Dateline: Westfields Marriott, Chantilly VA, 14 September 2005

The end of a long day, and a long day to come tomorrow.

Up early and over to the Pentagon by 0730. Colonel meets me in reserved parking and we check through the Metro entrance. Then to Office of Secretary of Defense transition suite where future Secretary of the Navy is taking briefs as part of his "schooling up" for confirmation process. I give a 2-hour version thanks to all the dialogue from this very lively mind (just an audience of two--the nominee and a military officer attending). Don't know much about the guy prior but came away impressed. He has a big job ahead of him dealing with a Navy that sees itself increasingly as a Leviathan trapped in a SysAdmin world. I was pretty blunt with him, as always, though I thought it was kinda cute that the colonel bothered to tell them that my remarks in this room where off the record. "I blog," I replied, "so there is no such thing as off-the-record for me."

Out in parking lot I hit the AC and dial up Warren to pass along my final proposed edits to the article I have in the November issue of Esquire entitled, "The Chinese Are Our Friends." Mark is very happy with the piece and so am I. Designed to break come crockery, it is.

Then a drive to Ronald Reagan (building, not the airport) where I park in the garage and I'm met by my host, a public affairs senior in the DHS universe who works in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection branch. He escorts me to the Department of Homeland Security's press briefing room in the bowels of RR (no, I did not use the lecturn). He introduces me to the real string-puller who brought me in, the Chief of Staff, former Navy guy. We chat for a bit and then the people file in and I do impromptu all verbal version of brief using white board to an audience of about 25. Lengthy Q&A where Steve DeAngelis, who came with me, chimes in. Fascinating story from the CBP people about a new global treaty establishing a World Customs Organization. Very SysAdmin. Very fascinating story. Want to learn more and want to help it grow. This is what DHS should be about: raising security practices the world over and not just at home.

Later, Steve and I have long lunch with our host and learn plenty about how the world works from the perspective of DHS. Again, fascinating stuff.

Then I drop off my car at Dulles and catch shuttle to this hotel, where client, the biggest renter of commercial property to the U.S. national security community here in MD and VA, has me to speak at their annual board meeting. Good meal, interesting conversation from a perspective I know little of. Then I speak about an hour and the day is done.

I've hit the Leviathan, the SysAdmin and the Businessman all in one day. Three on a match.

As always, I come away admiring the efforts of so many people to make the world a better place. Ain't easy. Won't happen tomorrow. So much to do despite the politicians. But the system is the strength, not the leadership of any one person or group or party--and thank God for that.