Randy Garsee: Have News. Will Travel. From Iraq to D.C.

Have You Heard This Before?

2011-12-08T06:56:00.001-08:00

Iran's Quds Forces

2011-11-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

CNA's Director of Iranian Studies addresses the role of the Iran's Quds Forces in the wake of an alleged assassination plot on U.S. soil. Michael Connell, Ph.D., an expert on Iran, talks about the structure and activities of this secretive arm of the Iranian military. Produced by Randy Garsee.

North Korea Under Kim Chong-il

2011-11-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

North Korea Under Kim Chong-il:

Power, Politics and Prospects for Change

Don't be surprised if CNA Research Analyst Ken E. Gause's new book on North Korea is different from other books. "This book tends to go beyond just Kim Chong-il and deal with the people around him in the military circles, his security circles, the party circles, the cabinet circles, and the government circles around him," Gause explains. He's visited China previously and visited again this year in order to learn more about the Hermit Kingdom. Produced by Randy Garsee.

...

Experts Talk About a Post-Qadhafi Libya

2011-10-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Will the death of deposed Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi leave cracks in the fragile foundation of the National Transition Council? CNA research analysts Patricio Asfura-Heim and Lesley Anne Warner discuss a Libya without a dictator and what it means for the future. Produced by Randy Garsee.

The Two Sudans

2011-10-11T03:14:00.000-07:00

In an historic move, southern Sudan voted in January 2011 to become a separate nation from northern Sudan. Recently back from a trip to Rumbek in southern Sudan, CNA research analyst Lesley Anne Warner discusses the future of the two Sudans. Produced by Randy Garsee.

Post 9/11: The Science of Safety in the Skies

2011-05-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

On a daily basis, CNA research analyst Mark Lesko conducts analyses that is then handed to the top level executives at the Federal Aviation Administration. And as you're about to see, he had a hand in making many of the changes in aviation safety and security after 9/11. Produced by Randy Garsee.

Want to learn to fly? Grab a good book!

Pilot Alert!

2011-05-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

How CNA Analysts are Moving Messages Faster

(Washington, D.C.) When you're flying in a passenger jet, you can't see what's ahead and if something is in your pilot's way, you don't know fast he will be notified of a potential hazard. But working in support of the Federal Aviation Administration, research analysts in the Air Traffic Management division of CNA's Institute for Public Research have taken a 50-year-old system of delivering those alerts and upgraded it to lightning fast, modern day standards. Meet one analyst who's helping to make the friendly skies, safer skies. Produced by Randy Garsee.

Meanwhile, if you're interested, here's a great book on an aviation conspiracy by the late Michael Crichton:

Analysis Battlefield

2011-05-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

A Scientist's Work in War Zones

Whether it's fighting the problem of improvised explosive devices in Iraq or minimizing civilian casualties in Afghanistan, Dr. Jonathan Schroden, a CNA field representative assigned to U.S. Central Command, uses science to tackle life and death issues.

For more about the reality of a soldier's life on the battlefields of Afghanistan, read:

After Osama: A Warning

2011-05-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

An Expert on Al Qaeda Talks About the Implications

CNA research analyst Will McCants, Ph.D., is an expert on jihadists, like Al Qaeda and other extremists. He's also the founder of the blog, Jihadica.com. McCants is closely tracking the chatter on the Internet to monitor the impact of Osama Bin Laden’s death on the actions of jihadists worldwide. In my interview with McCants, he talks about monitoring the jihadists and offers a dire warning about possible terrorist attacks to come. Produced by Randy Garsee.

The Dynamite Fiend

2011-03-20T11:23:00.001-07:00

In Part X: Advice From a Literary Agent, Ted Weinstein talks about the types of works he represents and discusses the book, "The Dynamite Fiend." Produced by Randy Garsee.

The Dynamite Fiend from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

The Dynamite Fiend

Part X. Advice From a Literary Agent:

A Conversation with Ted Weinstein

“I’ve represented a number of works of history. Everything from what I would call micro history: books about a concept to a more sweeping history about a particular individual. 'The Dynamite Fiend' was a really fun book. Fun. It’s terrible about a mass murderer back in the 1800s, but it was telling a great story about an individual through whom you could really learn a lot more about that entire era. And so that was by a woman who is a professor at Michigan State so she mixed her deep historical expertise with a really fun writing style. So it got written up quite broadly, sold quite nicely, because she was able to combine t he two. Great historical expertise, again, with the ability to write it for a general audience."

Literary Matchmaking

2011-03-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

Part IX: Advice From a Literary Agent

On Collaboration and Matching Authors.

In this video, San Francisco literary agent Ted Weinstein discusses his role as a kind of literary matchmaker. Produced by Randy Garsee. Transcription is below.

Literary Matchmaking from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

IX. On Collaboration and Matching Authors

(Citing the book, Changing Planet, Changing Health by Paul Epstein, MD and Journalist Dan Ferber)

Ted Weinstein: “I match author and co-authors often and represent writing teams. There are many, many subject matter experts who, because of lack of time, because of lack of talent, because of lack of interest, aren’t the people who should be writing their insights into book form for a general audience. And I know an enormous pool, as does every agent, of professional co-authors whose job is solely to translate an expert’s insights into accessible language. So there are a number of books I’ve represented that were writing teams. Doctors who don’t want to even pretend to write a book but would really like to share their cutting edge knowledge. There are a number of folks like that. For example, Paul Epstein is the head of the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment. He has a co-author, a noted science journalist, and they have a book coming out called Changing Planet, Changing Health. The team of journalists, who actually went out and did some more reporting, and the expert at Harvard, who has spent a lifetime covering public health issues and how they’ve been influenced by global warming; that duo brought a book to fruition. Individually, neither of them couldn’t have done it.”

The Roots of Arab Outrage

2011-03-11T06:26:00.000-08:00

There are many reasons why demonstrators have taken up signs, flags and chants across the Arab world, but not all the reasons may be the same for each country. In this interview, the director of CNA’s International Affairs Group, Eric Thompson, Ph.D., who’s also an expert on the Arab world, talks about the roots of the outrage and what it means for the United States. Produced by Randy Garsee. Scroll down for the full transcript of the interview.

Eric Thompson: “I think what we’re seeing right now is a simultaneous expression of frustration with the status quo. Despite the absence of participatory electoral processes and the longevity of the regimes we see. There has been a long tradition of public protests and political activism in this part of the world. In the 1970’s and as early as three years ago we saw bread riots in Egypt. We saw massive public demonstrations in the early 1990’s demanding democracy in Algeria. We’ve seen massive demonstrations in the 2005 timeframe in Lebanon regarding what the nature of their government was going to be. And in 2008 we saw Shia protesting on the street in Kuwait. So this form of expression is not something new for the region.”

“I would not characterize this as contagion or the domino effect, but I would say there is a strong degree of inspiration; inspiration regarding a particularly successful tactic, in this case, the large scale, rapid organization of peaceful protests. I think in Egypt, in Yemen, it’s about purging the regime from control, that is, getting rid of the old guard. In Bahrain they’re asking for something different through these public protests. First it was about getting rid of the prime minister and it seems to have evolved over time to calling for constitutional reform. We see protests on the street now in Iraq and that’s about purging corruption from the regime and getting more social services and more effectiveness from their governance. And in Jordan it was about frustration with the old guard and simply calling for a change in the cabinet officials. So, it’s a common tactic. People are inspired by what works and what’s effective in getting the government’s attention, but they’re really asking for different kinds of things from their governments.”

“The degree to which these protests are about democracy and about bringing democracy to the country, I would say, varies. All of the protestors are frustrated with the nature of their regimes and the decisions they’ve been making. They don’t want business as usual. They want other people involved in making decisions. And the degree to which that is changing the people who were in charge or changing the process to make it more responsive or whether it’s about democracy really varies widely. I think you are seeing calls for the wholesale change of the form of government in places like Yemen and, obviously, places like Libya. But in many cases people are just calling for a change in the way these governments rule and calling for more reflection of what they want in the process.”

“What we’ve seen in the initial response in most of these cases comes from police forces and other internal security forces. And, unfortunately, in several cases, in Egypt, in Yemen and in Bahrain, these forces have been willing to use violence against unarmed protestors. When we’ve seen the militaries get involved, we get a different kind of response. And in some ways it’s a good news story for the United States and a good news story for the people when these large militaries who have been working for a long period of time with the United States, are brought into these circumstances. For example, in Egypt, in Jordan and in Bahrain we have seen restraint by the professional militaries in these countries. Now it’s unclear whether that restraint has come from choices made by the political leaders or choices made by the military leaders. But the outcome is in these cases where we work closely with them, the militaries have remained cogent and unified and they have not been prone to use violence as a response. In other cases, such as in Libya, we see the wanton use of violence by these militaries. And so, I think there is something to be said for a professional military that the people trust, using restraint, as being a fundamental determinant of these events.”

