January 2013

commentary

The Winners and Losers from the Syria Conflict

Although outside efforts to arm the rebels would help level the playing field in Syria, such a strategy would not ensure victory, and the weapons could fall into the hands of extremists for use against Israel, Jordan and other neighboring countries, writes William Young.

William Young

commentary

What Does the Amenas Attack Mean for U.S. Policy in Africa?

Coinciding with continuing, contentious hearings on the U.S. response to last September's terrorist attack in Benghazi, the attack on the Amenas natural gas facility in Algeria has elevated a more general debate about the war on terrorism and U.S. policy in Africa, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

blog

Paul O'Neill to President Obama: We Can Use the Internet to Address Medical Errors

Former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill, a RAND Trustee and Health Advisory Board member, published an open letter to President Obama in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week in which he asks the president to use his executive power to address the problem of medical errors.

commentary

25 Small Ideas for Saving Big Health Care Dollars

Given the size of the annual “health care spend”—$2.7 trillion—summing up the savings associated with very minor cost-saving policy changes is likely to achieve significant aggregate savings, writes Jeffrey Wasserman.

Jeffrey Wasserman

commentary

The Dynamics of the Hostage Situation at Amenas

Looking at the turmoil in Libya following Qaddafi's removal; the overthrow of governments in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen; and Syria's ongoing civil war, it is easy to see why the Algerian government would view any manifestation of an Islamist resurgence as a threat that had to be promptly crushed, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

The Motivations Behind the Amenas Terrorist Attack

An attack of this complexity would have required months of reconnaissance, planning, recruiting of inside confederates, and training of participants. France's intervention in Mali was used to “justify” an attack that would likely have taken place anyway, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

Health Care Spending Growth Tamed? Hardly

The growth of health care costs has slowed dramatically for the third consecutive year, but as the economy rebounds, spending growth could skyrocket, says Art Kellermann.

Arthur L. Kellermann

commentary

What Does Israel's Election Mean for Israeli-Palestinian Peace?

While the two-state solution may indeed be dead, its death may not necessarily be a bad thing. Rather, it could lead to an opportunity to create a more appropriate formula that can better address the complexities of the current Israeli-Palestinian impasse writes Tova Norlén.

Tova C. Norlen

commentary

Foreign Intervention in Mali Is Libya in Reverse

France is in Mali not just to prop up a failing state in French Africa, but because Mali was becoming a magnet for jihadis from around the world and Paris rightly feared the country could become the next Afghanistan—only much closer to Europe, writes Christopher Chivvis.

Christopher S. Chivvis

q&a

The al Qaeda Threat in North Africa

Last week's terrorist attack at the In Amenas gas complex in Algeria, along with the recent success of the militant groups fighting government forces in Mali, indicate al Qaeda and other terrorist groups are gaining influence in North Africa. RAND experts weigh in on the latest developments.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins, Michael Shurkin, et al.

commentary

When Winning Means Losing: Israel After the Election

It is not clear whether or to what extent Netanyahu will abandon his traditional coalition partners on the right and turn toward the fragmented political center. However, such a turn may be necessary, writes Shira Efron.

Shira Efron

commentary

Israeli Election Not Likely to End Pressure on Obama for Iran Action

In the absence of any diplomatic breakthrough and the continued advance of Iran's nuclear enrichment program this year, we can expect Israeli leaders across the political spectrum to press the Obama administration for military options, writes Dalia Dassa Kaye.

Dalia Dassa Kaye

blog

In Brief: Amelia M. Haviland on Consumer-Directed Health Plans

Amelia Haviland presents the results of several new RAND studies on cost and quality in consumer-directed health plans, and explores how switching plans affects the quality of care.

Amelia Haviland

announcement

Lois Davis's Prisoner Re-Entry Work Earns Recognition from California Assembly

RAND congratulates senior policy researcher Lois Davis, whose work on the public health consequences of prisoner re-entry in California earned RAND the 64th Assembly District's AB 109 Re-Entry Award.

commentary

Profile: Revolutionary Guards Chief Gen. Jafari

Jafari now commands one of the most feared militaries in the Middle East, which is also far better equipped than Iran’s conventional army, navy and air force, writes Alireza Nader. He has an estimated 150,000 troops under his control.

Alireza Nader