I first met Robert S. McNamara, the brilliant, driven and deeply divisive former secretary of defense, in the autumn of 1996. McNamara, who died this week at the age of ninety-three and will forever be remembered as one of the principal architects of the Vietnam War, sought me out because...

It had to come some time. Despite a nearly flawless transition period of astute, substantive and widely praised cabinet appointments, the nascent Obama administration has unintentionally provoked its first controversy. Significantly, it is in the sphere of national security.

A vigorous effort is now underway to defend...

As we all saw on the morning of December 1, President-elect Barack Obama has clearly assembled a compelling national security team. As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton has the potential to be a highly effective and respected global diplomat. As secretary of defense, Robert Gates will provide excellent judgment and...