More Than Human

2011-03-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

More Than Human

(Or Being More Than Just an Agent)

Part VIII: Advice From a Literary Agent

In Part I of the series, Advice From a Literary Agent, Ted Weinstein pointed out, “I’ve spent as much as eight or nine months with clients just polishing a proposal.”

The point is if you find an agent who believes in your work, he or she should also be patient enough to work with you, to get your proposal or work exactly right before attempting to sell it to publishers. An example of that kind of patience and persistence is provided here in Part VIII as Ted explains how he worked with one non-fiction writer to get the proposal right. Produced by Randy Garsee.

More Than Human (Or Being More Than Just an Agent) from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

Transcription for

Part VIII: Advice From a Literary Agent:

More Than Human (Or Being More Than Just an Agent)

Ted Weinstein/Literary Management: “A client of mine is named Ramez Naam and he’s one of those people who’s both brilliant, as a computer engineer formerly at Microsoft, and also a magnificent writer. And he has been fascinated by cutting edge technologies in all realms for a very long time and was especially intrigued by biotech. And started to dig in just on his own as an amateur.

He didn’t have a writing gig. He was a full time employee at Microsoft, pretty high-level engineer, but got intrigued and started writing a proposal for a book that was digging into what’s actually happening in the lab with the new biotechnologies. But he didn’t really have the right framework. So he and I met and I saw that he had potential. He was writing really well about a very interesting new field, but we spent a lot of time working on how do you structure that so that it makes a real story. So that it wasn’t just a compendium of anecdotes. So that it wasn’t just ‘gee-whiz.’ By the time he was done he had a framework that really worked nicely.

We sold the book to an imprint at Random House. He was written up in the New Yorker. The book was a great success. It required the help of many, many people beyond me, but what he had initially was an enthusiast’s package. And I think, without even an ego about it, I helped him tune it, get it to something that was closer to what a book actually needs to be framed like.”

The Art of the Book Proposal. Part VII. Advice From a Literary Agent

2011-02-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

VII. Advice From a Literary Agent:

The Art of the Book Proposal
In this installment of Advice From a Literary Agent, Ted Weinstein offers his professional insight into the art of the non-fiction book proposal, from your author bio to marketing and more. Produced by Randy Garsee. Scroll down for the transcription of Ted's interview and links to the books he recommends.

Transcript of

Part VII. Advice From a Literary Agent:

The Art of the Book Proposal

Ted Weinstein: “A proposal is really nothing but a business plan. It’s a sales document. On some levels it’s a brochure for a book you haven’t yet written. And when I say brochure what I mean is that it’s being used to sell your book to an agent first.

“Then the agent will presumably help the author polish that proposal, hone it, get it even stronger and then that newly revised brochure goes out to the book publishers, the editors, to try to persuade them to pony up money to support this project giving the author the time and the space and the support to actually finish the book.

“In addition, while that’s going on, they’re trying to sell that project further into their organization, into their own publisher, into their own marketing, into their own publicity groups to get them fired up for the project. And then when the book is ready, the sales just continue where you’re trying to sell it in to the retailer and to the public.

“So at every step somebody’s trying to help the author sell their work on to the next step in the process and the important part about thinking about a book proposal, again is, it is a business plan. It needs to be both style and substance, describing here is what the book is going to be in a way that gets people excited.”

Style & Substance

“When I say style and substance, I mean that there are two different chunks, two different sections, two different elements, that every book proposal has to include. The first are the elements that are all about the literal substance of the book. A detailed table of contents and that can be anywhere from 3-10 pages, literally summarizing, chapter-by-chapter, this is what the book is going to contain. It’s showing the roadmap. It’s basically showing an editor, hey, you haven’t finished writing the book yet, but you have a very clear picture of what the book is going to be. You may not know every element that’s going to go into it and everybody understands that between book proposal and finished book, there are always going to be some changes, but at least it shows a seriousness and a clarity of vision of the book that you want to write.”

Ted's Recommendations for Books about Book Proposals:

Write a Chapter

“And then there’s almost invariably, especially for a first time trade author, the need for a detailed full sample chapter. Usually better to be one of the earlier chapters so that it doesn’t presume any knowledge. Just, ‘Here, here’s chapter one. Not the introduction, but here’s the first chapter written the way the entire book is going to be written. So that’s the substance. That shows an agent; it shows an editor, this author has his or her chops. This author really knows the book they want to write and has already proven, with some shorter sections, that they can deliver on what they’re promising.”

About the Author

“Then wrapped around that are all of the style elements. That is the business part of things that shows, who’s the author what are their credentials? What is their platform? Why is he or she the exact right person to write this book and, in fact, the only person who can write this book? Another element is going to be what are the comparable titles – and I say comparable, not competitive – because in a comparable title section you’re trying to do two things. You want to show titles that are at least tangentially related to your own, that have sold well, thinking almost like a Venn diagram. Here are books in category A, category B, category C; books written in style A, B, or C, but they’re very similar to what the author is trying to do here. And, yet, there is nothing at the unique intersection of those three different categories. Here’s where the author’s book is going to reside. Here’s why a stranger might walk into a Barnes and Noble or why they might browse it on Amazon or bn.com and buy this particular book on this subject.”

Marketing & Promotion

“Then you need a very detailed plan on how the author is going to market their book. I say with a big smile not to insult the publishers, but you should always assume a publisher will do nothing on behalf of your book to market it. And then be pleasantly surprised when they, in fact, do some things, but especially within the first few months. Publishers are putting out new books all the time and they have to move their marketing efforts on to the next book. So, for the long term, an author is always, always going to be the primary marketer and publisher for their own book. And so what you want to do in the book proposal is show these are all the ways I’m going to market my book. These are all the outlets, all the venues that a publisher wouldn’t know about already to say we’re going to send copies to the New York Times and to the Washington Post for book reviews, absolutely, that’s great. But then, based on the expertise of the author they have to say, ‘Here are the specialized ways we can reach folks that are going to be particularly interested in this book. And so you add all of these elements altogether and that is the substance of the book, the style, or the wrapper of the business plan elements that go around it, that makes the complete package that agents want to see and that we, in turn, take to publishers."

VII. Advice From a Literary Agent: The Art of the Book Proposal from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

VI. Advice From a Literary Agent: Who Are You Writing For?

2011-02-20T10:35:00.000-08:00

In this installment of Advice From a Literary Agent, Ted Weinstein answers the question, "Who are you writing for?" Have you ever asked yourself that question? Who is your reader or readers? Who is your audience? For another interesting reply to this question, scroll down. Meanwhile, enjoy Part VI. Produced by Randy Garsee.

VI. Advice From a Literary Agent
(A Note from Randy Garsee)

I’ve interviewed scores of writers over the years, but on the question of “Who are you writing for?” one response stood out to me. I met the New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton in Tucson, Arizona, just over four years ago. She was there for a horror/fantasy convention called TusCon. She is the fantastical mind behind The Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series and the series featuring Fey princess and private investigator, Merry Gentry.

She told me, "I am writing it the way I want to see it. If other people would write the way I want to read it, I wouldn't feel compelled."

I thought that was a great reply from a fiction author. You can read the entire article, "Come Play." From Vampires to Fairies: The Literal Transformation of Author Laurell K. Hamilton, on one of my other blogs.

Meanwhile, here is how literary agent Ted Weinstein replies to the question, especially for non-fiction witers.

Who Are You Writing For?

Ted Weinstein: “The first question an author needs to ask him or herself is who am I writing for? The assumption is they know what it is they have to say. The real question is, ‘Who are you writing for?’ And I always use as an ideal reader in my own head when I’m looking at a proposal and trying to figure out, does this have potential? I just imagine my father. College educated, retired, reads widely, and is this the kind of book that would attract a general interest reader like him? We all have our own biases. We all have our own frames. We’re not always going to have a perfect sense for what a general reader is going to read and there are certainly different audiences for all kinds different kinds of books. There’s specialty history. There’s general history. That’s okay. But if you’re thinking in terms of a general reader then at that point you can say to yourself, ‘Okay, there might be a possibility here.’ But then the more detailed exercise to really flesh out that argument and to make sure you can do a book that’s right for those general readers to write a full book proposal.”

What's Happening Between the Koreas?

2011-02-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

A CNA expert talks about the provocations and problems brewing between North and South Korea. In this interview, RADM Michael McDevitt, USN, (Ret.) gives you a glimpse of the history and horror between these two countries. McDevitt is vice president and director of CNA Strategic Studies, a division of CNA's Center for Naval Analyses he helped to launch. Produced by Randy Garsee. You can also read the entire interview transcript below.

What’s Happening Between the Koreas?

An Interview with the Director for CNA’s Center for Strategic Studies, RADM Michael McDevitt, USN, (Ret.)

When Harry “Met” Kim

“First of all, the United States has been in Korea since 1950, when President Harry Truman sent the U.S. in to respond to a North Korean invasion. It was an attempt to reunify the Korean Peninsula under the communist regime in the north. Since the Korean Armistice in ’53, the United States has had a military presence in the country to deter another North Korean invasion and we remain there, some 60 years later. I’m sure President Truman, never in his wildest dreams would’ve imagined that the U.S. would still be in a position to have to worry about deterring aggressive North Korean behavior 60 years after the fact.”

