Click here if you wish to access the YouTube posting of this 12:52m video on A bird's eye view of the Vineyard.
This video offers an excellent illustration of how these ruling class think tanks are used to hash out ruling class policies. You will notice that in his remarks, George Friedman talks very candidly about geopolitical issues facing the Empire--yes, he uses that word. Such talks for obvious reasons are never reported on by major media.
Friedman is the founder of Stratfor, a private intelligence agency, that has hired many people (for example, see this) from government security agencies and advises many in the government about geopolitical issues. He is particularly well connected to the military-industrial complex.