NEW YORK -- A recent film, "The Fog of War," directed by Errol Morris -- about former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara's recollections of his political life -- should be required viewing for politicians worldwide. His testimony is valuable in several aspects. As a historical document, it provides unique material from the perspective of a key power player during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. As a political document, it shows how political decisions are made that may affect the lives of millions of people.

From a personal point of view it shows how the weight of the decisions that McNamara made during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations still bear on his personal life. Although he is unrepentant over his actions, his testimony will serve to judge not only his own but other players' role in these events.

McNamara had been president of the Ford Motor Co. -- the first person outside the Ford family to hold such a key position -- when he was asked by President John F. Kennedy to serve as his secretary of defense. As McNamara acknowledges, it was an unprecedented offer to someone without any experience in such affairs. When he made that point to Kennedy, the president responded, "But Bob, I don't think there is a school for the presidency either." McNamara could not refuse Kennedy's offer and went on to become a powerful voice in the administration.