CGRS in the News
RAND researchers often write commentaries for publications on a variety of topics. For a complete list of all commentaries by RAND staff, visit the RAND Newsroom. The page below lists commentaries topics related to Global Risk and Security.
CGRS in the News Archive:
2008 |
2007
2008
While China's Regional Influence Grows, U.S. Remains Key Security and Economic Partner in East Asia — Nov. 17, 2008
A new study infers that America's key East Asian allies do not see China as a viable strategic alternative to the United States and that allied nations seek to broaden economic and diplomatic relations with both the United States and China.
News Release
Obama's First International Crisis — Nov. 16, 2008
According to Vice President Joe Biden, the new President Barack Obama "will be tested by an international crisis within his first six months in power," as discussed by Brian Micheal Jenkins in this commentary for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
News Release
Defeating Terrorist Groups — Nov. 12, 2008
Since 1997, the Defense Department and other federal agencies have been assigned agency-specific goals of spending a set percentage of contract dollars on goods and services with small businesses.
News Release
Talk to the Taliban? Not Now — Nov. 12, 2008
When U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus reviewed the worsening security situation in Afghanistan, he was advised to engage in peace talks with the Taliban. According to this commentary, by Cheryl Benard for UPI.com, this may not be an advisable approach.
Full Document
Know Your Enemy: From Iraq to Afghanistan — Nov. 9, 2008
As debate continues about how to fight a resurgent Al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan and along the Pakistan border, leaders in Washington, Kabul and Islamabad seem lost about what to do next.
News Release
Georgia Dispute Derails Bid to Stop Nuke Terrorism — Oct. 6, 2008
In the wake of Russia’s actions in Georgia, the U.S. has delayed talks with Moscow dealing with missile defense and reducing the size of strategic nuclear arsenals as discussed by Brian Micheal Jenkins for Providence Journal.
Commentary
Changes Needed in Way the United States Conducts Military Interventions — Oct. 2, 2008
In preparing for possible future military interventions, the United States needs to shift substantial resources and integrate military-civilian efforts.
News Release
Full Document
War's Invisible Wounds — Sep. 28, 2008
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 as discussed in this commentary for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Commentary
Political Reform in the Arab World is a Mixed Bag in Confronting Terrorism — Sep. 24, 2008
A RAND Corporation study issued today finds that democratic political reforms can marginalize extremists and undermine support for political violence, but cosmetic reforms and backtracking on democratization can exacerbate the risk of terrorism.
News Release
Full Document
Effects of Deployments on Spouses of Military Personnel — Sep. 23, 2008
A recent dissertation by Bogdan Savych examines the effect of deployment on spousal labor force participation and household well-being.
Read Dissertation
Defeating Terrorist Groups — Sep. 23, 2008
Testimony presented by Seth G. Jones before the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats and Capabilities.
Full Document
Meeting America's Security Challenges Beyond Iraq: A Conference Report — Sep. 22, 2008
This conference discussed a list of security obligations that America faces, as well as future security issues likely to be problematic for any new administration, and discussed how the U.S. government and defense community should address these challenges.
Full Document
A Nuclear 9/11? — Sep. 11 2008
Will terrorists go nuclear? It is a question that worried public officials and frightened citizens have been asking for decades. It is no less of a worry today, as we ponder the seventh anniversary of 9/11 as discussed by Brian Micheal Jenkins for CNN.com .
News Release
Commentary
A ‘Europe Whole and Free and at Peace’ — Sep. 9, 2008
Events in Georgia can and will have broader repercussions, most particularly on Russia's relations with Europe and especially the United States, far beyond anything at stake in the Caucasus as discussed by Robert E. Hunter for the Providence Journal .
Commentary
Smooth Presidential Transition Is Crucial To Early Foreign Policy and National Security Success — Sep. 8, 2008
The foreign policy success of incoming presidents, particularly in the early years of a presidency, is largely determined by how well the new administration learns from the successes and failures of the outgoing president, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.
News Release
Full Document
Ukraine: The Next Crisis? — Sep. 7, 2008
The Russian invasion of Georgia has sent shock waves throughout the West and the former Soviet space - especially Ukraine. Indeed, Ukraine could be the next potential crisis according to this commentary by F. Stephen Larrabee for www.project-syndicate.org.
