The RAND Blog

2008

  • A soldier hugging his wife or girlfriend upon his return from deployment
    Veterans Health Care

    commentary

    War's Invisible Wounds

    Nearly 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan service veterans who have returned home -- about one in five -- may suffer from combat-stress-related mental health problems. Our veterans ought to get the best available treatments our nation can offer, but they don't, write authors Terry Schell, Terri Tanielian and Lisa Jaycox.

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    Sep 28, 2008

    Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    Terry L. Schell, Terri Tanielian, et al.

  • commentary

    Backlash Against Terror

    The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, are part of a disturbing trend across the Muslim world of groups that target civilians in the name of Islam. Less visible to Western eyes, but potentially just as significant, is a growing backlash among Muslims who condemn such attacks as unethical, writes Seth Jones.

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    Dec 21, 2008

    The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    Seth G. Jones

  • commentary

    Obama, Congress Can Improve FEMA, Homeland Security

    In his campaign, President-elect Barack Obama pledged to rebuild the Gulf Coast — one of the country's most wounded, yet economically strategic, regions.To keep this laudable promise, he will need to make a sustained commitment not only to a national disaster recovery plan, but also a comprehensive economic development strategy for the Gulf Coast, writes Melissa Flournoy.

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    Dec 21, 2008

    The Press-Register

    Melissa Flournoy

  • Political Reform Movements

    commentary

    In Iraq, a Different Kind of Drama Stages a Message of Reconciliation

    While female suicide bombers in Iraq have been getting all the headlines, a very different cadre of women has emerged on the scene with the opposite goal of forging peace and paving over the sectarian differences. Above all, these activists want to take back the streets and neighborhoods of their country, write Edward O'Connell and Cheryl Benard.

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    Dec 18, 2008

    Christian Science Monitor

    Edward O'Connell, Cheryl Benard

  • Iran

    commentary

    Is Ahmadinejad in Trouble?

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may lose the June 2009 presidential election. And a more pragmatic figure... may assume power. But no one, especially in the United States, should count on a dramatic change in Iran's policies, even if Ahmadinejad loses, writes Alireza Nader.

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    Dec 17, 2008

    United Press International

    Alireza Nader

  • Iraq

    commentary

    The Obama Withdrawal From Iraq: How Fast?

    The debate over withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has effectively ended: Troops will begin withdrawing in early 2009.... What is not yet entirely clear is what type of residual American force may remain in Iraq, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

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    Dec 16, 2008

    NationalJournal.com

    Brian Michael Jenkins

  • Terrorism Threat Assessment

    commentary

    Mumbai's Terrifying Logic

    We tend to describe terrorism as senseless violence, but it seldom is. If we look at the attacks from the attackers' perspective, we can discern a certain strategic logic, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

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    Dec 9, 2008

    United Press International

    Brian Michael Jenkins

  • Terrorist Bombings

    commentary

    India, Pakistan Must Confront Threat of More Violence

    As the last Mumbai sites were being cleared of terrorists, grim signs emerged of the challenges that face India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, beginning to know what the Mumbai attack was -- and what it was not -- only augurs more violence for India. At least three factors are at play, writes Christine Fair.

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    Dec 9, 2008

    CNN.com

    C. Christine Fair

  • Terrorism Threat Assessment

    commentary

    The Backlash Against Terror

    The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, are part of a disturbing trend across the Muslim world of groups that target civilians in the name of Islam. Less visible to Western eyes, but potentially just as significant, is a growing backlash among Muslims who condemn such attacks as unethical, writes Seth Jones.

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    Dec 8, 2008

    Ethics Newsline, a publication of the Institute for Global Ethics

    Seth G. Jones

  • commentary

    How Will Obama First Be Tested?

    Vice President-elect Biden was on solid historical ground. He was not implying that there is a band of bad guys hiding in some cellar conjuring up a crisis specifically to take on Obama. It is simply that, many new American presidents have confronted major foreign policy crises within their first year in office, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

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    Dec 8, 2008

    NationalJournal.com

    Brian Michael Jenkins

  • commentary

    Grab Vital Habitat Now: How Riverside County Can Step Up Conservation While Land Prices Are Down

    The economic slowdown threatens to put a crimp in ambitious efforts to balance preservation, transportation improvements and development in western Riverside County. It doesn't have to. Actually, it presents an opportunity, writes Lloyd Dixon.

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    Dec 1, 2008

    The Press-Enterprise

    Lloyd Dixon

  • Counterterrorism

    commentary

    Terrorists Have to Be Lucky Once; Targets, Every Time

    The 9/11 tragedy was a catalyst that accelerated the pace of the changes in the UK security model that were already occurring due to the waning threat of terrorism from the IRA and the growing threat from those who espoused an ideology of violent jihadism. The changes took place in three main areas, writes Lindsay Clutterbuck.

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    Nov 30, 2008

    Daily News & Analysis, India - DNAIndia.com

    Lindsay Clutterbuck

  • Maritime Piracy

    commentary

    Piracy Needs Regional Answer

    The international community is at something of a loss as to how to respond to the increasingly audacious nature of piracy off the Horn of Africa.... What's needed is a less dramatic and more nuanced approach, one with a greater focus on the land-based violence in Somalia, home of the pirates, writes Peter Chalk.

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    Nov 25, 2008

    United Press International

    Peter Chalk

  • Threat Assessment

    commentary

    Obama's First International Crisis

    When Sen. Joe Biden observed during the presidential campaign that a new President Barack Obama

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    Nov 16, 2008

    The San Diego Union-Tribune

    Brian Michael Jenkins

  • Afghanistan

    commentary

    Talk to the Taliban? Not Now

    As new U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus got a firsthand look at the worsening security situation in Afghanistan last week, he heard from some U.S., British and Afghan officials that the best way forward is to engage in peace talks with the Taliban. Such talks have already even tentatively begun. This is a bad idea.

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    Nov 11, 2008

    United Press International

    Cheryl Benard

  • Iraq

    commentary

    Know Your Enemy: From Iraq to Afghanistan

    More U.S. service members have been killed or injured over the last two months in Afghanistan than in Iraq. And most experts agree that an Al Qaeda-orchestrated attack on the U.S. homeland would likely be plotted from their sanctuary in these border areas.... Which is why, in our conflict against these terrorist and insurgent movements, we should step back and consider what we have learned from our recent successes in Iraq.

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    Nov 9, 2008

    Washington Times

    Benjamin Bahney, Renny McPherson