The Fog of war is a Documentary with historical clips on the life and events that former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara experienced, and is sharing these historical events through his eyes and personal views. The movie depicts his life conflicts and controversial moments in warfare during the president’s Kennedy and Johnson’s reign.  There are “11 lessons” discussed throughout the whole movie that organize McNamara’s thoughts, overall summarizing his opinion and involvement in warfare during the cold war era.

1. What was the most striking element of the film. Why do you remember that part particularly? I found the most striking element in the film is the concept of how close the world game to a nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis. I find it striking that the crisis was SO close to potential world mass destruction of nuclear war, that it was basically just luck that the horrific situation was dodged. I found this part particularly interesting because it is impossible to think of how the world and my life might look like right now, if the decision had been made to engage in a nuclear war.

2. Which one of McNamara’s questions or challenges is of most interest or concern to you? Why? I find it most interesting when McNamara is questioning what is morally appropriate in warfare, and where it is you have to draw the line between evil and fair game? I find this question very interesting because I feel as though I would find myself also questioning the line of appropriateness in such an intense concept. How much evil is required before you can achieve the goodness? And what is the point where the lines should be drawn? When there is nothing civil or humane resulting from your actions in war, which is ultimately designed to achieve peace.

3. Which of the eleven lessons were most interesting and important to you? With which do you disagree? Which do you think will have the most impact on the 21st century? Why? I found lesson #9 :“In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil”, most interesting because I find that the concept is controversial and contradicting to everyone’s main goal to overall achieve peace.  I don’t necessarily agree with lesson #7: “Belief and seeing are both often wrong” because I find many outcomes of war have been based upon ones observations of what they most likely see and believe. These “observations” have had to be correct for people at times or I believe there may have been a different reactions and outcomes to many problems and battles. I feel that lesson #11: “You can’t change human nature”, might have the biggest impact on the 21st century, because it gives everyone a perspective of how we all naturally act and the way we are. It is portrayed that us as humans are designed to kill and defend what we own, so having acknowledged that people may become more aware and cautious of our natural and vicious behavior. I think that maybe if we are more aware of this, we may be able to control it a bit more in the future to avoid any more future crisis’s, in our overall desire for world peace.  

Lesson #1: Empathize with your enemy.

Lesson #2: Rationality alone will not save us.

Lesson #3: There’s something beyond one’s self.

Lesson #4: Maximize efficiency.

Lesson #5: Proportionality should be a guideline in war

Lesson #6: Get the Data

Lesson #7: Belief and seeing are both often wrong.

Lesson #8: Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning.

Lesson #9: In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil.

Lesson #10: Never say never.

Lesson #11: You can’t change human nature.

Terror struck in Oklahoma May 20, 2013 when a massive tornado with winds as high as 320km/h ripped through the city destroying everything in sight.  The destructive tornado flattened countless homes, two elementary schools and a medical center throughout its reign of terror.  There are 24 known dead victims of this harmful event, 10 of which are children and there are also 6 victims still unaccounted for. Little to nothing remains of the beloved area of Oklahoma, leaving thousands of people homeless, and heartbroken.  Thankfully President Obama assured that the country of Oklahoma would receive federal emergency aid  to help with the recovery process.

I think this devastating event is horrendous and absolutely shocking to see the type of damage that is so easily caused by mother nature. It is also very sad that the most damage was caused at the elementary schools, so most of the injured victims were children. It is a shame that such a tragedy cannot be predicted so no one is ever ready for such dramatic events. I hope the city of Oklahoma has a good recovery process and I hope all the families who lost loved ones in this event manage to eventually find peace.

Monday April 15, 2013 during the annual Boston Marathon, a tragic bombing terrorist attack took place killing several as well as injuring many civilians. The pressure cooker bombs exploded at 2:49 p.m.  near the finish line on Boylston Street. Shortly after the incident the FBI identified 2 suspects; brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Since the identification of the two suspects there was a gunfire exchange between the two and police taking place in Watertown, Massachusetts where one police officer was shot and suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev killed.  Boston then remained entirely on lockdown while the hunt for Dzhokhar continued. It was not long until he then was found and charged on April 22, with use of a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death.

I believe that these terrorist attacks on Boston are devastating not only to the people who were directly involved in it, but took a toll on everyone else around the world as well. The effects of these bombings were heart breaking for Boston and its civilians, but I also feel that now everyone else around the world witnessing these horrid events is now questioning their own safety within their own communities. The fact that such harmful weapons could be so easily brought into such a popular public event puzzles and concerns me. The sensitive subject will bring an uproar of new political and safety concerns around the world. I find it interesting how the motives of the terrorist brothers are not exactly clarified, and my heart goes out to all of the families affected by the attack.

If North Korea finalized the decision to attack the U.S., many believe it would only be a suicide mission. There has been a lot of recent confrontation between N. Korea and the U.S., and the current threats that Korea is imposing have been taken seriously, and the U.S. would be prepared for such an attack. North Korea is angry about sanctions against its nuclear program and joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea. The U.S. military defense systems are so much more advanced than Korea’s, therefore which is why it is being said that if N. Korea attacked it would merely be a suicide mission with only devastating outcomes. North Korea reportedly started moving a medium-range missile to its east coast last Thursday, but currently N. Korea lacks a strong enough missile that could even correctly hit the U.S.