Read Commentary
Too Soon to Judge the Surge — Aug. 29, 2008
Most of the units involved in the surge have been withdrawn from Iraq, and troop levels are about what they were before the surge was announced. And if General Petraeus recommends, further troop cuts may be adopted this fall. The key question is whether levels of violence will remain low once those troops are gone.
Commentary
National Security Research Area
Georgia: Breakdown of Vision the West Had for a New Europe — Aug. 28, 2008
Since the Russian Federation sent tanks, troops, and planes slicing into Georgia, commentators have reached for a variety of historic parallels.... None of these supposed parallels catches the current situation.
Commentary
International Affairs Research Area
Kosovo and South Ossetia More Different Than Similar — Aug. 26, 2008
The Russian government has long highlighted the similarities between Kosovo and South Ossetia. When Kosovo declared independence, Russia argued that this would embolden South Ossetia, as discussed by Olga Oliker in this commentary for RFERL.org .
Read Commentary
Turkey's Second Chance — Aug. 25, 2008
The recent decision by the Turkish Constitutional Court not to close the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) helped Turkey narrowly dodge a dangerous political bullet, according to this commentary by F. Stephen Larrabee for the Washington Times .
Commentary
After the Taliban: Nation-Building in Afghanistan — Aug. 19, 2008
Ambassador James Dobbins recounts how the U.S. administration reluctantly adjusted to its new role as nation-builder, yields insights into how government and diplomacy really work, and explains why it has failed to stabilize Afghanistan or Iraq.
Read More
Expert Bio
Terrorism expert examines intelligence on al Qaida in "Will Terrorists Go Nuclear?" — Aug. 19, 2008
Offering insights into vital questions of national security, presidential decisionmaking, and terrorist motives, world-renowned terrorism expert Brian Michael Jenkins examines how terrorists think about nuclear weapons and nuclear terror.
Read More
View the Video
Researcher Farhana Ali Discusses Future of Pakistan — Aug. 18, 2008
The future of Pakistan after the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf is discussed in this interview of Farhana Ali by C-Span.
View the Video at c-span.org
A New Grand Strategy for the United States — Jul. 31, 2008
Testimony presented by Robert E. Hunter before the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on July 31, 2008.
Read Testimony
Dressed To Kill: Why the Number of Female Suicide Bombers is Rising in Iraq — Jul. 31, 2008
Muslim female suicide bombers are on the rise. For almost 10 years, we have warned that women would start playing a more aggressive role in groups like Al Qaeda, as discussed in this commentary by Farhana Ali for Newsweek .
News Release
Colonel Cardinal's Iceberg Theory — Jul. 31, 2008
Colonel Chuck Cardinal, former director of the Pacific Command's inter-agency coordination group for counterterrorism, devised a novel overarching “Iceberg Theory”, which is the subject of this commentary by Dick Hoffman for The San Diego Union-Tribune .
Commentary
Center for Global Risk and Security Hosts Third Annual Terrorism and Global Security Conference - Jul. 29, 2008
On May 8-9, RAND's new Center for Global Risk and Security, hosted and co-sponsored the third annual Terrorism and Global Security Conference, a collaborative effort with Los Angeles Terrorism Early Warning Group and the Center for Advanced studies on Terrorism.
Conference Summary
Turkey’s broadening crisis - Jul. 28, 2008
Turkey is facing a political crisis that not only threatens the country’s internal stability but could weaken its ties to the West and exacerbate instability in the Middle East as discussed by F. Stephen Larrabee in the International Herald Tribune.
Read Commentary
How to Save Karzai - Jul. 25, 2008
Afghanistan’s president is no George Washington, it’s true. But with Afghanistan growing more chaotic by the day, now is no time to throw Hamid Karzai under the bus as discussed in this commentary by Seth Jones for Foreign Policy .
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Dealing with Iran: The Case for Talking - Jul. 1, 2008
Negotiating with Iran will not necessarily produce accomodations, however it will provide more information, which will in turn lead to more options, better choices and wiser policy, as discussed by James Dobbins in this commentary for the International Herald Tribune .
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Shortcomings in Planning for Post-Combat Period in Iraq Outlined - June 30, 2008
Efforts to adequately plan for the post-combat period in Iraq were thwarted by overly optimistic views held by top civilian leaders and a belief among military leaders that civilian authorities would be responsible for postwar operations, according to a report by RAND Corporation researchers.
