RAND: Iran 2009-10-19T15:39:00Z Copyright (c) 2007-2008, The RAND Corporation Bricolage RAND Corporation urn:uuid:09D9436A-F6D5-11DD-8200-12D538788F35 Afghanistan's Growing Security Challenge urn:uuid:2659782A-E96A-11DD-AF2F-51C038788F35 2009-01-27T00:00:00Z 2009-01-27T00:00:00Z This essay from a collection, which examines the security situation in Afghanistan through the largest public opionon survey ever conducted in Afghanistan, asks three questions. What are Afghan perceptions of the security environment? How do these perceptions vary across the country? How do Afghans feel about their security institutions? Political Reform in the Arab World is a Mixed Bag in Confronting Terrorism urn:uuid:C08BA642-7FFD-11DD-AB10-58C038788F35 2008-09-24T03:00:00Z 2008-09-24T03:00:00Z 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. Meeting America's Security Challenges Beyond Iraq urn:uuid:F8BAFCF6-692E-11DD-A739-58C038788F35 2008-09-18T03:00:00Z 2008-09-18T03:00:00Z In a conference cohosted by RAND and the Center for Naval Analyses Corporation, members of the U.S. defense community discussed approaches to meeting the challenges of a demanding future security environment. Dangerous Thresholds: Managing Escalation in the 21st Century urn:uuid:4A721F92-4EAF-11DD-B037-E4D638788F35 2008-08-25T03:00:00Z 2008-08-25T03:00:00Z Historical examples and the analysis of two modified Delphi exercises augment an examination of approaches to escalation management within the demands of today’s security environment and its attendant threats involving not only long-standing nuclear powers, but also insurgent groups and terrorists. Flexibility and Sensitivity to Local Concerns Are Crucial to Long-Term U.S. Security Relationships with Iraq and Afghanistan urn:uuid:38831224-3EC3-11DD-BBE1-E1BD38788F35 2008-08-01T03:00:00Z 2008-08-01T03:00:00Z The United States is heavily invested – diplomatically, economically, and militarily – in Iraq and Afghanistan. Based on this, the United States must clarify its long-term intentions to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the surrounding regions. Testimony on America's Need of a New Grand Strategy, Shift in National Security Policy urn:uuid:4F6B9758-4EAF-11DD-B037-E4D638788F35 2008-07-15T03:00:00Z 2008-07-15T03:00:00Z The unanticipated costs and unpredictable outcomes of the War on Terror necessitate a reevaluation of national security strategy, including a shift away from policies of preemption and democratization and towards nation-building with its consequent need for a rebalancing of political and military power. U.S. Has Long-Term Economic, Political Options to Help Make Iran More Democratic urn:uuid:96CCA1EE-3D63-11DD-BBA4-E1BD38788F35 2008-07-10T03:00:00Z 2008-07-10T03:00:00Z The United States should pursue a mixed strategy toward Iran, using a variety of means to promote favorable social developments within the country and at the same time exploiting vulnerabilities in the nation's political, economic and demographic conditions. Shortcomings in Planning for Post-Combat Period in Iraq urn:uuid:C54DB8B0-E6C8-11DC-8470-E1BD38788F35 2008-06-30T03:00:00Z 2008-06-30T03:00:00Z 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. Both Sides in Debate Over Iran Fail to See Dangers of Pre-Emptive Strike urn:uuid:537C967C-4797-11DD-AD86-55E038788F35 2008-06-30T03:00:00Z 2008-06-30T03:00:00Z Opponents of war with Iran who take their stand on the grounds that Washington should talk to Tehran first are in danger of finding themselves trapped within a broadening national consensus that could lead to an unwinnable war, writes James Dobbins. U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan Will Fail If Taliban Not Routed from Pakistan urn:uuid:B64EC20C-1DC1-11DD-A9A0-E1BD38788F35 2008-06-09T03:00:00Z 2008-06-09T03:00:00Z 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. Afghanistan: From Chaos and Corruption to Sustainable Success urn:uuid:ADB7507A-17B6-11DD-BBA2-B40839788F35 2008-05-23T03:00:00Z 2008-05-23T03:00:00Z Since the 2002 U.S.-led attacks in Afghanistan, the country has struggled to stabilize their government and society. RAND co-hosted a conference attended by experts in academia, government and NGOs from over 20 nations to discuss the need for a strategic approach to Afghanistan's attempts at nation-building. Good Morning, Syria! – Time to Revisit Our Axis of Evil List? urn:uuid:D74B5F4A-1139-11DD-BEBB-E1BD38788F35 2008-04-22T03:00:00Z 2008-04-22T03:00:00Z The time may come to start contemplating whether Syria might follow the example of Libya and make its way off the axis of evil, write Cheryl Benard and Ed O'Connell. The Challenge of Nuclear-Armed Regional Adversaries urn:uuid:CCAF6634-F033-11DC-857A-E1BD38788F35 2008-04-15T03:00:00Z 2008-04-15T03:00:00Z North Korea's test of a nuclear weapon in 2006 shows that such weapons are within reach of determined regional powers. Thus, defense planners in the United States and elsewhere must begin now to confront the new security challenges posed by nuclear-armed regional adversaries. Turkey as a U.S. Security Partner urn:uuid:ABE511EA-CF2E-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-04-10T03:00:00Z 2008-04-10T03:00:00Z Turkey has long been an important ally, but Ankara is increasingly behaving more independently and assertively in ways that must factor into future U.S. planning for the region. Real Roles, Missions Debate urn:uuid:A1BBD43C-0B1B-11DD-9175-E1BD38788F35 2008-04-07T03:00:00Z 2008-04-07T03:00:00Z The United States can and should move beyond a "one size fits all" approach to sizing military forces toward a construct that shapes each service for the types of operations it is actually expected to conduct in the future, write Andrew Hoehn and David Ochmanek. U.S. Failed to Monitor and Adapt to Insurgent Trends in Iraq urn:uuid:B0FD261C-C9B7-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-03-11T03:00:00Z 2008-03-11T03:00:00Z The inability of the United States to monitor insurgent trends in Iraq and apply new counterinsurgency tactics led many Iraqi civilians to side with sectarian groups, propelling the country to the brink of civil war. Not That Bad a Legacy, After All urn:uuid:3C8A1024-C5D4-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-01-17T03:00:00Z 2008-01-17T03:00:00Z George W. Bush may leave a positive foreign policy legacy after all. A year ago this would have seemed difficult to credit... [Y]et over this period, Bush has put in place a series of more pragmatic policies from which even a Democratic successor will have a hard time moving away, writes James Dobbins. Negotiating with Iran urn:uuid:A5CFC36A-8D50-11DC-982A-BBBE38788F35 2007-11-07T03:00:00Z 2007-11-07T03:00:00Z In testimony presented before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, James Dobbins notes that it is time to speak to Iran, unconditionally and comprehensively. The Quest for Common Grounds in American and Iranian Public Opinion urn:uuid:9C35C4AC-6542-11DC-8627-14BF38788F35 2007-10-02T03:00:00Z 2007-10-02T03:00:00Z Although the emergent and ever-deepening conflict between Iran and the U.S. is often framed in the rhetoric of "clash of civilizations," a review of data from the World Values Survey found considerable common ground in the values of the American and Iranian peoples. Unofficial Diplomacy Efforts Can Have a Positive Effect Over Long Term urn:uuid:E2AED186-57BD-11DC-A521-6825C9FFCC07 2007-09-19T03:00:00Z 2007-09-19T03:00:00Z Unofficial diplomatic discussions can play a significant role in shaping attitudes in the Middle East and Asia, but are best used as a long-term strategy without expectations for dramatic policy shifts.