When last we heard from Lt. Gen. James Dubik in September, the former Fort Lewis commander had just returned from a year-long stint overseeing the training of Iraqi Security Forces and was in the first days of retirement from a fine Army career.

The pace must've been too slow for him. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) announced last week that Dubik has joined the Washington D.C.-based organization as its first senior fellow. He will do research, write policy papers and brief policy makers.

ISW President Kimberly Kagan said in a prepared statement:

General Dubik will be an excellent asset to ISW. His expertise on Iraq's Security Forces will contribute to ISW's robust research program on the conflict, especially as the United States and Iraq implement their new security agreement in 2009. General Dubik's extensive experience in professional military education will enhance ISW's ability to bridge the gap between senior civilian policy makers and officers.

Dubik took command of Multi National Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTC-I) in June 2007. Before that, he was the commanding general of Fort Lewis and I Corps for 2 1/2 years.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – It’s good, but it’s no Starbucks.

Green Beans Coffee serves up much of the usual fare Washingtonians prefer. Triple-shot soy latte? They have it covered. Blended chai? It’s available.

Still, several members of the 181st Brigade Support Battalion who are fully ingrained in Washington’s coffee culture say Green Beans just doesn’t cut it.

"They don’t have a big selection – all the things I normally get," said Staff Sgt. Diana Wood, a 35-year-old Lacey resident.

Lacey is a Starbucks regular; about twice a week, she orders a half-caf caramel macchiato with no whip. With Green Beans, the squad leader with the Seattle Armory-based battalion settles for a double mocha.

Staff Sgt. Robert Camacho of Puyallup gets a four-shot white chocolate caramel mocha twice a week from Green Beans. "It’s coffee and I won’t complain," he said, but he wishes the usually-ubiquitous stores would open on this sprawling base in central Iraq.
"Starbucks isn’t here," he said. "They have them in Kuwait. They have them in Bahrain. They should put ’em here."