Government Executive Vol. 36 No.11

FEATURES

• The Challenger Understanding John Kerry's vision for managing the federal bureaucracy requires some reading between the lines.
  By Jason Peckenpaugh
• Getting Organized Federal labor unions have dramatically stepped up their political activities in an effort to unseat President Bush.
  By Shawn Zeller
• Blind Ambition How the Pentagon and the Coalition Provisional Authority lost the peace in Iraq.
  By Katherine McIntire Peters
• Outsourcing Iraq The reconstruction of Iraq has spawned a sprawling tangle of contracts let by many agencies, often with little oversight.
  By Shane Harris

NEWS+ANALYSIS

• Internet in the Sky To handle a flood of battlefield data, the U.S. military is upgrading and expanding its space-based communications network. By Beth Dickey
• Answering the Call Government call centers are proving they can compete with industry's best. By Shawn Zeller
• Raising the Rent The State Department wants federal agencies to help pay for embassy construction. By Shawn Zeller
• Open Arms A kinder, gentler Food Stamp Program invites more people to the table. By Denise Kersten
• The Fog of War The Army and Marine Corps work together to battle one of their worst enemies-friendly fire. By George Cahlink

ADVICE+DISSENT

• Off the Record Managing Technology: Real-time access to patient medical histories pits efficiency against privacy. By Shane Harris
• Losing Their Religion Management Matters: For some people, using religious comp days to play golf can be a leap of faith. By Brian Friel
• Presidential Prowess Public Administration: Building a management agenda on the four cornerstones of leadership. By C. Morgan Kinghorn and Ryan J. Watson
• From Overbite To Oversight Political World: Dentist-turned-lawmaker says beware of those you regulate-they could get their day in Congress. By Charles Mahtesian

IN EVERY ISSUE

• Editor's Notebook Who's paying attention to executive branch management?
• LettersReader responses to our recent stories.
• The Buzz Keeping secrets, building nations, hunting bargains and paying back.
• Outlook John Kerry hasn't shown much interest in even the basics of management reform. By Tom Shoop