The War Isn’t Over?

“That’s correct. It’s an armistice regime. There was never a peace treaty. There is no peace treaty. That’s one of the issues on the table for the future, reaching some sort of a permanent peace treaty. But there is a U.N. Armistice Commission that meets at Panmunjom periodically that has North Korean representatives, South Korean representatives, U.S., and what have you. That’s all part and parcel of what’s been going on for the last six decades.”

So What’s Happening Now?

“The six-party talks that have been going on now for about six years, were an attempt by the Bush administration to bring all of the interested parties, the Russians, the Chinese, both Koreas, the Japanese and the United States, to the table to address the issue of North Korea’s building of nuclear weapons. The concept was that the other five parties collectively would bring enough pressure to bear and provide the potential for incentives and negotiate an end to the North Korean nuclear weapons program. Those have failed. Subsequently, the North Koreans have tested nuclear weapons twice and the talks have essentially reached a dead end. There is the possibility that would resume, but the Obama Administration has correctly said, without returning to the agreed principles that the North Koreans agreed to in September of ‘05 that their goal is the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, we’re not going to start talking. The North Koreans have said, ‘Hey, now that we’ve tested nuclear weapons. We’re a nuclear weapons state. We want to be treated like India and Pakistan. Why should I give them up?’ And so that’s where we are right now."

Less Talk, More Provocation

“In addition to the nuclear issue, the other part that has come to the fore again in 2010 are North Korean provocative actions and the use of conventional military force. In 2010, they sunk a South Korean corvette patrolling in the water areas along the DMZ, obviously in the maritime space, sunk the Korean corvette Cheonan and killed 46 South Korean sailors. In fact, I had the chance to see the wreckage of the Cheonan. They raised it, salvaged it, put it up on blocks at [Republic of Korea] Second Fleet and it’s quite remarkable.

“Then, this past November, they shelled an island again in this disputed territory that South Korea occupies, killing two South Korean Marines who were on the island, there’s a military base there, as well as two civilians because there is a civilian village there.

“These kinds of activities have been typical of what the North Koreans have done over many, many decades. If you recall, back in 1967, they boarded and captured the surveillance ship, the USS Pueblo that was operating in international waters. In fact, they still have the Pueblo in one of their harbors. They released the crew after some years. They’ve blown up South Korean airliners. They’ve shot down U.S. airplanes, surveillance airplanes operating in international air space. They’ve attacked and killed U.S. soldiers in the demilitarized zone who were reacting to their efforts to chop down a tree. The U.S. soldiers went out to talk to them to see what was going on and they used axes to kill two American officers. And any innumerable against the South Koreans over the years, like blowing up a good portion of the South Korean cabinet with a bomb in Rangoon. They tried to assassinate the [South Korean] president and accidentally killed his wife instead."

Dangerously Risky Business

“People say, ‘Why do they keep doing these things?’ And, of course, nobody knows for sure, but one thing that it has done is that it’s created the impression in the minds of the leadership in South Korea and the United States that the leadership in Pyongyang has a very high tolerance for risk. In other words, they’re willing to take chances; doing all of these things and run the risk of retaliatory action by the alliance that could lead to war. They’ve been willing to do that. Not only have they been willing to do that, the alliance has never responded. You might say, ‘Why? Why haven’t they responded?’ Well, the reason is both the South Korean government and the United States is worried that it could trigger escalation and lead to another Korean War. So, in effect, the alliance has been deterred from responding to these provocative acts for fear that would unleash a tit-for-tat response that could escalate into war.

“Therefore, the U.S., while it deters another North Korean invasion, the alliance (the South Koreans and the United States) have been deterred by the impression we have of the leadership in Pyongyang that they’re willing to take risks, that they have a high tolerance for risk. We have been deterred for fear that it would lead to another war. On top of that, the capitol of South Korea, Seoul, is only less than 20 miles south of the DMZ. It’s within artillery and rocket range of North Korean batteries. Without actually trying to attack, in other words mobilizing an army and marching across the border, they can shell Seoul. They’ve threatened over the years to turn Seoul into a Sea of Fire. This demonstration where they hit the island, YeonPyeong, and killed the two Marines and the two civilians, was just a demonstration for the first time of how they could do that. And so the combination of these factors have made the alliance very risk averse because we don’t know for sure what they’re likely to do in response to a retaliation.”

No More Mister Nice Guy,

But is it the Right Move?

“So, I would say, for the last 50 odd years that these provocative acts have taken place, we’ve essentially had a policy of turning the other cheek. That is just beginning to change. The current president of South Korea, Lee Myung-Bak, was under considerable political pressure, first with the sinking of the Cheonan and then the shelling last year, to be more forceful in his response.

“So he has changed South Korea’s posture to what he calls ‘pro-active deterrents.’ Which means, he’s saying, we’ve been too passive over all these years. We need to react and we will do a tit-for-tat. And he’s indicated in a speech to the country that we have to be willing to accept more risk than we’ve ever been willing to accept before.

“In my opinion, this is an incredibly courageous policy on their part, because there is a possibility of war. But because there is a possibility of war, it’s also a very dangerous policy.”

“Look at how successful South Korea has been over the last 50 years. They have something like the 13^th largest economy in the world. Their trade is booming. Their economy is booming. South Korean businesses and industries are amongst the leaders in many areas around the world. So you say to yourself, maybe turning the other cheek and accepting periodic North Korean provocations, but, thereby, avoiding war has turned out to be a better strategy than responding because it makes you mad to sit there and have to take these provocative acts and not do anything. So we shall see if North Korea does something else, and I suspect that they might, how South Korea responds and if they do respond, will North Korea respond to that response? And then will South Korea respond to that response? And so will we get in this cycle, as I said, of tit-for-tat, or action reaction? And who’s going to blink first? Who’s going to stop first? This becomes an issue of face. There’s a lot of uncertainty now going forward. While on the one hand this proactive deterrent posture makes everybody feel better and it assuages political concerns domestically in South Korea. When the passions of the moment calm down a little bit, it’ll be interesting to see if the South Koreans say, ‘Well, wait a minute. Do we really want to risk having Seoul shelled, or getting into one of these exchanges with the North Koreans? Because we think the North Koreans have a higher tolerance for risk than we do.’ I think they do. At least, their history has shown they do.”

Dear Leader, Young General, Big Problem

“The final complicating point is North Korea’s in the process of political transition. Kim Jong-il, the second leader of North Korea, has had a stroke. He’s about 68 or 69 years old and people are not clear about the state of his health. So, he, just last year, picked his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, to be his designated successor. And he’s promoted him to 4-star general. He’s a 29-year-old 4-star general. And there is a succession process going on in North Korea. In which, the Young General, as he’s known, has to, slowly but surely, be deemed as a credible successor to his father. And one of the ways that he builds credibility is if he is seen as being involved or in the planning. For example, the planning in the sinking of the South Korea ship, or in the planning of the artillery attacks. How I characterize it is does he have his fingerprints on those activities, building up his resume as it were as a tough, resourceful leader, willing to take military action to defend the North Korean state. So, if these provocative acts in the future are tied up with the succession process and the young general has his fingerprints on these acts, it would be very difficult for North Korea to back off then, because that will undercut credibility and have an impact on succession politics in Pyongyang. So that adds a degree of complication and danger, I think, to the whole process.”

V. Advice From a Literary Agent: How Agents Find Writers

2011-02-13T08:52:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how literary agents find writers? In Part V. Advice From a Literary Agent, Ted Weinstein continues his straightforward guidance by explaining the three ways he finds the writers who go on to become his clients. Produced byRandy Garsee.

V. Advice From a Literary Agent: How Agents Find Writers from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

V. Advice From a Literary Agent:

How Agents Find Writers

Ted Weinstein: “My clients come in one of three ways, and it actually splits about a third, a third, a third.
   A number of my clients come from referrals. Smart people know smart people. Very good people know very good people.
   About a third come from blind submissions.
   I always smile when other agents say, ‘Ah, I’m too busy to read my submissions. Ah, it’s just a burden.’ And I have sold six-figure deals off strangers who have just sent me an e-query. So there are talented people who may not know somebody. They’re doing very good research to figure out who are the best agents out there, send in a query. Most of us are still doing the reading and doing the research that way.
   And then a third actually comes from me reaching out to strangers. If I’ve read, for example, an op-ed by somebody who has something interesting to say, I will very often send an e-mail saying, ‘That was a great op-ed in the Washington Post. I see that you haven’t written a book yet. Are you thinking of doing a book on this topic or maybe something else? Would love to have a chat with you.’
   So we’re scouting as much as we’re fielding. And, again, the world is a big messy place. There isn’t one route where clients come to us or vice-versa.”

