January 2012

Al Qaida

commentary
Al Qaeda in Iran
Iran is in many ways a safer territory from which al Qaeda can operate. The United States has targeted al Qaeda in Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, and other countries, but it has limited operational reach in Iran, writes Seth G. Jones.
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Jan 29, 2012
Foreign Affairs
Seth G. Jones

International Diplomacy

commentary
Is Regime Change in Iran the Only Solution?
The United States should not pursue sanctions with the intent of changing the regime, but to contain it in order to give Iranians a chance to effect change themselves, writes Alireza Nader.
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Jan 26, 2012
Foreign Policy
Alireza Nader
Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

commentary
Negotiating Peace in Afghanistan Without Repeating Vietnam
The Vietnam negotiations arose from a U.S. initiative, in response to domestic political imperatives and over repeated objections from the Saigon regime. By contrast, the incipient Afghan process has its roots in that society, not ours, writes James Dobbins.
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Jan 13, 2012
The Washington Post
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Organizational Leadership

q&a
Passionate, Pragmatic, Prudent: A New RAND President and RAND at Its Best
Michael D. Rich, the new president and chief executive officer of the RAND Corporation, shares his thoughts about his new role and the future of RAND.
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Jan 13, 2012
RAND Review
Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich
International Diplomacy

commentary
Do Israelis Really Want to Bomb Iran?
Much has been made over differences between the U.S. and Israeli threat perceptions of Iran, but in fact internal Israeli divisions suggest that the gap may not be as great as some suggest, writes Dalia Dassa Kaye.
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Jan 12, 2012
ForeignPolicy.com
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Urban Planning

commentary
Narrowing the Economic Achievement Gap: The Role of Housing
The results from Montgomery County demonstrate that an integrative housing policy can be an effective form of school policy for disadvantaged children, writes Heather Schwartz.
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Jan 11, 2012
Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
Heather L. Schwartz @schwartz_hl
International Diplomacy

commentary
Iran's Self-Destructive Gamble
For all its bluster, the Iranian regime is more vulnerable than at any time in its 32-year history. Internally, Iran is constrained by deep political divisions, civil strife and a woeful economy, write Alireza Nader and James Dobbins.
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Jan 6, 2012
NYTimes.com on January 5, 2012 and in International Herald Tribune
Alireza Nader, James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Affordable Care Act

commentary
Two Years and Counting: How Will the Effects of the Affordable Care Act Be Monitored?
Most will agree with the undeniable fact that a new era in US medicine and US health care begins in less than 2 years. The key question is what potential measures should be monitored to determine both anticipated and unanticipated effects of the new law on the health of the US population, writes Robert H. Brook.
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Jan 4, 2012
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Robert H. Brook