News Release
Full Document
China's Responsibility to Protect: The Nation Can Help Citizens in Myanmar, Sudan — Jun. 17, 2008
Of all countries remiss in their responsibility to protect human rights, China bears special scrutiny because of its influence with the Myanmar and Sudanese regimes, writes David C. Gompert.
Commentary
U.S. Still Leads the World in Science and Technology; Nation Benefits From Foreign Scientists, Engineers — Jun. 12, 2007
Despite perceptions that the nation is losing its competitive edge, the United States remains the dominant leader in science and technology worldwide, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.
News Release
A chance in Lebanon; No place for tyrants - Jun. 9, 2008
Hezbollah’s recent flexing of its muscles in Lebanon may well lead to the unintended effect of disarming the militant group. In this commentary by Theodore Karasik and Ghassan Schbley for the International Herald Tribune stated that the Lebanese people are truly fed up.
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Taliban's Sanctuary Bases in Pakistan Must Be Eliminated - Jun. 9, 2008
If Taliban sanctuary bases in Pakistan are not eliminated, the United States and its NATO allies will face crippling long-term consequences in their effort to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.
Full Document News Release
The Challenges of Trying Terrorists as Criminals - Proceedings of a RAND/SAIS Colloquium - May 30, 2008
Held in Washington in January 2008, this colloquium brought together a distinguished group of specialists in strategy and intelligence joined with lawyers, prosecutors, and judges – to discuss the challenges of using criminal trials as one instrument in combating terrorism.
Conference Procedings
Afghan Progress Spotty but Hopeful - May 12, 2008
Progress in Afghanistan is a study in contrasts. Progress is substantial in the north, but limited in the south. In this commentary by Obaid Younossi and Peter Dahl Thruelsen for the Providence Journal, sustained efforts are required by the UN and the Afghan government to develop a multiyear, well-resourced political, military and economic roadmap.
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Give Them Sabbaticals - May 7, 2008
The Army’s Training With Industry program, though not tied to officer retention, could serve as the basis for an expanded effort to provide unique training in the diverse civilian world. In this commentary by Laura Miller, for USA Today, a new outlook on training could help prepare officers for the future military interactions and improve retention.
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A House of Tribes for Iraq - Apr. 29, 2008
Many western notions of governance struggle with Iraq, however one that deserves a close look is the effort to create a unique upper legislative body: The House of Tribes, as discussed in this commentary by Theodore W. Karasik and Ghassan Schbley for Washingtonpost.com.
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Good Morning, Syria! – Time to Revisit Our Axis of Evil List? — Apr. 22, 2008
Syria is changing and the United States should take notice. A vibrant youth scene, chic cafe´s, art exhibitions, modish shopping districts, and the WiFi hotspots in a country late to adopt the Internet, are not the only surprises in Syria, as discussed in this commentary by Cheryl Benard and Edward O’Connell for the Providence Journal .
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Iraq Needs an Ownership Surge - Apr. 13, 2008
The military surge in Iraq has created conditions favorable for long-term stability. Now a new approach to economic reconstruction is needed to sustain the hard-fought military gains as discussed in this commentary by Joseph Konzelmann and Clare Lockhart for the Washington Times.
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The New Deterrence: Overwhelming and Searching Retaliation - Apr. 10, 2008
On February 8, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley announced that the United States had recently adopted "a new declaratory policy to help deter terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction against the United States, our friends, and allies", as discussed in this commentary by Elbridge Colby for Weekly Standard.
Read Commentary
Real Roles, Missions Debate - Apr. 7, 2008
More than six years after Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration has yet to strike a durable balance in allocating resources among efforts to defeat terrorist groups and more familiar military missions against threats by state adversaries. This is the subject of a commentary by Andrew R. Hoehn and David Ochmanek for the Washington Times.
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Iraq's Sunni Time Bomb - Apr. 4, 2008
While the recent fighting in Basra and Baghdad has alerted us to the danger that Shiite-on-Shiite violence poses to our goals in Iraq, it should not divert our focus from the fact that the Sunni tribesmen who have sided with the American-led coalition may turn against us. A commentary by Matthew Sherman for the New York Times .
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America is Making a Difference in Eastern Afghanistan - Apr. 2, 2008
The United States has turned a corner in Afghanistan, as discussed by Seth G. Jones in this commentary for Globe and Mail . It has made some progress against the Taliban and other insurgent groups in eastern Afghanistan, and created a window of opportunity to spread this elsewhere.