IV. Advice From a Literary Agent: The Brand Called You

2011-02-06T10:34:00.000-08:00

"Think of yourself as CEO of your own multimedia empire."

In the fourth part of the series, Advice From a Literary Agent, Ted Weinstein talks about building your own brand as a writer and cites a book he represented titled, The Brand Called You. Produced by Randy Garsee. Scroll down for the transcription.

IV. Advice From a Literary Agent: The Brand Called You from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

IV. Advice From a Literary Agent:

The Brand Called You

Ted Weinstein: “There is no particular answer to how much of a platform you should have. The right answer is, ‘As much as you can get.’ What I’d say is maybe there’s a bigger picture way to think about it which is building one’s own brand. It sounds very corporate. It sounds very NBA-ish but it’s not the wrong premise.
I have another client named Peter Montoya who teaches workshops on personal branding. It’s called The Brand Called You and what he does, largely to sole proprietors and staffers in the personal finance and legal realm, but the same principles apply , it’s ‘think of yourself as the corporation.’ And I always say to my clients, ‘Think of yourself as CEO of your own multimedia empire.’ You’re building a lifetime career and everytime there’s an opportunity you should be doing everything you can to make yourself better known for the work that you do. It certainly benefits you. So there isn’t a single right answer to how much of a high profile you should have. I guess the right answer is always, ‘More, more, more’.”

III. Advice From a Literary Agent: Platform

2011-01-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

"Every agent gets a comment from folks, ‘Great, get me a book deal and I’ll be famous.'"

Ted Weinstein, Ted Weinstein Literary Management

What is platform and why is it important for writers who want to become published authors? In this edition of Advice From a Literary Agent, Ted Weinstein, whose representation includes bestselling authors, explains platform and how to build your own. Runs 2 min. 29 secs. Produced by Randy Garsee.

III. Advice From a Literary Agent: Platform from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

Transcription of III. Advice From a Literary Agent: Platform

Ted Weinstein: “Platform literally means how high do you stand above the others. In a more nuts and bolts way what that means is, ‘Okay, you’re a rock star in your field, but how many folks know you as the rock star in your field?’ And every author now needs to make a name for themselves first.

"Every agent gets a comment from folks, ‘Great, get me a book deal and I’ll be famous.’ And the right answer is, ‘No, no, get famous and then I’ll get you a book deal. And that’s oversimplification, it’s unfair, but, in summary, it’s not far from the truth. So my business is changing because over time agencies are taking on more of those responsibilities. We’ve always scouted, but increasingly we’re doing deep editing. I’ve spent as much as eight or nine months with clients just polishing a proposal.

"I just sold a book, last week as a matter of fact, by the executive director of Institute For the Future, which is an independent, not-for-profit think tank in Palo Alto. They are futurists. Self-described. They have an enormous number of corporate and government clients. Their job is to think big, think smart and sell that thinking to others. The woman who leads the group is so well-connected the number of blurbs she had, on her proposal, not blurbs on her book, but blurbs on her book proposal from famous people with bestselling books was astonishing. It extended for an entire page, just quotes saying this woman is a rock star. She’s got great insights. You should buy this book because we’re going to blurb it when the book comes out as well. She’ s deeply wired into all of Silicon Valley, so when the book comes out, a year, eighteen months from now, she already has a built-in marketing platform.

"So even if the publisher doesn’t do as much as we hope they will, she’s still going to be able to sell a lot of copies on her own. And what that means again for agencies is we’re helping with so much of that. We’re helping craft a book proposal. We’re helping an author think through their ideas and many of us who come from a background in marketing (not every agent does, but I did) are helping our clients even once the book is published, pushing down the road towards public marketing.”

That's Write: Build Your Own Brand

2011-01-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

In this short video, San Francisco literary agent Ted Weinstein talks to writers about how to build their own brand and get noticed. It's an important step on your pathway to publication. Produced by Randy Garsee. For more information, visit www.twliterary.com

The Wounded Warrior Mentor Program

2011-01-21T04:52:00.000-08:00

CNA research analyst Hank Kenny is a volunteer and organizer with the The Wounded Warrior Mentor Program. An amputee himself from wounds suffered in Vietnam, Kenny discusses the non-profit program and how mentors help to change the lives of wounded warriors returning from battlefields overseas. Former Marine Andy Hatcher, who survived an IED attack in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, talks about how the mentor program pointed him in the right direction for life after the military and as an amputee. For more information, visit www.wpwoundedwarriormentorprogram.com. Produced by Randy Garsee. web: www.randygarsee.com e-mail: randygarsee@gmail.com

That's Write! You Can be a Published Author

2011-01-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with San Francisco
Literary Agent Ted Weinstein

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews with Ted Weinstein. In this introduction, you will meet Ted and start learning about how to take the first step on your path to becoming a published author. Scroll down for more information about the interview and a transcription of what he had to say here. Produced by Randy Garsee.

(Context: The interview with Ted Weinstein took place at the headquarters of CNA, home of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Institute for Public Research in Alexandria, Virginia. Initially, the interview was designed to give guidance to the analysts at CNA who wish to think of their work in a more mainstream context. However, the extensive interview gives guidance to any writer who wants to get published. While Weinstein focuses on non-fiction, his advice and anecdotes are universal. Weinstein’s literary management practice is based in San Francisco. His website is www.twliterary.com )

Meet Ted Weinstein

“I’m Ted Weinstein. I’m a literary agent. I represent a pretty broad range of non-fiction authors; everything from serious narratives, history, biography, current affairs. A lot of practical non-fiction, which can be anything from personal health and personal finance to pretty high-end business books. And some other books that are quirkier and less predictable. The range is a lot of fun.

“I’ve been doing this for a little over nine years. I’ve been in publishing for almost 20. And I hung out a shingle back what turned out to be nine days before 9/11.

“Every author has pride of authorship, which is wonderful. I believe every author would benefit from some editorial help. There are very few authors who write deathless prose on the first draft or even the third draft of their own. I don’t think any author finds it an easy process, but a self aware, smart, astute, mature author will be able to. If I’ve done good work with them and if I’ve matched them with the right editor, they’ll be able to, with a little bit of time, to breathe and walk away. Come back, look at the manuscript and say, ‘Yea, it’s better because of the help these other people provided.

“Every agency has a website and we are all putting up an enormous amount of helpful material, because we want authors to succeed. And the more we can give material and information and guidance and templates, the better the quality of the pitches that are coming to us. So once an author has a sense of, ‘This is the project I want to write,’ next step is to do the research. Go to lots of agencies’ websites. Read some of the books that are out there. One in particular is by Susan Rabinar called Thinking Like Your Editor and the first couple of chapters are a brilliant exercise in crystallizing, ‘Do you really have something to say?’ Because she forces an author to think through, ‘Okay, and so what? What are the implications of what you’re writing? Just writing the facts is uninteresting. Writing something that has an implication for the reader is what’s necessary for a book to succeed. So what I’d say is, ‘Professionalism, doing the research, thinking clearly that this is a projected intended to be commercial, that I do this for a living. I don’t do this for fun or love, although I get some of both in it.’ Publishers are absolutely by definition a business and the more that an author can come to agents and then to editors with something that looks like a very crisp business plan for what will eventually be a product, a book, the more the author can approach us with that crystal clear business professionalism, the greater their chance of success.”

Snow Angels

2011-01-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

This is Woodbridge, Virginia. I live in a place surrounded by angels.

The woman who owns the house tells me angels, in the form of people, have always appeared in her life when she needed them.

Now there are angels outside and inside of her home.

An amazing thing about these outdoor angels...

They're always here, watching, in good weather and bad. In sunshine or snow.

Sometimes, they even sleep.

But they're always here, watching, sometimes with curiosity on their faces.

But mostly they are here to remind us
there are always angels. Sometimes we find them. Sometimes they find us.
An angel is like hope. It's always there. Just open your eyes.

Enhancing Education: CNA Analysts Take Hands-on Approach in Appalachia

2010-12-14T03:34:00.000-08:00

Before you can take the latest research on education and transport it into a classroom, you have to build a bridge. The CNA Institute of Public Research is building those metaphorical bridges in the Appalachian region of the United States. For the analysts who are working to improve education in difficult areas, the reasons are often as personal as they are professional. Produced by Randy Garsee.

CNA Education: "RELevant" to West Virginia's Schools

2010-12-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

Historically, CNA is known for its research and analyses for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. But through CNA's Education division, analysts' work also finds its way into the classrooms of thousands of school children. Meet one man who works to improve education for the students of West Virginia. Produced by Randy Garsee

CNA Gets "REL" in Appalachia

2010-12-02T04:04:00.000-08:00

Low-performing schools, funding, graduation rates... just a few educational storm fronts blowing through any state. Today, however, CNA's Institute for Public Research is in four states, applying science and analysis, to turn those storms into winds of positive change for our children.
For example, in Kentucky, you'll find an analyst who's a former teacher, but
working to take the study of research into the practical world of classrooms. Produced by Randy Garsee.

