One of my favorite books is The Fog of War: Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara, written by James Blight and Janet Lang.

I initially read it while on active duty, and it helped me better understand the nature of warfare, and as an American citizen, understand the rationale behind actions undertaken by our past and current leaders. Robert McNamara served as Secretary of Defense under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson from 1960 to 1968.

His experiences detailed in this book can greatly benefit political leaders today, aiding them to make informed decisions based on the failures of the past. The book is organized into lessons, using titles such as “Empathize with your enemy,” and “Proportionality should be a guideline in war.” Of particular interest to me was the responsibility that McNamara takes for the disastrous effects of the Vietnam War. I find it refreshing that a government official can admit he has made a mistake.