Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

Afghanistan
commentary
Peace Hasn't Broken Out in Afghanistan
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Mar 16, 2020
Foreign Affairs
The United States and the Taliban signed a preliminary peace deal in February, aimed at ending nearly 19 years of war in Afghanistan and calling for the United States to gradually withdraw its troops. But talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government called for in the agreement and scheduled to begin on March 10 did not happen. What happens now?
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Russia
blog
Russian Subversion, Truth Decay, Supervised Drug Consumption Sites: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 28, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on responding to Russian subversion, how the media can help fight Truth Decay, the first supervised drug consumption site in the United States, artificial intelligence, and more.
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Afghanistan
commentary
The First Step on a Long Path to Peace in Afghanistan
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Feb 27, 2020
The Hill
It has taken 10 years to reach the brink of a first substantial step in toward peace in Afghanistan. Much could still go wrong. Can the Taliban and the Afghan government come together to jointly govern the country?
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Russia
blog
New START, Trump's Middle East Peace Plan, New Tobacco Products: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 21, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on why the United States should extend the New START agreement, Trump's Middle East peace plan, new tobacco products, and more.
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Syria
blog
The Syria Withdrawal, Climate Policy, Drones: RAND Weekly Recap
Oct 25, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on the effects of the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, one expert's take on climate policy, how drones could help get blood to soldiers who need it, and more.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
The Syrian Withdrawal: Where Things Stand
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Jeffrey Martini
Oct 21, 2019
Fox News
Without an orderly process for its national security decisions, the Trump administration has defaulted to the worst option regarding Syria. The sudden withdrawal of U.S. forces has left an opening for Russia to exploit. It also left the Kurds, a U.S. partner, to fend off a Turkish assault.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
Indecision in Washington Compounded the Kurds' Dilemma
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Jeffrey Martini
Oct 18, 2019
The Hill
Core qualities of statesmanship and statecraft have been notably lacking in charting the U.S. administration's Syria end game. This has compounded the unavoidable costs of withdrawal with charges of betrayal and a retreat under fire.
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Counterinsurgency
commentary
Making Headway Against the Sinai Insurgency
David E. Thaler, Yousuf Abdelfatah
Aug 12, 2019
Small Wars Journal
Since 2013, Egypt has been engaged in the Sinai Peninsula against a deadly ISIS-affiliated insurgency. To make headway, the Egyptian government could focus on providing services in the region and repairing its relationship with citizens.
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United States
blog
RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 5, 2019
For busy staff, August's respite from back-to-back meetings, hearing preparation, and late votes is hard-earned. The summer recess also provides an opportunity to get ahead of issues that will resurface in the fall. To that end, we have compiled recent RAND research on topics likely to top the congressional agenda come September.
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Refugees
commentary
Syrian Refugees Won't Be Going Home Any Time Soon
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Apr 19, 2019
The National Interest
Active fighting in Syria is dwindling. But Syria remains divided in a frozen conflict and empty peace, unstable and unlikely to attract the investment in reconstruction, public institutions, job creation, and local reconciliation efforts needed to motivate Syrians in large numbers to return home.
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Syria
commentary
The Syrian Civil War Is Coming to an End
Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
Apr 8, 2019
Newsweek
Coalition forces have driven ISIS from its final patch of territory in Syria. But the bigger challenge will be ending the ongoing civil war and rebuilding Syria to bring home millions of refugees and internally displaced people. This means creating a state that can provide safety, security, and opportunity that forestalls further rebellion and devastation.
Read More »
Libya
commentary
Is an Escalation Imminent in Western Libya?
Nathan Vest
Mar 27, 2019
RealClearWorld
The Libyan Civil War has largely been contained to pockets of violence. Prolonged battles decimated cities such as Benghazi, Derna, and Sirte, but the majority of the country has been spared large-scale destruction. However, that could change soon.
Read More »
Afghanistan
blog
AI Bias, Opioids, Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap
Mar 15, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on the danger of artificial intelligence bias, infants with opioid withdrawal symptoms, peace talks in Afghanistan, and more.
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Afghanistan
commentary
Trump's Latest Move on Afghanistan Is a Repeat of Obama's
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Mar 11, 2019
The Hill
So far, both Presidents Obama and Trump have chosen “not to lose” in Afghanistan. As time goes on and the American public's patience grows shorter, this choice becomes more difficult.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
Don't Rush Into Afghan Peace
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Mar 1, 2019
The Wall Street Journal
The Trump administration has reportedly offered to withdraw forces from Afghanistan if the Taliban stops fighting and opens negotiations with the government. If the Taliban agrees to a cease-fire and wider negotiations, it will be an accomplishment to celebrate. But it will be only the first step on a long and difficult road to peace.
Read More »
International Diplomacy
commentary
The Warsaw Summit Is No Madrid
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Feb 13, 2019
New Republic
The peace process begun in Madrid nearly 30 years ago showed promise, but ultimately stalled, and will need rethinking to adapt to today's Middle East. The world could use a worthy successor. The Warsaw summit probably isn't it.
Read More »

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…

Quoted

If people can come together around COVID-19, and all developments are showing that they can, then perhaps they can be equally innovative in tackling many of the more silent 'COVIDs' of the time—i.e., the less immediately impactful but equally urgent and important challenges associated with aging and frailty, mental health, cancer, comorbidities, and health inequalities as just some examples.

Sonja Marjanovic

Senior Research Leader and Head of THIS Institute-RAND Europe partnership

Source: The RAND Blog

The price to be paid for not doing everything possible to impede the spread of the pandemic in terms of readiness and letting soldiers (along with their families and any other civilians with whom they interact) get sick could be significant.

Michael Shurkin

Senior Political Scientist

Source: War on the Rocks

The Defense Industrial Base Needs a Cyber Protection Program

Supporting Students' College and Career Pathways: Teacher and Principal Perspectives

Online Doesn't Have to Mean Impersonal

Amidst a Pandemic, a Mental Health Crisis May Be Looming

The Economic Impacts of COVID-19

The Policy Currents Podcast

Helping Children Cope with Trauma: A School-Based Intervention

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Addressing the Invisible Wounds of War

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

Peace Hasn't Broken Out in Afghanistan

Russian Subversion, Truth Decay, Supervised Drug Consumption Sites: RAND Weekly Recap

The First Step on a Long Path to Peace in Afghanistan

New START, Trump's Middle East Peace Plan, New Tobacco Products: RAND Weekly Recap

The Syria Withdrawal, Climate Policy, Drones: RAND Weekly Recap

The Syrian Withdrawal: Where Things Stand

Indecision in Washington Compounded the Kurds' Dilemma

Making Headway Against the Sinai Insurgency

RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress

Syrian Refugees Won't Be Going Home Any Time Soon

The Syrian Civil War Is Coming to an End

Is an Escalation Imminent in Western Libya?

AI Bias, Opioids, Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap

Trump's Latest Move on Afghanistan Is a Repeat of Obama's

Don't Rush Into Afghan Peace

The Warsaw Summit Is No Madrid

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