July 2014

commentary

An Evil Wind

The threat of global terrorist enterprises has been enhanced by Western fighters joining al Qaeda offshoots like the Islamic State. With the terrorist threat evolving, the United States has little choice but to evolve with it.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

TSA's Cellphone Rule Part of Deadly Race

While placing explosives inside a cellphone is plausible, it is almost impossible to do so with iPhones without rendering them non-functional, which is why the TSA is now checking cell phones are actually working.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

Streamlining Congressional Oversight of DHS

At a time when terrorist threats abound both at home and abroad, the DHS and Congress should be working as one to bolster America's defenses. To do this Congress should simplify the way it oversees homeland security.

Henry H. Willis @HenryHWillis

commentary

France Gets Tougher on Terrorism

The launch of Barkhane, a new military operation by France, signals a change. Rather than simply reacting to an emergency as it did in Mali, France is committing to a long-term counterterrorism campaign, a much greater and more public commitment. This is welcome news for the United States.

Michael Shurkin

commentary

RAND Helps to Develop From Coverage to Care, a New CMS Initiative

Health coverage is a means to an end: the aim is to help more Americans use their coverage to access routine primary care and preventive services. For many of the newly insured, however, the leap between obtaining insurance and establishing a regular source of care is substantial.

Laurie T. Martin, David M. Adamson

commentary

Demographics Add Urgency for Action on Dementia Long-Term Care

Dementia takes a huge toll on those afflicted with it. But it also has major consequences for those who must care for them, most often family and friends.

Esther M. Friedman

commentary

Putting Patients First Can Result in Better Care Overall

Better patient care experiences are associated with higher levels of adherence to recommended prevention and treatment processes, better clinical outcomes, better patient safety within hospitals, and less health care utilization.

Rebecca Anhang Price, Marc N. Elliott, et al.

commentary

The ACA's Opportunity to Improve Care for Substance Use Disorders

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will significantly increase coverage for the publicly funded treatment of substance use disorders. But in order to maximize the benefit to patients, families, and society, it's critical to invest in the development, validation, and use of performance measures.

Katherine E. Watkins

commentary

Gaza and the Nuclear Negotiations

Whether a deal materializes that meets Iranian demands for a civilian nuclear program, but is limited enough to satisfy the United States and its partners remains to be seen. But the longer the Gaza conflict continues, the harder it'll be to insulate the negotiations from broader regional trends, which doesn't bode well for a successful outcome.

Dalia Dassa Kaye

commentary

A Missile's Deadly Message

Putin's stubbornness on Ukraine has attracted international scorn, threatened Russia's already shaky economy, and focused NATO on countering potential Russian aggression. It's also sparked anti-Russian and pro-NATO sentiments in Central and Eastern Europe. The tragic loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 only intensifies these sentiments.

Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich

commentary

Should You Get Screened for Heart Disease?

Many think of cardiovascular disease (CVD) primarily as a male problem. But one in three adult women has some form of CVD, which has killed more American women than men every year since 1984. Cardiovascular risk assessments can help women understand their current risk and health behaviors.

Chloe E. Bird @ChloeBirdPhD

commentary

What's Behind the Obesity Epidemic? Easily Accessible Food, and Lots of It

That no group is immune to rising obesity rates suggests that universal environmental factors are driving the trend. The clearest change concerns food availability and cost.

Roland Sturm

blog

With the Death Toll Rising in Gaza, Is There Any Hope for Peace?

Casualties are rising in the conflict between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Are there any realistic expectations for peace in the region? Who could broker a settlement between Hamas and Israel?

commentary

Defeating the Islamic State: Crafting a Regional Approach

While ISIL may achieve temporary tactical gains from declaring the caliphate, it made the strategic error of declaring all other Sunni political actors illegitimate. This may provide an opening to build a coalition that can create and implement a regional strategy to attack ISIL.

Douglas A. Ollivant, Terrence K. Kelly

blog

Like Flight 370, the MH17 Crash in Ukraine Could Remain a Mystery

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was reportedly shot down yesterday near the Russia-Ukraine border. But like Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished in March, what happened to MH17 is shrouded in mystery.