I think it would be a very bad idea if N. Korea decided to follow through with their nuclear war threats. It is obvious that the U.S. is much more advanced in weapons and military defense, and is not even comparable to the types of weaponry the Koreans are prepared to use. North Korea wants to state its power to bigger countries in hopes of expanding as an empire, but I do strongly believe that attempting such a threatening task would only be a suicide mission with devastating outcomes for the Koreans.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/04/04/north-korea-attack-on-united-states-would-be-suicidal-bill-richardson-says/

The first female prime minister of the UK , Margaret thatcher, passed away last night due to a stroke, she was 87 years old and her influence on politics will forever be remembered along with her conservative ideology.  She was known as the “Iron Lady” because of her uncompromising politics and leadership style. Her rule that imposed conservative policies became known and will be remembered as Thatcherism. During her three terms, she cut social welfare programs, reduced trade union power and privatized certain industries.  Thatcher was very controversial for many and resigned in on November 22, 1990. She then wrote “The Downing Street” and “The Path to Power”, two books about her experience as a world leader as a female. Shortly after she struggled from health problems and suffered a few small strokes. At 87 her life was finally ended by a stroke, but her legacy will never be forgotten.

It is a very influential being the first female prime minister of the UK. I think Margaret Thatcher’s time in power was very revolutionary in many ways, but was so significant because of the fact that a woman was in power. I think her ideology was controversial for many, but does not take away from the successful outcomes of her legacy and influence on politics. It is a shame that such a strong influential female figure has passed away, but I also believe that the passing of “The Iron Lady” will also mark the historical legacy of a time when a woman had such a powerful strong rule that was well respected and will never be forgotten.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/08/world/europe/uk-margaret-thatcher-dead/?hpt=hp_t1

Tensions are dramatically escalated as North Korea said it's ready to fight a war with the United States.  It has been reported that “hundreds of thousands of Korean troops are poised for a war carrying nuclear war equipment.”  The most recent talk between Korea and the U.S. had little to no results of peace and negotiation. South Korea and the United States regularly hold military drills, and just as often North Korea denounces them as a provocation.  In response to the sudden war outbreak warnings, President Obama ordered a ballistic missile defense system be moved to the nearest U.S. military base to the rogue state. Recent threats and actions have been said to present real danger of a possible nuclear war outbreak.


I believe that the U.S. should be taking North Korea seriously in terms of the nuclear war threats. North Korea has shown and displayed serious actions upon imposing a real nuclear war. It has been said that the White House claims that they’ve “seen reports of a new and unconstructive statement from North Korea. We take these threats seriously and remain in close contact with our South Korean allies," even though North Korea has a history of bellicose rhetoric and threats and is currently displaying a similar pattern of such. I think if North Korea is serious about taking action, they have the opportunity to do so if the U.S. if not fully prepared for a nuclear attack. Results and outcomes may be devastating if proper precautions are not taken to North Korea’s seemingly very real threats.

In Bradford, England February 25, a man dressed up as Batman handed over a burglary suspect over to a police station. The West Yorkshire Police said Monday March 4, that they do not know the identity of the man in the Batman costume who handed over the 27 year old suspect, then vanished into the night. The supect handed in male was detained until the morning when he was escorted to court in Grimsby as he was also wanted for an offence in that area also. The bizarre incident left locals currious and wondering about the misterious crime solving "batman", and his intensions around their community.

Every little boy once desires of growing up to become a super hero, and i find it facinating that some unique civilians manage to make their dreams become relaity. I am very certain that many locals may be questioning "batmans" psychological state and reasonings for dressing up and acting like a fictional character. I think questions may be arousing such as what are his true intensions, and what is this "batman" character trying to get out of the heroic acts? Maybe even questions to if he was part of the initial crime, just to get a few minuets in the spot light. Regardless of the suspicians, i think whatever this man is doing is great! He is  solving crimes to make the community a better place as well as living a childhood dream as a unidentified super hero.

A Mississippi baby born with the HIV virus appears to have been cured after being treated with an aggressive regimen of drugs after her birth 2½ years ago. This unusual case could trigger changes in the cure for hundreds of thousands of babies born globally each year with HIV. This is only the second know case of somenone being cured from the virus. Once the baby was diagnosed after birth, it was transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center and started immediate treatment. The Doctors prescribed three aggressive drugs (AZT, 3TC, nevirapine) at once after birth. The baby stopped treatment after a year, at which this point the viral loads were undetectable. The immediate and early medication treatments are being thought to be the difference maker. 

I find it miraculous that doctors have managed to find another cured case of the HIV virus by the treatment of a combination of three agressive drugs. I beleive more studdies need to be concluded as to if the combination of the drugs was the key to the cure, or  if it was just simply the immediate treatment to the virus. I am currious to see if the child will stay cured of the virus for life, or if this is only a temporay solution. It impresses me that doctors may be on the verge of another medical break through, but i am also cautios to the idea that the child may or may not grow up with undetected side effects.