This is rather strange. One would have expected things would look definitely more positive and people in a better mood on the very day of the inauguration of a new president of the US.
Sadly, that is not the exact scenario. The world stock markets dip into the negative territory, and unbelievably Dow falls more than 300 points (4%) to close below the 8k mark. This does not augur well for the global economy, reflecting badly on the dire state-of-affairs of the US economy in particular.
One explanation for the lackluster performance could be because consumers may not have that much confidence in the new administration team in bringing the bashed financial institutions back to normal that soon. If that is the case, there is no need to talk big about CHANGE and end up offering false promises.
In short, just quietly and diligently do the necessary work to bring about the correct result via right actions. Show the world Washington CAN and will.
(Tan Boon Tee, btt1943@yahoo.com)
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Defense | Get Up Early, Stay Up Late, Get Out of Town
By William S. Cohen
If you're not a morning person, adjust now. The Pentagon starts work early. My office opened at 5 a.m., and by 8:30 a.m. I had completed two intelligence briefings, three different senior staff meetings and a conference with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
You will lead an organization of more than 3 million people, with troops deployed in more than 30 countries and a budget of more than $400 billion spread over thousands of programs. Knowledge is power, but it's impossible to know everything. Instead, focus intensely in the early days on finding outstanding professionals to fill key positions who can be confirmed quickly. This is harder than it sounds; there will be individuals you really want who will decline to serve, and others you won't want who will require a court order to remove from your outer office. (One enterprising fellow had more than 200 friends write me urging that I hire him; regrettably, his abilities were not equal to his zeal, so we took a pass.)
Manage your relationship with the White House wisely. They will have many people they will want to place at DoD after the campaign, and you need to remain firm in rejecting those who do not have the necessary knowledge or background, whatever their other merits. Also, don't call the president about every little gripe you have—you will need his attention for some very big issues and you don't want to wear out your welcome.
Congress can be vexing (indeed, is designed to be), but reach out to the key members early and often. You will need their support. Most senior members of the Defense committees take their oversight responsibilities seriously and want the department to succeed. And talk to your predecessors periodically. We understand better than anyone the challenges of the job, and we want you to do well. Before I was sworn in, I met with each living former secretary and got some fascinating—if occasionally contradictory—insights.
Prepare to travel extensively and don't fret at the thought that you'll be out of the power loop. An amazing communications apparatus ensures you are never out of contact with machinations in Washington. You need to visit and connect with the extraordinary young men and women who serve this country in uniform around the world. Be sure to meet privately with the senior leaders of the enlisted troops so you can hear directly from them as well as from top military officials. You have a sacred duty to provide for their protection and to understand their needs and concerns. Retention of seasoned people is a constant challenge, and it's important to appreciate quality-of-life issues as they weigh the decision to re-enlist.
You also need to travel to meet your counterparts in many key countries. As with Congress, you will have to ask their help with difficult issues that cannot now be foreseen; so it's best to build those relationships early. Do not assume they'll be eager to accommodate your every wish. Remember, all of their politics "is local," too. Spend extra time and extend every personal and professional courtesy to them when they visit Washington. A little hospitality goes a very long way when the time comes to ask them for something hard.
Follow the example Robert Gates has set and build a good relationship with the secretary of state. It doesn't serve the country to have the two departments pushing and shoving over bureaucratic turf battles. The challenges of the 21st century are increasingly both political and military, and the president deserves a united effort.
Finally, exercise regularly, eat wisely (but not too well) and be prepared to function on little sleep. The next few years will likely be both the biggest responsibility and biggest honor you will ever have.
—William S. Cohen served as secretary of defense under President Bill Clinton
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