My time has come here in Iraq to pay the sacrifice called for by the American people - I have moved “to the flagpole” in the Chancery to sit in my boss’ seat as the Director for his 21-day R&R period. Being seated next door to the Director of J9 "Strategic Effects" brings with it a much higher set of expectations day-to-day, in terms of hours seated at the computer ready to immediately pounce on questions, reports and anticipated questions and reports.
The J9, a field artillery Major General, is an amazing individual, working 17 hour days while being responsible for strategic communications, linkage to the Embassy and a daunting range of specialties on behalf of the Commanding General. His days are spent as the USF-I Spokesman (you probably have seen him on TV at one point or another over the last year) as well as the advisor to the CG on politics, the recent elections, agriculture, trade/economics, water, energy (oil and electricity), women’s initiatives, education/literacy, media reporting, public affairs… pretty much everything that isn’t security. I heard him once say that he has read enough to “complete a law degree” in the last nine months.
So I have entered the “Hurt Cubicle.” My days will start at 6am, to be in my seat by 7:15am (having met all sustenance and caffeine requirements); logging off my machines at 9:30pm if I’m lucky. I have been called out of my CHU as late as 10:30pm to answer his questions in the past – so all bets are off for the next 10 days.
Grace & peace -
3 comments:
You're a funny man, Poppy. I will rest easy tonight knowing you are taking care of things...
First of all, I am unimpressed by completed law degrees. A chimp could complete a law degree, and I should know. Secondly, and on a more serious note, can anyone truly function when they are working 17 hours per day? I mean, good thinking and good judgment require rest. I don't think anyone would argue with that. People make bad decisions . . . and hurt themselves and others . . . when they are tired. I guess it is none of my business, but I'm just asking. When one of your helicopters goes down and kills a bunch of soldiers, do the investigators say, "This pilot was great, he worked 17 hours per day?" I know that you and the Generals are not driving heavy equipment, but it doesn't seem like the most productive way to get the most out of your cubicle warriors.
Dog -
I don't know about the chimp lawyers and such, doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I can't see them acting in my best interests, they would probably be more interested in picking parasites off of their law partners and the prosecution...
I can't defend this fairly Army-pure behavoir but it is worth the price of admission to see the Air Force officers' faces as they watch. If a facial expression can communicate "absolutle insanity," that's what they look like. There seems to be some form of alpha dog nature linked to these work hours. I hear the generals trying to out do each other in this arena.
Is it effective? Not for 98% of the crowd but there are the few. I heard that Clinton only needed 4 hours of sleep a night (what he was doing only the interns really know). There is more behind this story but it will take beers to explore it (that means I won't be here anymore).
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