February 2016

commentary

An African Country the West Has Ignored Could Have a Big Impact on the Global War on Terror

This week's presidential election in Niger is of real importance for U.S. interests in Africa and the global campaign against militant Islamists. A clean and peaceful election would constitute a step forward that could help secure an effective counterterrorism partner in both the short and long term.

Michael Shurkin

commentary

Crude Economics, Crude Politics: Who Wins and Who Loses with Cheap Oil?

What is the outlook for oil prices? And how can we assess the balance between positive effects on national security and negative effects on the national economy?

Charles Wolf, Jr.

commentary

At the 2016 Oscars, Transgender Health Issues Are in the Spotlight

By inviting 'The Danish Girl' to Hollywood's most prestigious awards party, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is helping to shine a spotlight on transgender issues – and reflecting a larger cultural moment at the same time.

Sarah MacCarthy

commentary

The Cost of Security in the iPhone Era

As the security on the iPhone better protects users from criminals, it also excels at keeping law enforcement from accessing the data. The dispute between the FBI and Apple over unlocking the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino attackers continues but the real debate is about whether society wants legislation that weakens iPhone security for law enforcement.

Bradley Wilson

commentary

How to Bog Down Putin in Syria

The lessons from the nearly 200 insurgencies that have taken place since World War II suggest that Russian aid probably will fail to turn the tide in Syria. The Assad regime still faces serious challenges, not the least of which is a lack of legitimacy among the Syrian people.

Seth G. Jones

essay

The Surprising Ways That a Supermarket Changed a Food Desert

The arrival of a new grocery store in a 'food desert' neighborhood delivered some obvious health benefits. But the benefits had nothing to do with whether the residents shopped there.

commentary

Are EU Migrants Over-Qualified for the Jobs They Do?

Debates on EU mobility are focused on what EU migrants take away from their host countries, and the costs they may bring taxpayers. What may be ignored is the contribution migrants bring to local labor markets and how this can grow if they have jobs that make the most of their skills.

Barbara Janta, Joanna Hofman @JoannaBHofman

commentary

The Importance of Sunnylands for U.S.-ASEAN Relations

The first ever Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held on U.S. soil took place earlier this month. Its success should be measured by the fact that the U.S. prioritized relations with the region enough to host its first summit. It should be regarded as the beginning of a new era in U.S.-ASEAN relations.

Lyle J. Morris

commentary

Relationships Between Physician Professional Satisfaction and Patient Safety

Health system leaders should view regular and detailed assessment of physician professional satisfaction as an invaluable early warning system for potential threats to quality and safety. But simply surveying doctors on their overall levels of job satisfaction isn't enough.

Mark W. Friedberg

commentary

New Era with Iran? Not So Fast

On the whole, ties between the United States and Iran are improving, but to think that a new era in Iran or in U.S.-Iran relations has arrived is a stretch. The U.S. has achieved an important diplomatic breakthrough with Iran, but it still faces the same regime it has since 1979.

Alireza Nader

commentary

Why Engineers Need to Be Thinking About Climate Change

As sea levels rise and extreme weather events become more common, evacuation routes in coastal areas will become more important. Transportation engineers need to be more proactive as they try to anticipate damage to transportation infrastructure assets such as pavement, bridges, and culverts.

Kenneth Kuhn

commentary

What Makes for High-Performing Research? The Right Mix of Staff and Appropriate Leadership

With many different higher education institutions in the UK covering a diverse range of disciplines, and delivering research in a variety of ways, it can be difficult to determine the qualities and characteristics of high-performing higher education institutions.

Catriona Manville, Saba Hinrichs

commentary

It's Hard to Eat Less When There Is Too Much on Your Plate

A recent review of 72 studies on portion sizes confirmed that when served more than they need, people eat more than they should. And there is clear evidence that portion sizes are dramatically larger than those served in the 1980s.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Russia on the Horns of a Nuclear Dilemma

While the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is a human tragedy, broader concerns about the lowering of WMD norms and violations of international law should be addressed. The use of radioactive matter to kill him represents a serious breach of international agreements.

Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

commentary

How You Can Be Cybersecurity's Strongest Asset

Technology is thoroughly embedded within the average person's life but security is not emphasized to the general user. Teaching the importance of security early on and continually bringing awareness to the public could help temper technology-based attacks.

Sherry Ryan, Lillian Ablon