The only thing the ISG studied was the Cliff Notes version. Going to Iraq for a few weeks and writing 36 pages of pre-determined State Dept, pro-Arab drivel is akin to a bunch of college kids going to an upper level class for the last few days of the semester, getting together and writing their term paper based on what they did in their 100 level course. Pathetic.
Or, as a colleague of mine once summed up consulting, you go and do analysis until the funding runs out, then you type it up and turn it in.
The gravest misconception taught to college students is the idea that anybody ever does anything other than by the seat of their pants.