The RAND Blog

November 2008

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.
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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.
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Threat Assessment
commentary
Obama's First International Crisis
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Nov 16, 2008
The San Diego Union-Tribune
When Sen. Joe Biden observed during the presidential campaign that a new President Barack Obama
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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.
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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.
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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
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November 2008

Terrorists Have to Be Lucky Once; Targets, Every Time

Piracy Needs Regional Answer

Obama's First International Crisis

Talk to the Taliban? Not Now

Know Your Enemy: From Iraq to Afghanistan

Getting the Count Right

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