The RAND Blog

November 2008

  • commentary
    Pakistan

    commentary

    Terrorists Have to Be Lucky Once; Targets, Every Time

    Lindsay Clutterbuck

    Nov 30, 2008

    Daily News & Analysis, India - DNAIndia.com

    The 9/11 tragedy was a catalyst that accelerated the pace of the changes in the UK security model that were already occurring due to the waning threat of terrorism from the IRA and the growing threat from those who espoused an ideology of violent jihadism. The changes took place in three main areas, writes Lindsay Clutterbuck.

    Read More »
  • commentary
    Africa

    commentary

    Piracy Needs Regional Answer

    Peter Chalk

    Nov 25, 2008

    United Press International

    The international community is at something of a loss as to how to respond to the increasingly audacious nature of piracy off the Horn of Africa.... What's needed is a less dramatic and more nuanced approach, one with a greater focus on the land-based violence in Somalia, home of the pirates, writes Peter Chalk.

    Read More »
  • commentary
    Threat Assessment

    commentary

    Obama's First International Crisis

    Brian Michael Jenkins

    Nov 16, 2008

    The San Diego Union-Tribune

    When Sen. Joe Biden observed during the presidential campaign that a new President Barack Obama

    Read More »
  • commentary
    Middle East

    commentary

    Talk to the Taliban? Not Now

    Cheryl Benard

    Nov 11, 2008

    United Press International

    As new U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus got a firsthand look at the worsening security situation in Afghanistan last week, he heard from some U.S., British and Afghan officials that the best way forward is to engage in peace talks with the Taliban. Such talks have already even tentatively begun. This is a bad idea.

    Read More »
  • commentary
    Iraq

    commentary

    Know Your Enemy: From Iraq to Afghanistan

    Benjamin Bahney, Renny McPherson

    Nov 9, 2008

    Washington Times

    More U.S. service members have been killed or injured over the last two months in Afghanistan than in Iraq. And most experts agree that an Al Qaeda-orchestrated attack on the U.S. homeland would likely be plotted from their sanctuary in these border areas.... Which is why, in our conflict against these terrorist and insurgent movements, we should step back and consider what we have learned from our recent successes in Iraq.

    Read More »
  • commentary

    commentary

    Getting the Count Right

    Ian P. Cook

    Nov 4, 2008

    CNN.com

    As the votes are finally counted, enormous questions remain about the reliability of voting machines.... Come Wednesday morning it may be nearly impossible to tell the difference between legitimate votes and those created or lost by the machines, writes Ian P. Cook

    Read More »