Dateline: United flight from Dulles to Indy, 6 December 2005

Great day today working the whole gamut: visionary stuff gets me access to do the Esquire stuff, which opens up all sorts of interesting potential leads for Enterra down the road.

Yes, I know that the promise of several million readers in an Esquire story opens doors all on its own, but I also know that I get to turn myself into instant journalist in large part because of the reputation created by the articles and books. So the vision takes me into places that are simply hard to access easily as a journalist, unless you put in the time and climb the usual ladders, which I didn't.

Once in, of course, I'm forced to work the story just like anyone else, and I must admit, I learned a ton from the Rumsfeld piece, thanks to Mark Warren. I'm shaping this piece a whole lot more as I interview this time.

But once in, I get interesting access to material and conversations that are delivered and received differently because of who I am and what I know. I've seen a lot of reporters briefed and they don't get the same flow I do. Of course, they're much more experienced and, I would readily admit, better at doing what they do than I am, but I bring a different tool kit to the proceedings, and that tool kit, plus the better bit rate I achieve, gives me a certain edge, so long as I stay big picture where I belong. I mean, I could do this for a long time and I'd never be Greg Jaffe (the man's reputation in the military is both uniform and towering), but since I want to be Tom Barnett instead (it's all I know, so to speak), I'm cool with that.

So a cool day today.

Get started at 0800 and make three interviews happen by 1100 over the phone. I just put my cell on speaker and hold the digital recorder in the same hand.

First a quick 20-min with a CSIS expert. Then about 45-min with a military officer who's an aide to a high-Pentagon official (have to get quote approvals from OSD on that guy, but worth it since he's so articulate and knowledgeable and basically the perfect interview for this piece). Then 30-min with a Army flag just before he goes on stage on a panel (very nice of him to fit me in; this guy arranged my time at TRADOC the day before).

Then I blog a bit and hit the road.

Lunch at Applebee's just outside Suffolk site of JFCOM with public affairs Navy captain (super knowledgeable on CENTCOM and JFCOM) and experienced civilian analyst). Then serious sitdown with J7 (experimentation) 2-star at JFCOM and head of Joint Center for Operational Analysis, with whom I met in Berlin a bit back and who set this all up. Plus another Marine colonel with big-time experience.

We went about 90 in a great discussion that really had me gelling on the storylines. Everyone in the room with Afghan or Iraq time, basically, so the quality of the debates on Leviathan/SysAdmin and first/second half stuff really strong.

Then two demo-focused brief in technology center nearby. Both opened my eyes considerably on how to explain the nature of the change I will capture in this piece. Also saw, as I always do, huge areas where Enterra could lend a serious hand and do a lot of good.

Then two flights home, getting to the apartment well after midnight.

Need to help spouse tomorrow on my day home. Second trip of week awaits.