New Video: The Tucson Murals Project

2010-09-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

Quantifiably Quantico

2010-09-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a good day for a few photos from a recent tour of Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Enjoy.

One Ship & A Charleston Reunion

2010-09-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

USS Savannah (AOR-4)

I recently took a trip to Charleston, SC to reunite with a couple of my former shipmates and mourn the passing of the USS Savannah (AOR-4), our former ship. I say mourn her passing because she was cut up into scrap metal on national television. You can see the highlights, (or the lowlights if you served aboard her) at this National Geograpic website. But the reunion was great and everyone had a good time, I think. They invited me to speak, so I caught them up on some of CNA's research on the future of the Navy. I'm hardly the expert, but I had some information I could pass on, thanks to CNA's work. I also put together a video obituary of the Savannah, just to kind of say, "Fair winds and following seas" to the old girl. The reunion was well organized by the AOR-4 Association of the USS Savannah.

There are some beautiful homes along Battery Park in
Charleston, SC. This is just one example.

Nothing like a strategically-placed leaf, I al-
ways say.

A Cannon at Battery Park. Fortunately, it wasn't loaded.

Catching a ride with some friends, I managed a quick tour of Charleston. Battery Park was certainly a picturesque place. More history here than I can recount in a single blog post, but I thought I'd share a few photos.

William Gilmore Simms, Civil War author of "A City Laid Waste."

Cover of the 1983-84 USS Savannah (AOR-4) Cruise Book.

CNA Analyst Soars at Navy's Top Gun School

2010-09-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

Dr. Robyn Lalime has soared with the Navy, and CNA, for more than two years. As a CNA field representative she works at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Fallon, Nevada. That means Lalime works with pilots in the Navy's Fighter Weapons School, also known as Top Gun. As you're about to see in this video, Lalime is as excited about flying in fighter jets as she is about applying physics to study the aircraft. Produced by Randy Garsee.

Additional video provided by DVIDS.

The Costs of Type 1 Diabetes to the U.S.

2010-09-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

CNA has released new research on the cost of Type 1 diabetes to both patients and the health care system in the United States. In this video, CNA Research Team Leader, Dr. David Taylor, explains the focus of the research.

From China to Japan, CNA Analyst Works for the Navy and His Adopted Country

2010-09-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Dr. Jason Jiang left China for the United States when he was a teenager. Today, he's in Japan, working as a CNA field representative with the Navy. In this profile, he explains his work and why he appreciates working with the military.

From Abstract Algebra to Pearl Harbor, the Journey of Dr. David Perin

2010-09-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

As a CNA field representative, Dr. David Perin finds himself working in a beautiful location, helping the Navy's Pacific Fleet. As he explains, his journey evolved from "abstract" beginnings in Michigan to the "top of the food chain" in Hawaii.

From Urban Warfare to Surveillance at Sea: The Path of One CNA Analyst

2010-09-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

At CNA, analysts often study scenarios to predict what might happen. For Dr. Brian McCue, his work with the Marine Corps in urban warfare was a foreshadowing of the battle of Fallujah. Today, he's moved on to other potential threats that may yet come to light.

CNA Analyst "Happy" To Help Marines

2010-08-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

Maybe not everyone uses the word "happy," when they talk about their work. However, it was "happy" that caught the attention of Dr. Cathleen McHugh. Today, she works for the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) in Norfolk, Virginia, developing projects and identifying emerging issues. But what drew her to CNA is a "happy" story.

Yemen: Crossroads of Conflict

2010-08-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

According to news reports, the CIA will put a new focus on al-Qa'ida in Yemen. Meanwhile, the CNA Conference Report, "Yemen: Crossroads of Conflict" stated, "Yemen today faces a wealth of crises that threaten state failure." There is more to Yemen's problems than just the extremist threat. Watch the interview with the author of the five page report then read it at www.cna.org.

National Museum of the Marine Corps

2010-07-16T03:58:00.000-07:00

After spending nearly a year in Iraq working with Marines and developing a tremendous respect for who they are and what they do for this country, I simply had to go and see the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia. If you've never visited, I highly recommend it.

It's inspiring, to say the least. You stroll in with curiosity, but you walk out with feelings of pride and veneration.

While I was there I donated a few DVDs of the documentary I produced for the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), Dusk in the Dust. It's a chronology of 2009-10 as the last operational command of the Marine Corps trained Iraqi Security Forces while packing up and leaving Iraq's al Anbar Province.

The museum has two modest exhibits of the Marines' work in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. One day, after all the stories are told, I'm sure those two military campaigns will take a greater place in the tremendous Marine Corps history displayed here.

If you're ever driving on I-95 and you see the signs for the museum, don't hesitate.

Take the exit.

Semper Fidelis

Empire Sunrise

2010-06-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

A time lapse video of the sun rising behind the Empire State Building. Enjoy.

CNA Analyst Works with Top Military Commanders

2010-06-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Dr. Larry Lewis is not only an analyst with CNA’s Center for Naval Analyses, but also a field representative. A field representative gets close to the information by working directly with the Navy and Marine Corps, whether it’s in Afghanistan, Iraq, or military bases in the U.S. In this profile, Dr. Lewis talks about his work with CNA and for some of America’s top military commanders. Produced by Randy Garsee

New York, New York

2010-06-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend in the Big Apple

A Few Photos to Share

Above: The financial district. Look closely in the very center of the photo and you will see a white construction crane. That is where the Twin Towers once stood.

Below: Nothing like a sunrise behind the Empire State Building.

In Greenwich Village, a fence is decorated with tiles from all over the world. The artwork and words recognize the day New York and the world will never forget: September 11, 2001.

SECNAV Visits CNA

2010-05-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

When I was working for the Marines in Iraq, I had the opportunity to interview Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in August 2009 aboard Al Asad Air Base in the al Anbar Province. Oddly enough, one of my first tasks at my new position here at CNA was to put together a video report on the Secretary's visit to our building in Alexandria, VA. In this report, Mabus talks about the energy challenges facing the Navy and Marine Corps and thanks CNA for its analytical work on the issue of fossil fuels in the military.

Dusk in the Dust

2010-03-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Note: Dusk in the Dust is also available on the MarinesTV podcast on iTunes! Here's the link.

The U.S. Marine Corps' Historic Final Year

in Iraq's al Anbar Province

This documentary, Dusk in the Dust, is a chronicle of how the U.S. Marine Corps spent its historic final year in Iraq's al Anbar Province. When the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), based out of Camp Lejeune, NC, assumed command of Multi National Force - West (MNF-W) in early 2009, violence was down and Iraq appeared to be on the right track toward peace and self-governance. The command, MNF-W, oversaw operations in al Anbar Province of western Iraq, a place known for past ferocious battles in Fallujah and Ramadi. But as the Marines trained Iraqi Security Forces, maintained stability and security operations, and prepared to leave the country, some wondered if it was too soon. Would the Marines leave behind a footprint of peace or a vacuum of violence? Produced by Randy Garsee.

Dusk in the Dust from Randy Garsee on Vimeo.

The Last Command

2010-01-31T09:58:00.000-08:00

U.S. Marines Leave al Anbar

In a ceremony near the capital of the al Anbar Province, the last U.S. Marine Corps operational command in Iraq ended its mission. From the intense battles of Fallujah and others… to training Iraqi Security Forces, the Marines leave a history of fighting and friendship in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Randy Garsee reports from Camp Ramadi… on the Marines’ last command.

Gearing Down

2010-01-18T00:17:00.000-08:00

U.S. Marines Leaving Anbar

The number of U.S. Marines in Iraq’s al Anbar Province is dwindling every day. As they leave, most make one more stop, to place their vehicles and gear in the hands of the Marine Corps Logistic Command. As Randy Garesee reports, these logistics Marines will be some of the last Marines to leave.

Los Angeles Marines Sends Fellow Marines Home

2010-01-15T04:36:00.000-08:00

Major combat units for the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq have already left the country and one of the last Marine commands will soon relinquish authority. As this military history continues to unfold, a Marine from Le Puente, California, near Los Angeles, now knows he’ll be among the last Marines to leave Iraq’s once violent al Anbar Province. That’s because he’s making sure thousands of other Marines get home first.

Kentucky Marine Sends Fellow Marines Home

2010-01-13T01:26:00.000-08:00

Major combat units for the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq have already left the country and one of the last Marine commands will soon relinquish authority. As this military history continues to unfold, a Marine from Bowling Green, Kentucky now knows he’ll be among the last Marines to leave Iraq’s once violent al Anbar Province. As Randy Garsee reports from Iraq, that’s because he’s making sure thousands of other Marines get home first.

This is SSgt Danny Walker's fourth tour of duty in Iraq.

Denver's KDVR-TV Airs Report

2010-01-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

Denver's KDVR-TV aired our report, "In Iraq, a Survivor Teaches Survival," featuring the story of HM2 Chris Zunker, a cancer survivor who's teaching Iraqi medics about combat survival. Zunker is from Elizabeth, CO. A big thanks to station manager Carolyn Kane.

