We ve come to that point in the program when it s our turn to summarize the lessons of this conference. OK, here s the real deal. As you ve probably realized by now this was not simply an opportunity to come to West Point and demonstrate how you are wise beyond your years. Normally, at this point in the proceedings I summarize those challenges for you, but this year rather than use my words let me use yours.
Nothing is ever that simple.
It would be arrogant and foolish of me to suggest that you did not realize this before you arrived. To those pressures you faced in this simulation, add those that the professionals must contend with First, is the pressure of time. As students and scholars we can approach a policy problem at our leisure, isolating it, and approaching it sequentially. Real decision-makers have no such luxury. Time constraints and pressures from competing issues seriously restrict the attention decision-makers can devote to the insights and recommendations of those around them.