National Security: Documents Available Online
For more information on current research projects, please visit the National Security Research Area. The documents below are alphabetized by title.
2008
Afghanistan: State and Society, Great Power Politics, and the Way Ahead: Findings from an International Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2007
Compiles papers presented at an international conference on the problems that Afghanistan faces in the wake of the U.S.-led attack on al Qaeda and the Taliban; the obstacles to nation-building in the country; and possible solutions to these issues.
After Saddam: Prewar Planning and the Occupation of Iraq
Examines prewar planning efforts for postwar Iraq, the role of U.S. military forces after the end of major combat, and civilian efforts at reconstruction.
Aircraft Carrier Maintenance Cycles and Their Effects
This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of the feasibility of different cycle lengths and their effect on the operational availability of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. The authors also examine cycle length impact on shipyard workloads.
Analytic Support to Intelligence in Counterinsurgencies
Examines the nature of the contemporary insurgent threat and provides insights on using operational analysis techniques to support intelligence operations in counterinsurgencies.
Analyzing Contingency Contracting Purchases for Operation Iraqi Freedom (Unrestricted Version)
This study examines U.S. Air Force in-theater contingency purchases made in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during fiscal years 2003 and 2004 and develops a custom database to assist in analysis of demand and future decisionmaking.
An Argument for Documenting Casualties: Violence Against Iraqi Civilians 2006
The authors examine available open-source data on Iraqi civilian fatalities and assess problems associated with previous collection efforts. They present a more robust dataset and propose a framework for future data gathering in Iraq and beyond.
Asia, America, and the Transformation of Geopolitics
Post-Cold War Asia is increasingly unstable due to changes in relationships among the major countries, risks to the globalization process that underlay U.S. Cold War successes, and failure so far of U.S. strategies to adapt to the new environment.
Assessing the Tradecraft of Intelligence Analysis
This report assesses the tradecraft of intelligence analysis across the main U.S. intelligence agencies and makes recommendations for getting and keeping the people intelligence needs and giving analysts the tools to do better work.
Breaking the Failed-State Cycle
This paper aims to improve the understanding and treatment of failed states by focusing on critical challenges at the intersections between security, economics, and politics and on the guiding goal of empowering local populations.
Caution Nation-Builders: Gender Assumptions Ahead
Drawing the female population into the nation-building process will be good for a country's post-conflict progress and stability.
The Challenge of Nuclear-Armed Regional Adversaries
Deterring nuclear use by regional adversaries such as North Korea could be problematic in some situations. This book examines the strategic and force planning implications of this shift in the international security environment.
The Challenges of Trying Terrorists as Criminals: Proceedings of a RAND/SAIS Colloquium
When charges of terrorism are made against an individual, courts must strive to balance the rights of the accused, on the one hand, and national security, on the other, while avoiding any appearance of departure from open justice.
Conducting Counterinsurgency Operations: Lessons from Iraq (2003-2006)
This research brief examines U.S. counterinsurgency operations in Iraq from 2003 to 2006, including U.S. failure to protect Iraqi civilians; implications for future conflicts; and recommends steps to improve U.S. counterinsurgency capabilities.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of the 2006 Air Force Materiel Command Test and Evaluation Proposal
The Air Force proposal to consolidate and divest a portion of Eglin Air Force Base's test and evaluation capabilities has both financial merits and risks that the Air Force should address.
Countering Insurgency in the Muslim World: Rethinking U.S. Priorities and Capabilities
This research brief summarizes a RAND report that analyzes insurgencies such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq and calls for a major shift in investment priorities to give the United States the capabilities it needs for effective counterinsurgency.
Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan: RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Volume 4
An examination of the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan illustrates that successful counterinsurgency requires effective indigenous security forces, especially police; a viable local government; and the suppression of external support for insurgents.
Counterinsurgency in Iraq (2003-2006): RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Volume 2
Implications of failure to protect local populations in counterinsurgency (COIN) operations, overreliance on technology, and lack of a coherent COIN approach, along with strategic considerations in and recommendations to improve U.S. COIN capability.
Developing Senior Navy Leaders: Requirements for Flag Officer Expertise Today and in the Future
Identifies the expertise requirements of senior Navy leadership positions, as well as the types of experience likely to become more important in the future, to better understand how the Navy should develop its officers.
Doctrine of Eternal Recurrence -- The U.S. Military and Counterinsurgency Doctrine, 1960-1970 and 2003-2006: RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Paper 6
This paper tests and ultimately disproves the assumption that doctrine as written and operations as conducted are tightly linked. Ingrained organizational concepts and beliefs have a much greater influence on operations than written doctrine.
Estimating the Benefits of the Air Force Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Initiative
To help the Air Force assess the effectiveness of its purchasing and supply-chain management initiative, the authors have developed an econometric model to help isolate the effects of this initiative from those of other possible influences.
Evaluating Novel Threats to the Homeland: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Cruise Missiles
For several types of attacks, examines cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles from an adversary's perspective and assesses defensive options to address this and other asymmetric threats.
An Examination of the Relationship Between Usage and Operating and Support Costs for Air Force Aircraft
Examines the relationship between operating and support costs and usage of Air Force aircraft, in order to improve resource allocation.