Here's the link to the report on KDVR

We Like Comments

2010-01-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

This was a nice comment I'd thought I'd share from LadyCoyote:

"Great blog, and I wish you much continued success and safety overseas. The sacrifices made by our U.S. military and their families are something that many folks often do not understand. The holidays seem to amplify the distance and time spent apart from loved ones. But the good news is, these folks are doing such important work. The fact that you are sharing the news and stories from Iraq to those at home, is also very important work. We stand behind you all. God Speed, and stay well."

Alabama Marine Sends Fellow Marines Home

2010-01-06T04:05:00.000-08:00

Report on Flightline Marines #2

Major combat units for the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq have already left the country… and one of the last Marine commands will soon relinquish authority. As this military history continues to unfold, a Marine from Alabama now knows he’ll be among the last Marines to leave Iraq’s once violent al Anbar Province. As Randy Garsee reports from Iraq, that’s because he’s making sure thousands of other Marines get home first.

Sending Marines Home

2010-01-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

Indiana Marine Makes Sure Fellow Marines Head Home

Major combat units for the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq have already left the country… and one of the last Marine commands will soon relinquish authority. As this military history continues to unfold, a Marine from Indiana now knows he’ll be among the last Marines to leave Iraq’s once violent al Anbar Province. That’s because he’s making sure thousands of other Marines get home first.

The Iraqi Bodyguard

2010-01-01T23:34:00.000-08:00

Gruesome, gory and bloody. And that was just the training. The Marines of Military Transition Team 7, working with the army, recently organized emergency medical training for Iraqi soldiers, who also work as bodyguards. Randy Garsee reports from Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.

A First Line of Defense

2009-12-30T05:22:00.000-08:00

Iraqi officials continue to warn there could be more attacks by insurgents leading up to national elections in March. That’s why soldiers with the 7^th Iraqi Army Division learned recently how to strengthen the first line of defense for a military base filled with Iraqis and U.S. forces.

Christmas Chow in Iraq

2009-12-25T22:39:00.000-08:00

The Chow Hall & A Tree

Here's a look inside one of the chow halls on Christmas

Day aboard Al Asad Air Base in Iraq's Al Anbar Province

(with captions).

A cake with a claus(e)*.

*must eat.

Hey, could you pick up some bread on the way home?

No, the church was not edible!

We only had a reindeer display for Christmas.

For Thanksgiving, we had a camel.

I kinda miss that camel.

Some of the Marines I work with enjoying the Christmas meal.

The front two Marines (closest to the camera) are my Marine

bosses, as I call them: MSgt Matthew Sewell on the left and

LtCol Curtis Hill on the right. Sitting next to LtCol Hill is one

of my public affairs co-workers, 1stLt Rachel Beatty.

Yes, there is snow and snowmen in

Iraq, although they're held prisoner

in a pressurized container with fake

blowing snow.

The scene of the manger and baby Jesus were

sculpted from food. At least, I think it was. I

didn't eat any of it.

I've been here for months and didn't

notice this tree until Christmas Day.

Somehow, with the barbed wire, it just

seems to say:

Happy Holidays from Iraq!

Merry Marine Christmas

2009-12-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, we do have Christmas carolers in Iraq!
Merry Christmas from Al Asad Air Base.

Part 3 Airs in Springfield, Missouri

2009-12-23T22:34:00.000-08:00

Reporter Jennifer Denman and KOLR/KSFX aired the third and final part of the series on Marines from Missouri. In her emotional report, you'll understand the sacrifices a Marine's family must make when Daddy is far from home.

Click this link for the video.

Part Two Airs on KOLR/KSFX

2009-12-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Denman and the Springfield, Missouri stations, KOLR & KSFX, hit another home run for hometown Marines. In Part two, after my report, Jennifer takes viewers to Branson, Missouri to meet the family and the fiance' of a Marine serving in Iraq.

Click Here to watch the video.

Springfield, MO Station Airs Reports

2009-12-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

Reporter Jennifer Denman and I worked together on a three-part series of reports on Marines from the area of Springfield, Missouri. The first just aired on both KOLR-10 and KSFX-TV. Jennifer did a great job and I've already received e-mail from family members excited to see their Marines at work here in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.

Here's the link to the first report.

Another note: if I were to tell a station the best way to use my reports, I would hold up KOLR and Jennifer Denman as the absolute best example. Jennifer's report was heartwarming and thorough. If you got a chance to see it, please send her a note of thanks. Her e-mail address is jdenman@kolr10.com

On the Battlefield of Life

2009-12-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

In Iraq, A Survivor Teaches Survival

A Navy petty officer from Elizabeth, Colorado (45 miles southeast of Denver) is working with Marines to train Iraqi soldiers in the once violent Al Anbar Province. But if a killer disease had its way, he wouldn't be there at all. Randy Garsee has the inspiring story of a cancer survivor who is now teaching combat survival.

Witnessing History

2009-12-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

The Silsbee Bee

David Lisenby with The Silsbee Bee newspaper put together this article on my work in Iraq with L-3 Communications and the U.S. Marine Corps. Silsbee, Texas is seven miles from Evadale, where I grew up. Scroll down and click on the link below.

Click here for the article.

The Iraqi National Anthem

2009-12-12T05:32:00.000-08:00

If you've never heard Iraq's National Anthem, then you're in for a treat. First of all, it's quite beautiful. Secondly, Sgt Jennifer Macdonald, performing with the U.S. Army's 34th Infantry Division Band, does an amazing job. So amazing, in fact, that while I was videotaping her performance an Iraqi Security Guard leaned over to me and asked, "Is she American?"

Iraq's National Anthem was part of the Transfer of Authority Ceremony, September 26, 2009, at Camp Ramadi, near the capital of Iraq's Al Anbar Province. The ceremony was historic. It recognized the departure of the last two major ground combat units for the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. Authority was transferred from the Marines' Regimental Combat Teams 6 & 8 to the army's Advise and Assist Brigade.

Battlefield Blessings

2009-12-06T05:57:00.000-08:00

Most birthdays are celebrated with a party, but the chaplains of Multi National Force – West decided to break with the norm.
In recognition of the 234th birthday of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, chaplains aboard Al Asad Air Base in Iraq decided to spend half a day praying for their military flock. In this video, more on the importance of the chaplains' presence on the battlefield.

In 1776, Congress fixed the base pay for a chaplain at $20 a month.
Fortunately, they’ve been blessed with a few raises since then.

Riots & the Iraqi Elections

2009-12-01T23:26:00.000-08:00

Voting & Violence

There is a reason Marines from Missouri trained Iraqi soldiers in crowd control. The Iraqi Army is preparing for any contingency during elections early next year, including riots. Here is more from Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.

Thanksgiving in Iraq

2009-11-27T06:08:00.000-08:00

The Chow Hall

The chow hall went all out for Thanksgiving here at Al Asad Air Base. Anything you wanted to eat! Of course, we couldn't watch the Dallas Cowboys beat the Oakland Raiders... but that's just me. The pictures below were snapped by LtCol Curtis Hill, director of Multi National Force - West Public Affairs Office.

Bet you didn't know giraffes were a part of the original Thanksgiving meal, did you?

A cornucopia of breads! This turkey was made out of dough.

Hey, we're in Iraq. Camels like Thanksgiving, too.

"Riot" at the Gate

2009-11-26T01:25:00.000-08:00

Crowd Control at Camp Mejid

A weapons company made up of Marine reservists from Missouri put Iraqi soldiers through some intensive training. In this report from Iraq's Al Anbar Province, a “riot” at the gate.

In our final report on the Marines training Iraqi soldiers in crowd control, it's time for graduation. But not before one more "realistic" demonstration.

A "School of Hard Knocks"

2009-11-23T23:49:00.000-08:00

U.S. Marines Train Iraqi Soldiers in Riot Control

Some Marines from Missouri recently ran a kind of school of hard knocks for Iraqi soldiers. They trained the Iraqis in non-lethal combat, to include riot control. But, as you’ll see in this report, the training often ends in a physical, pounding test of wills.

Stay tuned! In the next posting, you’ll hear from more Missouri Marines as the training goes outdoors and becomes even more intense.

What a Riot!

2009-11-16T05:22:00.001-08:00

COMING SOON....

A three-part video series on Marine reservists from Missouri who spent several days training the Iraqi Army in riot control tactics.

The training is in preparation for Iraq's elections in January.

On graduation day, the Marines dressed in civilian clothes to make the "riot" more realistic. One even dressed as a sheik.

GySgt Benjamin Ramsey attempts to keep the training from getting too rambunctious.

OOH-RAH!

2009-11-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to the Marines

& Happy Veterans Day

I'm a little late on this post, but we just received this cool graphic here at II MEF (FWD).

My Interview in OVM

2009-11-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

I was recently interviewed by Erin Burt and Oro Valley Magazine about my work here in Iraq and about being away from home during the holidays. Click here to read the interview.

