Dave Brooks on models of response

A quick note: David Brooks: awfully intelligent for a “conservative”! JK—he really can write some thoughtful and fair pieces and I think that he sees the big picture very well. In NYT today his piece on the swine flu epidemic reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of centralized vs. decentralized responses. He thinks that decentralized responses offer the best course, but I don’t see it as an either/or choice. Perhaps a “networked response” is more accurate, a 21^st century update of federalism. That is, intense knowledge-sharing and local experimentation without command-and-control. I can’t sight any sources, but I can’t believe that the military hasn’t thought and considered this problem a great deal. Suggestions?