Talking ìeverything elseî with the Joint Staff and the Journal

Dateline: Reagan National Airport, Washington DC, 16 April

Today I spend four hours speaking to and with the Policy and Plans group within the Joint Staff, known by the code J-5. I give my full up briefing over 3 hours, with extensive Q&A. Youíd think the focus would be strictly war, but it was really on what I like to call the ìeverything else.î

By special permission, Greg Jaffe of the Wall Street Journal sits in on the proceedings.

Jaffe, a true student of how the Pentagon works, is interested in tracking how unconventional ideas move up the food chain within the building, and my brief fits his bill. Afterwards, we have dinner at Reagan National before I fly out. Talking with Greg is always a treat, because few know more about the current mood and workings of the Pentagon. All in all, a fascinating dayóworth getting up at 0430 to make happen.

One rule-set tidbit of the day: flying into Reagan means you canít get up from your seat to use the bathroom during the last 30 minutes of the flight. That is an essential rule set change that emerged from 9/11, geographically centered on one of the sites of the attacks.

As far as I am concerned, Reagan National Airportís slogan should be: Bin Laden means bladder control!.

Hereís today catch, culled by me during the flight into Reagan:

REFERENCES:

(1) ìAdministration Considers a Post for Intelligence: A Centralized Overseer,î by Douglas Jehl, New York Times, 16 April, p. A1.

(2) ìThe Iranian Hand,î by Michael Ledeen, Wall Street Journal, 16 April, p. A14.

(3) ìGreen Zone Start-Ups,î by Michael Broadhurst et. al, WSJ, 16 April, p. C4.

(4) ìTape, Probably bin Ladenís, Offers ëTruceí To Europe: Leaders Dismiss Any Negotiations,î by Richard Bernstein, NYT, 16 April, p. A3.

(5) ìEUís New Rules Will Shake Up Market for Bioengineered Foods,î by Scott Miller, WSJ, 16 April, p. A1.

(6) ìNewest Export Out of China: Inflation Fears,î by Keith Bradsher, NYT, 16 April, p. A1.

(7) ìMeeker Opines on China: Former ëQueen of the Netí Sees Much Possibility for Internet Stocks,î by Geoffrey Fowler and Suzanne Craig, WSJ, 16 April, p. C16.