Running in the Desert

2009-10-29T02:12:00.000-07:00

The Marine Corps Marathon (Forward) in Iraq

In Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, Al Asad Air Base hosted the 4th Marine Corps Marathon (Forward) in conjunction with the 34th Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Here's the story of two runners and the winners.

The Soccer Game

2009-10-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

U.S. Marines vs. Iraqi Army 7th Division

As soon as you learned who the teams were, and where they were playing, you knew it would be a tough competition. Recently, a team of Marines in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province took on players from the Iraqi 7th Army Division in a game of soccer. But would it be just a friendly game? Here's the story from Camp Mejid near Al Asad Air Base.

The Sucking Chest Wound....

2009-10-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

...And the Training of Iraqi Medics

As Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) handle more combat missions, they also receive combat wounds. In this report from the Al Anbar Province, Iraqi medics receive ongoing training from the U.S. military.

The Shocking Truth About.....

2009-10-17T04:20:00.000-07:00

....Electrical Training for Iraqi Soldiers

Okay, maybe it's not exactly shocking, but it is the truth! Many Marines may be leaving Iraq, but they won’t turn off the lights on their way out. Instead they’re making sure the lights stay on. Here's more in my report from Camp Yassir near Al Asad Air Base in Iraq's Al Anbar Province.

The Mechanics of War

2009-10-15T02:52:00.000-07:00

We often hear about Marines working as military advisors to Iraqi soldiers. But not all of the advice is about pulling the trigger on a machine gun. As you'll see in this report, it can also include pulling an engine out of a Humvee.

Training to Find Roadside Bombs (4 of 4)

2009-10-10T03:50:00.000-07:00

Today, the U.S. military is in the process of shipping equipment out of Iraq.
While the country is safer, the risk of deadly roadside bombs persist.
I caught up with a Marine from Cleveland, OH who is not only working to keep the roads clear of bombs in the Al Anbar Province, but also successfully training the Iraqi Army to do the same.

Training to Find Roadside Bombs (3 of 4)

2009-10-09T04:49:00.000-07:00

Today, the U.S. military is in the process of shipping equipment out of Iraq.

While the country is safer, the risk of deadly roadside bombs persist.

I talked with a Marine from Belton, South Carolina who is not only keeping the roads clear of bombs in the Al Anbar Province, but also successfully training the Iraqi Army to do the same.

U.S. Marines Make History in Iraq

2009-10-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

A Milestone You Didn't Hear About in the Media

I recently covered a major turning point in the history of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The last two major ground combat units for the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq rolled up their flags in a ceremony filled with symbolism and hope for Iraq's future. The ceremony took place at Camp Ramadi. There were only two video cameras there. The one I was using and one from the Army.

KOVR Airs Report on Sacramento Marines

2009-10-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

The Mechanics of War

KOVR-TV in Sacramento, California, with news anchor Kris Pickel, aired our story on a Sacramento Marine Reserve unit.

Click here to see my report on the Marine reserve unit training Iraqi soldiers as it aired on KOVR.

Training to Find Roadside Bombs (2 of 4)

2009-10-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

Today, the U.S. military is in the process of shipping equipment out of Iraq.
While the country is safer, the risk of deadly roadside bombs persist.
I caught up with a Marine from San Antonio, Texas, who is not only keeping the roads clear of bombs in the Al Anbar Province, but also successfully training the Iraqi Army to do the same.

Lessons of War

2009-09-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

“This is the first war where we had a fully functioning system of knowledge management, where information can be gathered, accumulated, studied, and analyzed.”

Col. Michael Crites

Learning the Lessons of War

Randy Garsee

An IED blast rips apart a Humvee, and those inside it, near Baghdad. A tribal elder approaches a military officer in the war-torn city of Ramadi. A Marine places the stock of his M-16A4 against his shoulder and fires at a target on a shooting range in the Al Anbar Province, teaching the Iraqi soldier standing next to him by example.

Cause and effect. Problem evolves into solution. But in the case of Operation Iraqi Freedom how are the lessons of war extracted from the bullets and bombs of the battlefield? You would need experts who view the combat zone as a classroom.

Enter the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned.

“My job is to make sure that gets recorded for posterity at Headquarters Marine Corps [in Quantico, Virginia],” explains one of those experts, Col. Michael Crites, from his office aboard Al Asad Air Base in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province. He describes his job as “a mixture of consultant and reporter.”

Crites is the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned (MCCLL) Liaison to Multi-National Force – West (MNF-W), the force that covers western Iraq which includes all of Al Anbar Province and the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, to name two. That’s a massive area. Iraq is about the size of California and Anbar is the size of North Carolina. “The command (MNF-W) is the source,” Crites says. “They’re going to guide me into what lessons they want recorded, what lessons they’ve learned, according to their operations.”

As if writing an encyclopedia of war, the Marine Corps records and learns from every operation. “In our history, we’ve built host nation armies, like in Central America in the 20’s. We’ve participated in the occupation of Japan, a security kind of mission,” Crites says. Those lessons include, “Key leader engagements. Building that host military capability. Civil action projects borrowing from what we learned in Vietnam with the civil action platoon and successfully being able to retrograde and leave [Iraq] in the hands of its own security forces reasonably peaceful.”

Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) has resulted in reams of recommendations and life-saving changes. Crites highlights a specific example from Iraq that’s also made its way to Afghanistan. “Improvised Explosive Devices became the weapon of choice of the enemy. We’ve gone through, learned all kinds of lessons and, in fact, transformed our vehicle force since we began in Iraq. The MRAP, [Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle] is created to withstand an explosive device. So that’s something that is continuing to evolve and be used in Afghanistan.”

By accessing MCCLL’s secure web site, Marines make a record of combat-related events by filling out an After Action Report. The information is collected and analyzed. The lessons learned from that particular battle or event are extracted and published once a week. “This is the first war where we had a fully functioning system of knowledge management, where information can be gathered, accumulated, studied, and analyzed,” Crites says, emphasizing how the lessons are also passed on to the next fighting force. “A Marine that comes to war studies Lessons Learned, studies what his predecessor did before him, and that’s how he gets ready for deployment.”

The battlefield is a fluid classroom. Imagine a teacher who keeps changing the lesson plan. The enemy is also constantly changing. “Just as we improve our tactics, force protection measures, the enemy tries to think of a way to defeat us,” Crites says. “So it’s a constant learning process.”

Like many Marines in the Al Anbar Province, Col. Crites will soon pack up and head back to the U.S. His replacement will collect information on the drawdown of forces and equipment in Iraq, lessons certain to be applied one day to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan.

“Marines are famous, I think, in strength and physical courage and intellectual ability,” Crites says. “But now I think we’re showing more intellectual prowess overall because of the effort of Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned.”

Training to Find Roadside Bombs (1 of 4)

2009-09-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Today, the U.S. military is in the process of shipping equipment out of Iraq. While the country is safer, the risk of deadly roadside bombs persist. I recently caught up with a Marine from Waterboro, Maine, who is not only keeping the roads clear of bombs in the Al Anbar Province, but also successfully training the Iraqi Army to do the same.

Video: Secretary of the Navy Visits Al Anbar

2009-08-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

This video with the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, combines his audio interview with photos of his visit to Iraq's Al Anbar Province taken by Corporal Meg Murray. Mabus also discusses his time in the Navy aboard the USS Little Rock (CG-4). Photos of the ship come from a Navy history web site.

