The other big difference about or work is breadth. The Report speaks for itself. I
can't say that we took every relevant aspect of life and society into account, but
I don't think we missed anything essential...
WHY WAS THE PROJECT GIVEN TO AN OUTSIDE COMMISSION? WHY COULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY AN APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY?
I think that's obvious, or should be. The kind of thinking wanted from our
Group just isn't to be had in a formal government operation. Too many
constraints. Too many inhibitions. This isn't a new problem. Why else would
outfits like Rand and Hudson stay in business? Any assignment that's at all
sophisticated is almost always given to an outside group. This is true even in the
State Department, in the "gray" operations, those that are supposed to be
unofficial, but are really as official as can be. Also with the C.I.A....
For our study, even the private research centers were too institutional... A lot of
thought went into making sure that our thinking would be unrestricted. All
kinds of little things. The way we were called into the Group, the places we
met, all kinds of subtle devices to remind us. For instance, even our name, the
Special Study Group. You know government names. Wouldn't you think we'd
have been called "Operation Olive Branch," or "Project Pacifica," or something
like that? Nothing like that for us---too allusive, too suggestive. And no minutes
of our meetings---too inhibiting.... About who might be reading them. Of
course, we took notes for our own use. And among ourselves, we usually called
ourselves "The Iron Mountain Boys," or "Our Thing," or whatever came to
mind........
WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP?
I'll have to stick to generalities....There were fifteen of us. The important thing
was that we represented a very wide range of disciplines. And not all academic.
People from the natural sciences, the social sciences, even the humanities. We
had a lawyer and a businessman. Also, a professional war planner. Also, you
should know that everyone in the Group had done work of distinction in at least
two different fields. The interdisciplinary element was built in.....
It's true that there were no women in the Group, but I don't think that was
significant.....We were all American citizens, of course. And all, I can say, in
very good health, at least when we began.... You see, the first order of business,
at the first meeting, was the reading of dossiers. They were very detailed, and
can't say that we took every relevant aspect of life and society into account, but
I don't think we missed anything essential...
WHY WAS THE PROJECT GIVEN TO AN OUTSIDE COMMISSION? WHY COULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY AN APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY?
I think that's obvious, or should be. The kind of thinking wanted from our
Group just isn't to be had in a formal government operation. Too many
constraints. Too many inhibitions. This isn't a new problem. Why else would
outfits like Rand and Hudson stay in business? Any assignment that's at all
sophisticated is almost always given to an outside group. This is true even in the
State Department, in the "gray" operations, those that are supposed to be
unofficial, but are really as official as can be. Also with the C.I.A....
For our study, even the private research centers were too institutional... A lot of
thought went into making sure that our thinking would be unrestricted. All
kinds of little things. The way we were called into the Group, the places we
met, all kinds of subtle devices to remind us. For instance, even our name, the
Special Study Group. You know government names. Wouldn't you think we'd
have been called "Operation Olive Branch," or "Project Pacifica," or something
like that? Nothing like that for us---too allusive, too suggestive. And no minutes
of our meetings---too inhibiting.... About who might be reading them. Of
course, we took notes for our own use. And among ourselves, we usually called
ourselves "The Iron Mountain Boys," or "Our Thing," or whatever came to
mind........
WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP?
I'll have to stick to generalities....There were fifteen of us. The important thing
was that we represented a very wide range of disciplines. And not all academic.
People from the natural sciences, the social sciences, even the humanities. We
had a lawyer and a businessman. Also, a professional war planner. Also, you
should know that everyone in the Group had done work of distinction in at least
two different fields. The interdisciplinary element was built in.....
It's true that there were no women in the Group, but I don't think that was
significant.....We were all American citizens, of course. And all, I can say, in
very good health, at least when we began.... You see, the first order of business,
at the first meeting, was the reading of dossiers. They were very detailed, and
