BLUF
McNamara’s (US Secretary of Defense 1961-68) experience in Vietnam highlights the need for clear exit strategies, understanding local conditions, and weighing public opinion. Misplaced loyalty, faith in numbers, and delayed honesty can lock leaders into failing choices.Learning Outcomes
- Apply lessons from historical conflicts to assess operational risk and plan exit strategies in overseas missions.
- Evaluate the influence of public opinion and political pressures on decision-making during extended deployments.
- Reflect on the importance of data, intelligence, and local context in shaping effective operational strategies.
