June 2014

Iraq

commentary
A Long-Term Strategy for a Democratic Iraq
Unfortunately, no strategic option for a unified, democratic Iraq has a good chance of success. But any well-considered option that doesn't involve ineffective killing or risking U.S. lives is preferable to simply allowing Iraq to disintegrate and feed broader regional instability.
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Jun 30, 2014
War on the Rocks
Ben Connable

Transportation Security

commentary
Sounding the Car Alarm on Hackers
Security protections on vehicles have not kept pace with systems that control safety features, navigation capabilities, and wireless communication functions. Onboard computer networks will likely become much more attractive to hackers, whether their aim is to steal a car, eavesdrop on a conversation, stalk a potential victim, or cause a devastating traffic accident.
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Jun 30, 2014
The San Francisco Chronicle
Isaac R. Porche III, Timothy M. Bonds
Counterterrorism

blog
Jones Named Head of International Security and Defense Policy Center at RAND
Seth Jones, a specialist in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism research, has been named director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation.
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Jun 30, 2014
Environmental Regulation

commentary
New Coal Plant Rules Need Sustained Support to Succeed
Stopping climate change will require the United States and the rest of the world to virtually eliminate emissions over the course of the 21st century. Getting anywhere close to zero emissions demands sustained political and public support, driven by an energy production sector given enough incentives to make carbon reduction succeed.
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Jun 30, 2014
The Sacramento Bee
Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert, Steven W. Popper
Veterans Health Care

commentary
Private Mental Health Providers Must Stand Ready to Help Veterans
Not all veterans wish to seek services at or through the VA, and many may not meet eligibility criteria. The VA is a critical component of the health care delivery system for former U.S. servicemembers, but it cannot and should not comprise the system alone.
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Jun 27, 2014
The Hill
Mark Pollack, Terri Tanielian
Iran

commentary
The Fallacy of Iranian Leverage
Rather than helping Iran in the nuclear negotiations, Iran's battle against the ISIS could actually hurt it. The broader strategic dynamics were already working against Iran, and the situation in Iraq has only made that more true.
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Jun 27, 2014
Foreign Affairs
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Cardiovascular Disorders

commentary
Have You Estimated Your Cardiovascular Risk?
Research suggests that setting a baseline by getting an estimate of your individual cardiovascular risk can help you see more clearly what you have at stake and what you can do to improve your chances of a long and healthy life.
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Jun 26, 2014
Sister to Sister
Chloe E. Bird @ChloeBirdPhD
commentary
Are Youth Putting Off Marriage Because of Their Student Loan Debt?
Women with higher loan balances may be less likely to get married than their peers with lower or no loan balances. But as time goes on, young adults adjust to their post-college financial situation and eventually get promotions, earn raises, obtain other assets, and get married.
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Jun 26, 2014
The RAND Blog
Robert Bozick
Emergency Services and Response

commentary
An Enduring Need for Better Measures of Emergency Preparedness
In an era of fiscal austerity, the need for measurement and assessment becomes manifold. Tied to good government goals and responsible stewardship of public funds, measurements are also necessary to educate the public about what it should—and should not—reasonably expect when disaster strikes.
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Jun 25, 2014
The RAND Blog
Brian A. Jackson
blog
Former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole Urges Graduates to Use Storytelling to Advance Policy
Facts and objective analysis are important, but for policy analysts to make a difference in the real world they also have to be able to tell a story, former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said at the June 21 Pardee RAND Graduate School commencement.
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Jun 24, 2014
Military Families

blog
Ask Me Anything: Rajeev Ramchand on Military Caregivers
With military caregivers quickly becoming a topic of national discussion, RAND's Rajeev Ramchand hosted an
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Jun 24, 2014
Nation Building

commentary
Is Afghanistan the Next to Crumble?
Amid the stunning rout of Iraqi forces in northern Iraq, many have asked whether a similar reversal of American foreign policy goals is possible in Afghanistan. The answer is a qualified yes. Now is the time for the United States to understand Afghanistan's coming struggle, and to help Afghans build a path to stability.
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Jun 24, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
S. Rebecca Zimmerman
Data Analysis

commentary
How Do We Deal with a Flood of Data?
Despite the value of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, the amount of data they generate has become overwhelming. If the Navy does not change the way it processes information, it will reach an ISR “tipping point”—as soon as 2016.
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Jun 23, 2014
Future Force
Isaac R. Porche III, Bradley Wilson, et al.
Afghanistan

commentary
Victory, Afghan Style
A good outcome in Afghanistan seems less likely now than it did a few weeks ago, but there is still cause for guarded optimism: before this electoral season began, few observers would have guessed that the final showdown would be between a pair of level-headed pro-Western moderates rather than two foul, bloodstained warlords.
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Jun 23, 2014
Foreign Affairs
Jonah Blank
Environmental Sustainability

announcement
$5 Million Cazier Gift to Pardee RAND Graduate School Launches Environmental and Energy Sustainability Initiative
A $5 million gift from engineer and philanthropist John M. Cazier will turbocharge research in environmental and energy sustainability at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.
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Jun 20, 2014
Terrorism Risk Insurance

blog
RAND Research Influences Debate on Terrorism Insurance
To inform the debate on whether the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) should be continued or allowed to expire, RAND prepared policy briefs on three topics of central concern to policymakers: national security perspectives, the impact on federal spending, and the impact on workers' compensation markets.
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Jun 19, 2014