Turbulent flight from Burlington VT to Newark NJ. Then West Point bus to campus, then quick lunch and guided personal walking tour of campus by very cool history prof. During tour there are more salutes than I can count (officers refuse to walk upstrean during big plebe movements, which go like clockwork, so once we just stand to side and talk while river of plebes stride by, my history prof saying it's just to hard to interrupt their flow by making them all salute). Really cool privilege, the tour.
Then office call in Washington Hall overlooking parade field with colonel-head of Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering (the map guys, natch, with plenty now studying human terrain maps). I am their annual big evening speaker (plebe down time so dear that evening lectures are big deal).
Then to check AV situation in amphitheater. Then gear up back in room and back for 1930 talk. About 250 in attendance. Went probably 75-80. Then 20-25 Q&A, so two hours instead of planned 90. Then book signings in library and another 30 Q&A.
Then to local bars with department faculty (all officers, naturally), and much beer drunk before owner kicked us out after midnight. Great debates.
Then up early and out.
Pix to follow.
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Comments (5)
Dr. Barnett:
Thanks for a great talk. That was the most attentive I've seen cadets at an evening lecture in a long time. I guarantee every single one of them walked out of there challenged and provoked.
Posted by Ray Kimball
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April 4, 2008 7:35 AM
Kimball was my Army officer/tourguide/history prof.
Posted by Tom Barnett | April 4, 2008 8:19 AM
Dr. Barnett: Thank you for your lecture. It was the most exciting guest lecture of the year. I am posting a comment from one of our "Firstie" (Senior) high ranking cadets. Again, thank you. Representative cadet comment: My bottom line up front is that Dr. Barnett was by far one of the best academic lecturers I have seen in my time at the Academy. I am almost stunned by how good of a lecture that was. His breadth of knowledge and experience was incredible and the topics he covered were clearly extremely relevant to our future profession. Beyond that, he was a very captivating speaker and was able to use humor and delivery to keep the audience keenly interested. I feel the Academy needs to pursue more speakers like Dr. Barnett whose words force us to think critically about issues of strategic importance. I am grateful to Department of Geography & Environmental Engineering for acquiring such a remarkable speaker in Dr. Barnett and I hope that other departments will choose to do the same.
Posted by James Chastain | April 4, 2008 8:34 AM
Do you have audio or power point of your presentation at West Point
Posted by Matt Reynal | April 4, 2008 2:39 PM
glad you two hooked up, Tom and Ray.
Matt: probably not, but there are many other (older) versions of the Brief: http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/media/thebrief.htm
Posted by Anonymous
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April 4, 2008 10:00 PM