Finding Candidate Options for Investment: From Building Blocks to Composite Options and Preliminary Screening
A methodology and prototype tool, the Building Blocks To Composite Options Tool (BCOT), that identifies investment options for defense capability areas, then uses a screening technique to identify those meriting more-extensive assessment in a fuller portfolio-analysis framework.
Fiscally Informed Total Force Manpower
Presents the results of a short-term review of 27 manpower studies to discover methods that other organizations could use to make ''fiscally informed'' manpower decisions.
Getting Back on Track in Afghanistan
Testimony presented before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia on April 2, 2008.
Getting the Most Out of Littoral Combat Ships
This research brief summarizes analysis of the Littoral Combat Ship, the U.S. Navy's first modular warship, suggesting the best locations for homeports, mission package installation sites, and the quantity of mission packages that should be procured.
Guidelines and Metrics for Assessing Space System Cost Estimates
A handbook to help analysts assess cost estimates of space systems.
How Do Earnings Change When Reservists Are Activated?: A Reconciliation of Estimates Derived from Survey and Administrative Data
Among the many hardships of military activation is the possibility of losing earnings, and although some research points to such a loss, other research suggests that reservists in fact earn substantially more when they are activated.
Improving Strategic Planning at the Department of Defense
This research brief summarizes a monograph presenting a framework, methods, and tools to support capabilities analysis and related tradeoff work within the Department of Defense and the military services. The monograph deals with choice and risk.
Improving U.S. Counterinsurgency Operations: Lessons Learned from Afghanistan
This research brief identifies challenges with local governance and external support as key issues in current counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan and offers some initial steps to address those challenges.
Increasing Aircraft Carrier Forward Presence: Changing the Length of the Maintenance Cycle
Evaluating multiple one- and two-deployment scenarios, RAND examines the feasibility of different cycle lengths, their effect on Nimitz-class aircraft carrier forward presence, and their impact on shipyard workloads.
International Perspectives on Interagency Reform
Testimony presented before the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on January 29, 2008.
Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery
A comprehensive study of the post-deployment health-related needs associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury among servicemembers returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Invisible Wounds of War: Quantifying the Societal Costs of Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Testimony presented before the Joint Economic Committee on June 12, 2008.
Invisible Wounds of War: Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Testimony presented before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on June 11, 2008.
Invisible Wounds of War: Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Summarizes key findings and recommendations from Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery (Tanielian and Jaycox [Eds.], MG-720-CCF, 2008).
Invisible Wounds of War: Summary of Key Findings on Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Testimony presented before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on June 11, 2008.
Invisible Wounds: Mental Health and Cognitive Care Needs of America's Returning Veterans
This research brief summarizes a comprehensive RAND study of the mental health and cognitive needs of returning servicemembers and veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
An Iraqi Modus Vivendi: How Would It Come About and What Would It Look Like?
Testimony presented before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 3, 2008.
Is the Navy Developing Flag Officers with the Expertise They Need?
This research brief summarizes a study that examined the kinds of expertise required by senior Navy officers, whether recent pools of officers possess this expertise, and the skills that may become more important for Navy leadership in the future.
Is the United States Losing Its Edge in Science and Technology?
This research brief examines the claim that the United States is losing its position as a global leader in science and technology and offers policy recommendations to address such concerns.
Leader Development in Army Units: Views from the Field
Summarizes discussions with over 450 Army officers about leader development in Army units, and offers suggestions on how the Army school system can improve leader development.
Maintaining Military Medical Skills During Peacetime: Outlining and Assessing a New Approach
The skills required of military medical personnel differ during deployment and peacetime. This study explored the possibility of stationing personnel in nonmilitary settings where the case mix might more closely resemble that under deployment.
The Maritime Dimension of International Security: Terrorism, Piracy, and Challenges for the United States
Piracy and sea-borne terrorism have been on the rise since 2000. While the United States has spearheaded several initiatives to improve maritime security, policymakers should consider four additional measures to safeguard the world's oceans.
Methodology for Improving the Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations
Presents alternative methods to approach U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasking and assessment processes and presents a methodology for assessing the benefits and costs of different ISR employment strategies.
Middle East Perspectives: Conference Proceedings from Gstaad, Switzerland
These proceedings document the conclusions of panel discussions at the 2007 Workshop on the Middle East, addressing geopolitical and regional dynamics, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation in Iraq, and Iran and the Gulf region.
Modernizing the North Korean System: Objectives, Method, and Application
Describes a collaborative effort that produced illustrative plans, a consensus plan, and a tool kit to construct plans for stimulating the modernization of the North Korean system.
New Approaches to Planning, Executing, and Assessing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations
This research brief summarizes research detailing a methodology for assessing the benefits and costs of U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance employment strategies.
Opportunities for Systems Engineering to Contribute to Durability and Damage Tolerance of Hybrid Structures for Airframes
Ensuring that airframe structures made of hybrid materials are durable and damage tolerant will require the efforts and coordination of multiple engineering specialties, including systems engineers.
Outcome Measures for Effective Teamwork in Inpatient Care: Final Report
Addresses one step in the process of moving from teamwork training to teamwork practices that improve outcomes of care: identifying outcomes that are most likely to be affected as teamwork practices improve in an implementing organization.
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