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Georgia on Their Mind — Mar. 27, 2007
As NATO heads toward its summit meeting in Bucharest on April 3-4, the question of NATO enlargement – especially whether to give Membership Action Plans, or MAPs, to Georgia and Ukraine – has re-emerged as a contentious issue, as discussed in this commentary by F. Stephen Larrabee for International Herald Tribune.
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Danish Cartoons Doom Us All - Mar. 21, 2008
Last week's rage in Pakistan over reprints of cartoons and a forthcoming Dutch film that insult Islam's holy book once again entangles Muslims and the West in a fury over freedom of speech, as discussed in this commentary by Farhana Ali for United Press International.
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A New National Strategy for Korea: North Korea Threats Require Deterrence, Reconciliation - Mar. 13, 2008
Over the last five years, the South Korean government has tried to downplay the military threat posed by North Korea. However North Korea still poses a serious military threat to South Korea as discussed by Bruce Bennett in this commentary for Korea Herald.
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An Independent Kosovo Was a Part of the U.N.’s Plan - Mar. 12, 2008
Diplomatic wrangling over Kosovo’s declaration of independence this week has created a good deal of misunderstanding about the U.N. Security Council Resolution that defines that society’s current status and future evolution. James Dobbins provides this commentary for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
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A Post-Musharraf Pakistan Policy - Mar. 10, 2008
Now that the parliamentary elections in Pakistan have gone decisively against President Musharraf, will the newly elected prime minister agree to work with Musharraf? If not, what should the United States do in response? This is the subject of a new commentary by Farhana Ali for Washingtonpost.com.
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RAND Study Offers Ways to Help North Korea Peacefully Modernize Its Political, Economic Structure - Mar. 10, 2008
An unprecedented joint report, based on a 2½-year-long collaboration between RAND and five international research institutions, recommends a new approach for North Korea to create fundamental, but peaceful, change in it’s archaic political, economic and security systems.
Read News Release
Why We Need to Nail Osama — Feb. 28, 2007
The recent killing of Hezbollah’s Imad Mughniyah begs a larger question: How important is it to take out key terrorists such as Osama bin Laden? The costs and benefits of such action is the subject of this commentary by Elbridge Colby for the Washington Times.
Read More
Women's Greater Role in Nation-Building Can Lead to Economic and Political Stability in Post-Conflict Countries - Feb. 27, 2008
Women’s participation in post-conflict nation-building is an important ingredient in achieving an equitable, peaceful and more prosperous society, according to a RAND Corporation study released today.
News Release
Full Document
Ungoverned Territories - Feb. 14, 2008
Text of the testimony, discusing security problems posed by ungoverned territories, and what could be done to address them, presented by Angel Rabasa before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.
Congressional Testimony
International Perspectives on Interagency Reform - Jan. 29, 2008
The United States and many of its allies and partners have become increasingly involved in stability operations and nation building around the world. This testimony by Nora Bensahel before the Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations suggests major capability shortfalls that may undermine prospects for success.
Congressional Testimony
Nora Bensahel discusses counter insurgency in Iraq - Jan. 24, 2008
A group of former Sunni insurgents in Iraq joined forces to form, “The Awakening Council.” that has grown to about 70,000 members and has helped quell the violence. Nora Bensahel discusses with Katy Clark of PRI, The World that the group is now under attack by the current insurgents in Iraq.
Listen to the Interview
Not That Bad a Legacy, After All - Jan. 18, 2008
George W. Bush may leave a positive foreign policy legacy after all, as discussed in this engaging commentary by James Dobbins for the International Herald Tribune. His commitment to Middle East peace, Israel and Palestine, and his willingness to talk to Iran and North Korea will make it easier for his successor.
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U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, instability, and the future of U.S. policy — Jan. 16, 2008
Testimony on U.S.-Pakistan Relations Assassination, Instability, and the Future of U.S. Policy presented before the Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia United States House of Representatives by C. Christine Fair.
Testimony
A Test on Bioterrorism Response - Jan. 8, 2008
David Dausey, researcher and lead author of a RAND Corp. report on public health, shares the results of his study, with Infotrak on TalkZone.com, that found that many of the nation's public health agencies are dangerously slow to respond to reports of bioterrorism, such as botulism, anthrax, smallpox and bubonic plague.
Listen to Interview
TalkZone.com
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