Last month in this column, we said our seminar program is Proceedings Live—and at Forum 2004 on 7 September in Crystal City, the 18 speakers, panelists, and moderators delivered on that promise. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace set the tone by delivering, without a note and out from behind the podium, a challenge for new legislation, such as Goldwater-Nichols, which ultimately helped the services fight better jointly, that would help federal agencies respond in more coordinated ways to meet the demands of the war on terror. General Pace’s address, like much of the symposium, was widely covered in the general media and broadcast on C-SPAN. Former Secretary of the Navy and 9/11 Commissioner John Lehman addressed the sellout audience with a straightforward assessment of the commission’s work and the rationale behind its recommendations. Both featured speakers gave frank and direct answers to questions from the audience. The three panels were outstanding—every participant engaged and advanced the discussion, which in every case could have run longer had we not had to keep the program on schedule. As we do for all seminars, every address and session is recorded and available. Many of the issues raised will be examined further on these pages. For example, Major General Bob Scales expands on his thoughtful comments in the lead article in this issue.
When you receive this issue, you still will have time to attend the the one-day seminar on biometric technology in San Francisco. Further down the road, make arrangements to participate in our largest event, West 2005, 1-3 February 2005 in San Diego. All these programs are designed to address real issues to help make the people who defend this nation—active forces, government employees, defense contractors, and the individual taxpayers—wiser and smarter.
The Naval Institute’s book enterprise also has been firing on all cylinders. Two current titles—Finishing Business: Ten Steps to Defeat Global Terror, by Harlan K. Ullman, and The Wastrels of Defense: How Congress Sabotages U.S. Security, by Winslow T. Wheeler—have received national attention. Harlan Ullman showcased some of the thinking of Finishing Business at Forum 2004, where he signed copies of the book, launching its publication. Winslow Wheeler provided glimpses into his insightful and hard-hitting analysis of Congress’s funding of defense in the lead feature in The Washington Post’s “Outlook” section on Sunday, 22 August 2004, and in this issue—see “Congress’s Deeds Do Not Match Its Words.”
Other significant books coming out this fall include the 18th edition of Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, by Norman Polmar, and Howard Hughes: Aviator, by George J. Marrett. Polmar’s completely revised edition is the standard reference for U.S. naval ships and aircraft by which all other related works are measured. Marrett flew as a test pilot for Howard Hughes, and his work will come out in November prior to the Hollywood movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hughes.