The hospitals where the surgeons are at do an unproven operation with lots of side effects at rates far higher than the national average, generating huge sales for companies like Medtronic.

FORBES: Medtronic's Back Surgery Woes Worse Than People Think

They believe in what they do and reign as the main arbiters of whether an operation should be performed--and insurers pay per procedure.

FORBES: Is elective surgery overdone?

He says he doesn't do much riding these days, after suffering from knee problems and getting an operation a couple of years ago.

WSJ: Showing Off Their Schwinns

It's much more of an offensive operation designed to secure the population, and to do that you have to be among the population to do it correctly.

NPR: Is the Iraq Surge Strategy Working?

The Elmgreen School is an example of what parents can do with a bit of official co-operation.

ECONOMIST: Going beyond the call of duty to get good teaching

"No one wants to do a 10-year stability and reconstruction operation again, " he said in an interview.

WSJ: U.S. Is Hit on Iraq, Afghan Outlays

To conduct an operation like that, very decentralized, they have to have support to do that - logistical support and some political support as well.

NPR: Is the Iraq Surge Strategy Working?