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Natural Hazards
announcement
RAND Wins $2.1 Million Grant to Improve Landslide Prediction
Oct 10, 2018
A RAND-led team that includes the University of Southern California, the University of Oregon, the Sitka Sound Science Center, and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska will design a novel landslide risk warning system for Sitka, Alaska, a coastal town of 9,000 near the landslide-prone slopes of the Tongass National Forest.
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Japan
commentary
Japan's Invisible Hand
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Oct 10, 2018
The Japan Times
Shinzo Abe has cemented his position as Japan's prime minister for the next three years. Now he is expected to make a concerted push for revising the Constitution, which has not been amended since 1947. But the Japanese public is not convinced of the need to revise the Constitution, making his efforts likely to fail.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
The Power of Affiliates: Which Islamic State Franchise Could Become the Most Capable?
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Oct 9, 2018
The National Interest
With ISIS's caliphate in ruins, one of its affiliates could grow to become even deadlier and more capable than the core organization was during its peak. And with franchise groups and affiliates across the globe, there's no shortage of contenders to supplant ISIS as the world's most dangerous terrorist group.
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Wargaming
commentary
Just Let Them Compete: Raising the Next Generation of Wargamers
Sebastian Joon Bae
Oct 9, 2018
War on the Rocks
Wargames are games that simulate aspects of warfare at varying levels, aimed at analyzing human decisionmaking. To develop the next generation of avid wargamers, the first step is both radical and simple: Let them compete.
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Operational Readiness
commentary
Are We Truly Prepared for a War with Russia or China?
Michael Spirtas
Oct 9, 2018
The Hill
The U.S. Department of Defense will likely need a strategy to overcome a war with either Russia or China. As threats from these two countries grow, what can the United States do now to prepare for major conflict?
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China
commentary
What Does China's Pursuit of a Global Coalition Mean for World Politics?
Timothy R. Heath
Oct 8, 2018
Pacific Forum
As disputes between Beijing and Washington over trade and other issues intensify, analysts have highlighted domestic factors as reasons why President Xi Jinping may resist compromise. However, China's pursuit of a greater international leadership role likely plays an overlooked, but increasingly important role.
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Aircraft Carriers
commentary
Does Japan Need an Aircraft Carrier?
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Oct 5, 2018
Defense One
Japan has not possessed an aircraft carrier in more than 70 years. But that may soon change as the Japanese government is debating retrofitting a class of destroyers to turn them into aircraft carriers. Considering both operational needs and resources limitations, does an aircraft carrier for Japan make sense?
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Educational Equity
commentary
Making Education a Reality for All Children in Europe
Barbara Janta, Milda Butkute
Oct 4, 2018
E!Sharp
Access to education is a fundamental children's right in the EU and is guaranteed under a variety of legal and policy frameworks. Despite many approaches and initiatives adopted across the EU, a number of challenges remain concerning the development of effective long-term education measures for migrant children.
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Electronic Medical Records
commentary
How Smartphone Apps Could Help Keep Health Records Accurate
Ben Moscovitch, Robert S. Rudin @rsrudin
Oct 4, 2018
TechCrunch
Electronic health records have helped streamline record keeping but providers aren't always able to reliably pull together records for the same patient from different hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices. The growing use of smartphones offers a promising opportunity to improve record matching.
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Russia
commentary
Russia's Neighbors Want Alternatives
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Oct 4, 2018
The National Interest
The longer Russia delays in improving relations with its neighbors, the more likely they will pursue alternative options. It is also likely that tensions will persist between those neighbors and Russia—and in Russia's relationship with the West. Efforts to ease that tension should be high on the list of Western priorities with Russia.
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Emergency Preparedness
commentary
Achieving the Trump Administration's National Biodefense Strategy
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 2, 2018
RealClearDefense
The Trump administration recently published its National Biodefense Strategy, which says that managing the risk of biological threats is in the “vital interest” of the United States, however they might present. The document provides a solid foundation, but more may be required to fully realize its goals and objectives.
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Cybersecurity
commentary
Have a Victim Response Plan for Data Breaches
Sina Beaghley
Oct 2, 2018
The Wall Street Journal’s Cybersecurity Bulletin
In a large data breach, there could be a real risk to victims' financial or personal security. Though responsible organizations should do everything in their power to ensure data is protected in the first place, they also should prepare a plan to ensure prompt victim response.
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Civic Education
blog
Conversation at RAND: Truth Decay
Oct 2, 2018
The recent erosion of public trust in facts and institutions is not the first period of Truth Decay in U.S. history. What's different this time is the increasing disagreement about objective facts. Jennifer Kavanagh and William “Pat” Getty discussed the trend and how to stop it.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
A New Way to Reduce Sugary Beverage Consumption
Deborah A. Cohen @DrDebCohen
Oct 1, 2018
KevinMD.com
Where items are placed and promoted in stores is the most important predictor of what people buy. If stores restricted sugary beverages to a single out-of-the-way area, people who really wanted to buy them could, but would have to intentionally seek them out. Others might be less likely to buy a sweetened drink on impulse.
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Afghanistan
commentary
The Risks of Permanent War
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Sep 28, 2018
Just Security
Why is America in Afghanistan? What interests justify its sacrifices? How will the war end? If the United States finds it hard to answer such questions after nearly two decades, the coming years are unlikely to provide clarity. If a campaign has no end, it can have no objective. If it has no objective, it cannot be won.
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