The RAND Blog

commentary

A Norm in Crisis: Implications of Persistent Chemical Weapons Use

The international community should consider serious options to hold perpetrators of chemical attacks accountable and stop further attacks. These are not easy choices. But the alternative is accepting that long-held norms are crumbling, and the world is sliding back to a time when inhumane tools of war were common.

Natasha Lander

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Why the U.S.-Japan Summit Matters

After a year and half of relative stability, the The United States and Japan now must talk about difficult issues in which they have vested interests. As allies, and close friends, they could both benefit from reconfirming common goals and establishing a set of strategies to deal with challenges.

Jeffrey W. Hornung

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Austin Bombings Highlight a Potential Vulnerability in the Mail Delivery System

USPS is better than private couriers at identifying and detecting suspicious packages. Given that they are increasingly handling

Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis, Michael S. Pollard @MichaelSPollard

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Now's the Time to Act on Guantanamo

Most of the 41 terror suspects who remain confined at Guantanamo Bay are unlikely to be released from custody any time soon. But the possibility that new detainees may soon be sent to the facility argues for early action to accelerate the legal proceedings against those already being held.

K. Jack Riley, Michelle Kezirian, et al.

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Political Warfare Is Back with a Vengeance

The United States' principal adversaries are fighting and gaining ground by employing a host of tactics short of all-out war. This form of warfare, once called political warfare, is back with a vengeance, empowered by new tools and techniques.

Raphael S. Cohen, Linda Robinson

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Turkey's Double Standard: How Ankara's Actions Contradict Its Claims of Opposing the Islamic State

Turkey wants to take credit for the demise of the Islamic State, insisting that Turkey's actions in northern Syria have helped lay the groundwork for a sustainable peace. But the evidence clearly suggests otherwise.

Ahmet S. Yayla, Colin P. Clarke

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Bridging the Growing College Divide Among Young Americans

Over the last decade, more Americans age 25 to 34 earned four-year college and graduate degrees, but the number of those without college degrees also increased. New ways of communicating educational options and outcomes to young people are needed.

Diana Gehlhaus

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Congestion Tolls Work in London and Stockholm—Why Not Seattle?

Seattle is considering following in the footsteps of London, Stockholm, Singapore, and Milan to introduce a charge for driving on the city's roads. What can Seattle and its residents learn from other cities that have implemented road user charging?

Charlene Rohr

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Conditioning American Withdrawal from Syria

U.S. forces will soon withdraw from Syria, and the U.S. State Department put a hold on further stabilization assistance to areas liberated from the Islamic State. The U.S. and its partners should offer stabilization and reconstruction help, particularly in regions where much of the damage was the result of American-supported military operations.

James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Jeffrey Martini

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Do Terrorist Groups Really Die? A Warning

The persistence of al Qaeda and ISIS underscores terrorist groups' adaptability in the 21st century. Both organizations maintain global, regional, and local influence in the face of immense pressure. As terrorist groups fall, the West should watch them closely to prevent a resurgence.

Antonia Ward

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To Protect Interests Abroad, China Will Feature a Diverse Array of Military, Non-Military Forces

As Beijing grapples with the realities of an economy increasingly susceptible to disruption from distant influences, experts debate how the Chinese military might protect overseas interests. Some have speculated that China may seek a military like that of the United States. Others have dismissed such a possibility.

Timothy R. Heath

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People—Not the Tech Companies—Will Ultimately Stop Disinformation in Europe

Authorities can continue to seek to punish the tech companies for the circulation of false articles. But this is unlikely to make a difference until more people take the time and acquire the skills to distinguish between fact and fiction.

Jennifer Kavanagh, Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens

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Can Washington Successfully Prepare for the Future?

The impossibility of predicting the future does not remove the need to mull the uncertain. Policymakers should build in windows of time to think imaginatively about the pursuit of America's strategic objectives, and take a bird's-eye view of the role America can and should play in shaping an increasingly complex, chaotic world.

Andrew R. Hoehn @AndyHoehn, Andrew Parasiliti, et al.

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Hit Russia Where It Hurts: Take Away World Cup

After a chemical attack in Great Britain, U.K., U.S. and other governments responded unilaterally. But this crime cries out for a more collective response. Revoking Russia's right to host the World Cup tournament would be a powerful signal of global outrage and would hit Putin where it hurts.

Andrew Scobell

blog

Preparing for U.S.-North Korea Talks: Insights from Researcher Bruce Bennett

What are the chances that a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Trump will lead to meaningful progress? And what should U.S. leaders be thinking about as they prepare? RAND's Bruce Bennett discusses.