Article: Interview with the Secretary of the Navy

2009-08-10T22:22:00.000-07:00

SECNAV Delivers Message to Service Members in Iraq: Stay Focused

Story by: Randy Garsee

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Going green on the deep blue sea, high-tech weapons systems and a message to finish the job in Iraq. During his stopover aboard Al Asad Air Base in the Al Anbar province this week, Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Ray Mabus talked about what impressed him most in his first trip outside the U.S. since becoming the Navy’s top civilian.
“The Marines and sailors: The confidence, the skill, the patriotism, the dedication, the devotion of the people that serve our country,” Mabus said.
The secretary wanted to see, firsthand, the job Marines and sailors are doing today in Iraq. “I learn better when I see and experience than I do from a PowerPoint presentation at the Pentagon. But I also wanted to let the Marines, sailors and soldiers here know how important their work is.”
The military is familiar territory for the former Mississippi governor. He served as a surface warfare officer aboard the USS Little Rock from 1971-72. He illustrated a major difference between his service then and the service now.
“When we went into port it was almost guaranteed that a whole bunch of folks would get in trouble, that there’d be arrests, that there’d be this, that there’d be that, there’d be a big captain’s mast when we left,” he explained. “You could put a whole carrier strike group in today with [5,000 or] 6,000 people and you won’t have a single incident. Sailors and Marines see it as part of the mission now. They are professional.”
Mabus was sworn into office two and a half months ago as the 75th secretary of the Navy, and he believes it’s important for the Navy and Marine Corps to be global.
“We have 284 ships in the fleet right now and those 284 ships are far more capable than the almost 600 ships that we had in the 1980s,” he said. “But at some point, quantity becomes quality, and one ship can’t be two places at the same time. So you’ve got to make sure that you have enough; that you have enough surface combatants, that you have enough amphibian transports for our Marines, that you have enough submarines, that you have enough of the type ships that you need to project the force that you need and to do all the missions that the country calls on the Navy to do.”
During his visit, he also addressed congressional bill, House of Representatives 24, which proposes to change the name of his department to “The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.”
“Whenever I’m asked that, I quote the commandant of the Marine Corps, who says he’s got a lot of things on his plate and that’s not one of them,” Mabus said. “What I say is that, regardless of what the name is, I want to be the secretary.”
And as secretary, he makes his priorities clear. “Take care of the sailors and Marines who take care of us,” he said. “Make sure they have, first, what they need to do their mission: the training, the equipment, the leadership; second, to make sure that we take care of them in terms of health care and education; third, make sure that we take care of their families while they’re deployed, because oftentimes the families have the harder job.”
Mabus also explained how the Navy needs to change some old ways of doing business. “I think we need to drive the cost of our equipment down - ships and airplanes. We cannot afford any longer to have ever more exotic, ever more expensive, ever longer-to-get ships, for example, or we’re going to unilaterally disarm ourselves. Next, I think we need to move away from petroleum as a source of energy for the Navy and the Marine Corps, both ashore and afloat. Petroleum, oil, comes from, sometimes, dangerous parts of the world, and I don’t want our military strength to be dependent on that or those supplies could be interrupted.”
The secretary would like to see another high-tech area expand under his leadership. “I think we need to take a much more detailed look, and move faster, in terms of unmanned vehicles, whether in the air, on the ground or the sea, or under the sea.”
Mabus also has previous experience in the Middle East. He was ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Clinton administration. His knowledge gave weight to the message he delivered to those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The job that's being done here in Iraq remains a critical job, remains a job that is demanding and exacting and that we have to stay focused on," he said. "One of the primary purposes of my trip was to tell Marines and sailors that the job they're doing is not going unnoticed. We're proud of them. Stay focused on this job until the very last Marine or sailor comes home."

The Ultimate 50-Cent Layover

2009-08-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

No, not that National Air and Space Museum.

The Other National Air and Space Museum.

There I was inside Washington Dulles International Airport near D.C. with a 9-hour layover. I needed SOMETHING to do.

That's about the time I ran into a United Airlines employee who suggested I take a shuttle to the National Air and Space Museum.

I thought it was THE Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Little did I know, there's like a complimentary copy of the original with quite a few atomic, supersonic, and stratospheric surprises.

So I checked my wallet. Hmm. I had cash for food, but did I really want to invest my right arm for a tourist trap? After all, I needed the arm to tote my carry-ons. That's when I learned the most amazing information.

I could catch a shuttle for 50 cents

and visit a museum with free admission!!!

What?!?

Was this some kind of joke, like the reclining airline seat? (Sorry, folks, but leaning back one-inch is not reclining. That's just teasing your vertebrae.)

But, no, it was a real deal. I had not fallen through a time warp into a long lost yesteryear of cheaper prices. There really is a bus where the driver personally accepts two quarters as you climb aboard.

It was only about a seven-minute ride to a massive building filled with American and international aviation history. I was amazed at what you could see at the National Air and Space Museum 's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

You'll find the Enola Gay, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, a Concorde, an android with the personality of a cadaver, and a whole lot more.

So if you ever find yourself in Dulles with a layover of a few hours, ask about the shuttle to this museum. The shuttles start at 10:30 a.m. You can't beat the experience for the price.

Baghdad, Biden & Becoming a U.S. Citizen (7 of 7)

2009-07-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

A Marine from Santa Cruz, California, Lance Corporal Rudy Reyes, is originally from El Salvador.

Baghdad, Biden & Becoming a U.S. Citizen (6 of 7)

2009-07-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Two Marines from the Los Angeles area become U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony in Baghdad July 4th. Both Corporal Heriberto Morales and Lance Corporal Marlon Emanuel Chajon were born in Guatemala.

Baghdad, Biden & Becoming a U.S. Citizen (5 of 7)

2009-07-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Lance Corporal Longvu Dinh from Long Beach, CA becomes a U.S. citizen during the July 4th naturalization ceremony in Baghdad. Dinh was born in Vietnam.

Baghdad, Biden & Becoming a U.S. Citizen (4 of 7)

2009-07-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Two Dallas, Texas Marines Become U.S. Citizens in Baghdad Ceremony.

Baghdad, Biden & Becoming a U.S. Citizen (3 of 7)

2009-07-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

Charlotte, NC Marine, Cpl Mario Fonseca, becomes a U.S. Citizen
during the July 4th Naturalization Ceremony in Baghdad.
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Baghdad, Biden & Becoming a U.S. Citizen (2 of 7)

2009-07-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Cartaret, NJ Marine Becomes U.S. Citizen in Baghdad

Baghdad, Biden & Becoming a U.S. Citizen (1 of 7)

2009-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Al Faw Palace, Baghdad

2009-07-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

Four Days Around Al Faw

I spent the July 4th weekend in Baghdad, most of it in Camp Victory. A two-day stay turned into four days thanks to sandstorms in the area. You can see the sandy haze in some of the pictures here. We were there to cover the naturalization ceremony as 237 soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen from 59 countries raised their right hands and became U.S. citizens. Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the ceremony.The ceremony was held inside Al Faw Palace, also known as the Water Palace and formerly owned by the late Saddam Hussein. According to information I gleaned during my stay, the palace is named after a battle for the Al Faw Peninsula during the Iran-Iraq War. The building itself is the crown jewel of a palace compound surrounded by homes, some of which could easily pass as mansions in the U.S. Basically, this was an over-the-top hunting lodge. Wild game once ran around on the grounds and the lake and connecting canals were stocked with fish.

Rumor has it that Saddam only visited the palace about a half-dozen times.

Inside there are a number of chandeliers, but the main one is larger than a humvee. Some soldiers say it's the second largest chandelier in the world. Now it's dwarfed by an American flag that hangs from the third floor.
A Marine colonel explained the Iraqi people didn't know the palace compound was here until Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Was Saddam attempting to hide his embarrassment of riches from his own people? After all, a wall surrounds the entire area.
One day soon, the palace and surrounding buildings will be vacated by U.S. and Coalition forces and ownership returned to Iraq. Let's hope the Iraqi people get to enjoy it.

View Larger Map

Forecasting Terrorism

2009-07-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

U.S. Marine intelligence officer and author

talks about her New Mexico roots and her

books on forecasting terrorism.

Fun With Guns

2009-07-04T03:33:00.000-07:00

The U.S. military may be out of the cities, but the training of Iraqi Security Forces continues. Aboard Al Asad Air Base in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, Iraqi soldiers and U.S. Marines spent an afternoon firing each other’s weapons. It was more than just a day of fun with guns.

Tucson, AZ Marine Trains Iraqi Commandos

2009-07-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

Video 6 of 6

An IED explosion, gunfire and hand-to-hand combat marked the graduation of Iraqi commandos aboard Al Asad Air Base in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. From Iraq, Randy Garsee explains how Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Michael Francoeur of Tucson, Arizona played a major role in training Iraqi commandos.

Glendale, AZ Marine Trains Iraqi Commandos

2009-07-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Video #5 of 6
An IED explosion, gunfire and hand-to-hand combat marked the graduation of Iraqi commandos aboard Al Asad Air Base in Iraq's Al Anbar ProvinceFrom Iraq, Randy Garsee explains how Marine Corporal Kevin Tracy of Glendale, Arizona, played a major role in training Iraqi commandos.

Ridgecrest, CA Marine Trains Iraqi Commandos

2009-07-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

This is video #4 of 6.
An IED explosion, gunfire and hand-to-hand combat marked the graduation of Iraqi commandos aboard Al Asad Air Base in Iraq's Al Anbar ProvinceFrom Iraq, Randy Garsee explains how Marine Staff Sergeant Rusty Covey of Ridgecrest, California, played a role in training Iraqi commandos.

Words to Lead By

2009-06-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

Master Gunnery Sergeant Lisa Betts is guest

speaker at a Marine corporals leadership

graduation. But rather than give a standard

speech, she gave them words to lead by. If

you're not a Marine, just think of them as

words to live by.

Produced by Randy Garsee

Doggone Demonstration

2009-06-26T00:16:00.000-07:00

Call them War Dogs, K-9’s, Military Police dogs, or Hell Hounds.
By any name, they are an important part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Recently the dogs brought along their handlers and put on a demonstration aboard Al Asad Air Base.
Here's more on Diva, Rex and Bach.

Featuring Capt Rusty Tuten

2009-06-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

Fox News in Phoenix

2009-06-22T03:18:00.000-07:00

Fox News in Phoenix

took an emotional Father's Day

approach to one of my videos.

Here's the link:

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/video/video/fathers_day_in_iraq_06_21_2009

Or you can watch it here: