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When Generals and Ambassadors Feud — Nov. 13, 2009

U.S. Marines train in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Sgt. Pete Thibodeau

Take it from this former ambassador: Disagreements over the war in Afghanistan may do more long-term harm than short-term good as discussed by James Dobbins in this commentary that appeared on ForeignPolicy.com.

The Impact of Deployment on the Post-Deployment Labor Market Earnings of Reservists — Nov. 9, 2009

U.S. Army reservists taking re-enlistment oath, photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. M. Alices

In this Congressional Briefing held on November 9, 2009, senior economist David Loughran presents findings about whether reservists who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer economic hardship in their post-deployment years because of lost civilian work experience, injury, and other difficulties adjusting to civilian work life.

The Fall of the Wall: A World Restored? — Nov. 9, 2009

crowd celebrating atop Berlin Wall, 1989, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/SSGT. F. L. Corkran

The fall of the Berlin Wall retains its status as an epoch–making event in modern world history. At the time, several adversaries feared that a reunited Germany would revert to the militarism of its past, as discussed in this commentary by Christopher S. Chivvis for CNN.com

Study of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Questions Assumptions Behind “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — Nov. 9, 2009

U.S. soldiers in formation

A new study about the U.S. military&rsdquo;s “Don’t Ask, Don’t TellRdquo; policy questions the assumption that allowing openly gay and lesbian military personnel to serve in the U.S. armed forces could harm military readiness.

RAND Experts Available To Discuss Possible Abbas Resignation and Palestinian Issues — Nov. 6, 2009

boy holding Palestinian flag, photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/rustystewart/300021362/

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has indicated that he may not seek reelection, which could affect efforts to secure stability in the Middle East. Today RAND released the conclusions drawn from a series of exercises that examined the challenges of the Arab-Israeli conflict – and of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular.

Our Man in Kabul — Nov. 4, 2009

Afghani village men, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Gay

Abdullah Abdullah was the first Afghan to suggest Hamid Karzai should become president of Afghanistan, however he cautioned that his view was not shared by all his comrades in the alliance as discussed in this commentary by James Dobbins that appeared in Foreignaffairs.com.

U.S. Policy in Afghanistan: Basic Questions — Strategic Choices — Oct. 29, 2009

Daily Life in Afghanistan, Photo courtesy of Boston.com

On October 29, 2009, the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy convened a half-day symposium of experts — including Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Ambassador James Dobbins, Senator Carl Levin, and others — and journalists to address assumptions and alternatives for U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

Karzai's Second Term a Test for International Community — Nov. 3, 2009

Afghan President Hamid Karzai at press conference in presidential palace, photo courtesy of defensei

To establish control in Afghanistan, two major elements of reform are necessary. First, Karzai needs to rein in the large-scale corruption that threatens the country and he must convince local Taliban leaders to change sides and support the government as discussed by Terrence K. Kelly in this commentary for RAND.org.

Keeping Our Allies on Our Side in Afghanistan — Nov. 2, 2009

U.S. Marines train in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Sgt. Pete Thibodeau

NATO allies provide a vital part of the forces available in Afghanistan. This fact must not be ignored when the U.S. administration consults with its allies as discussed in this commentary by Leo Michel and Robert E. Hunter that in Los Angeles Times.

Biden’s Task in Eastern Europe: Reassurance — Oct. 21, 2009

NATO Multinational Corps Northeast in formation, photo courtesy of www.mncne.pl/

Vice President Joseph Biden’s trip to eastern Europe this week provides an important opportunity to reassure Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania that the US is committed to their security. This is the subject of a commentary by F. Stephen Larrabee and Christopher S. Chivvis that appeared in The Christian Science Monitor.


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