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Robert McNamara Quotes
1916–2009 United States
Robert Strange McNamara (June 9, 1916 – July 6, 2009) was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B.
United States Businesspeople Educators Memoirists Presbyterians Also known as: McNamara, Robert
Random Robert McNamara quote
13 quotes
Neither conscience nor sanity itself suggests, that the United States is, or should or could be the global gendarme.
Charles E. Miller (2010)
Management is the gate through which social and economic and political change, indeed change in every direction, is diffused through society.
Robert McNamara (1967)
I would rather have a wrong decision made than no decision at all.
Charles A. Stevenson (2006)
Is it right and proper that today there are 7500 strategic offensive nuclear warheads, of which 2500 are at 15 minute alert to be launched by the decision of one human being?
The Fog of War (2003)
Kennedy would have ordered nuclear retaliation on Cuba —and perhaps the Soviet Union— if nuclear weapons had been fired at United States forces.
It would be our policy to use nuclear weapons wherever we felt it, necessary to protect our forces and achieve our objectives.
Herbert Y. Schandler (1975)
Nuclear weapons serve no military purpose whatsoever. They are totally useless — except only to deter one’s opponent from using them.
We are confident that we can penetrate any enemy defenses with our missiles. We know that we are more than the equal of any nation in the world.
I must say 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.
United States. Congress. Senate (1964)
What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? We are the strongest nation in the world today. I do not believe that we should ever apply that economic, political, and military power unilaterally.
You can never substitute emotion for reason. I still would allow a place for intuition in this process, but not emotion. They say I am a power gabber. But knowledge is power, and I am giving them knowledge, so they will have more power. Can't they see that?
Henry L. Trewhitt (1971)
[W]ar is so complex, it’s beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend allthe variables. Our judgement, our understanding, are not adequate.
The plain truth is the day is coming when no single nation, however powerful, can undertake by itself to keep the peace outside its own borders. Regional and international organizations for peace-keeping purposes are as yet rudimentary; but they must grow in experience and be strengthened by deliberate and practical cooperative action.
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