Special memoir
In 1995, when America was still deeply divided over the Vietnam War, Robert S. McNamara - former US Secretary of Defense under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson - made a bold decision: to publish a memoir about the war of which he was the main architect. Right in the introduction, McNamara admitted: "This is a book I intended never to write." It was his torment about historical responsibility and the desire for future generations not to repeat the same mistakes that prompted him to write this work.
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With 11 chapters and appendices, McNamara's memoir recreates the entire US involvement in Vietnam from the beginning of President Kennedy's term to the period of uncontrollable escalation of the war. In a tone that is as sharp as a policy report but also carries the weight of conscience, McNamara not only recounts the events but also courageously analyzes the strategic mistakes, admitting that many decisions of the US authorities led to disastrous consequences for both sides. "We were wrong, terribly wrong," McNamara confessed. He emphasized that the mistakes in the war stemmed not only from a lack of information but also from overconfidence and ignorance of the history, culture, and will to unify the country of the Vietnamese people. "We did not realize the limits of modern weapons when confronting a small but resilient country that yearned for independence and unification," McNamara wrote.
When first published in 1995, the book " Looking Back: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam" has caused mixed reactions from the American public. Some appreciated McNamara's sincerity in admitting his mistakes - something rare among American politicians . However, many critics said that Mr. McNamara had not really faced the pain caused by the war. Journalist David Halberstam wrote: "McNamara tried to justify his wrong decisions, but he did not really face the pain that the war caused to millions of Vietnamese and Americans." Similarly, historian George Herring commented: "His apologies seem insufficient to compensate for the losses that the war caused."
Message for today's generation
Despite the controversy, the memoir of the former US Secretary of Defense is a valuable document for better understanding the decisions that shaped the history of the US and Vietnam in the 20th century. Moreover, it is a profound reflection on war, a reminder of the importance of peace and the need to learn from the past.
The new point in this edition is the appearance of descendants of two famous figures on both sides of the front line. Craig McNamara - the author's son and Vo Hong Nam - the son of General Vo Nguyen Giap co-wrote the preface, creating a strong message of reconciliation. "The book is not an excuse, nor is it an indictment. It is a confrontation of conscience, a desire to find the root cause of the war to answer the question of right and wrong and courageously open up opportunities for reconciliation," said Vo Hong Nam. Meanwhile, Craig McNamara hopes that through the book, Americans and Vietnamese can look back at the past thoroughly and together heal the wounds of war. Above all, he wants today's generation to understand the profound lesson that his father (Robert S. McNamara) had to pay a high price to learn: "One of the most important lessons is: Decision-makers, even the most well-intentioned leaders, can still make wrong decisions, leading to lasting and immeasurable human losses," Craig McNamara shared.
In today’s world of conflict and tension, the lessons McNamara shared in his memoir “ In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam” are still relevant. The book reminds leaders of the importance of understanding culture, respecting opponents, and avoiding decisions based on arrogance or lack of information. These lessons from the past are truly timeless.
THANH NGUYEN
Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202507/nhung-bai-hoc-khong-bao-gio-cu-3871924/
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