Chile con carne...

Chile knows its food. Their restaurants range from the mundane to the unusual to the sublime. We have had the opportunity to

sample a variety of fare, including the infamous Chilean Sea Bass (actually Conger Eel). All of it good, all of it accompanied with a savory sauce. Last evening our waiter, Manuel, plied us with delicious Chilean beer brewed in the south (Imperial) and tasty vegetable salad concoctions.

The work has been steady, as we prepare for the workups for the exercise. Once we get the scenarios up and running, then the real work (24/7) starts. One of the most important aspects of any operation is to establish the ROE (Rules of Engagement). These are the "what can you do" things governing everything from when and how do you conduct self defense to whether or not you can light someone up with a searchlight!

It is serious business, and all the REAL governments take them to heart. I am continually amazed at the complexity involved in any operation in which more than two governments are engaged, much less eight! What the media fails to explain to the public is the long hours of wrangling over ciritical items. One reason why we just don't parachute the 101st into Lebanon to solve the problem.