and grandchildren that have no Daddy or Grand Daddy because of this bastards miserable decision making process. Don’t give me any mouth....I was there!


158 posted on 07/06/2009 11:20:19 AM PDT by RVN Airplane Driver ("To be born into freedom is an accident; to die in freedom is an obligation..)
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To: DFG

The worst technocratic liberal of all time. Had not concept of the conduct of war and the exercise of military power. Saw the result int he thousands killed in Vietnam.

The war itself was a noble cause; but, it was directed by incompetence, such as McNamara and LBJ/Kennedy.

From the Bay of Pigs and on through the 1960s, the military policy developed by McNamara and his minions nearly saw the destruction of US interests in the 1970s.


159 posted on 07/06/2009 11:20:21 AM PDT by BlackjackPershing (?The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree? - Thomas Campbell (Scottish poet))
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To: DFG

The ones who advance liberalism the most and draw the most contempt from the people often end this way. They carry the most water, and the left still makes them non-persons instead of mascots. Earl Warren, Lyndon Johnson, Anita Hill, and Janet Reno come to mind.


160 posted on 07/06/2009 11:21:53 AM PDT by Luke21
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