The RAND Blog

April 2009

  • Public Health Preparedness

    commentary

    Swine Flu: A Real Security Threat

    Melinda Moore

    Apr 30, 2009

    Baltimore Sun

    In the rush of constant news updates on swine flu, we must recognize that controlling the spread of this disease is not simply a health concern but also one of national security. And in today's globalized world, the spread of swine flu has become not just a U.S. national security threat but every country's national security threat, writes Melinda Moore.

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  • Health Care Reform

    commentary

    Limiting Treatment to Those Who Need It

    Dana P. Goldman

    Apr 29, 2009

    KQED online

    The United States will produce more than $14 trillion worth of goods and services this year—truly an astonishing amount. But equally astonishing is that one out of every six of these dollars will go to health care. This is the source of much hand-wringing by policy makers. They worry that we cannot afford to spend so much, and that our national output will suffer as a result. They have it backwards.

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  • Nation Building

    commentary

    European Union at Cross Purposes in Kosovo

    Christopher S. Chivvis

    Apr 27, 2009

    GlobalSecurity.org

    Of all the international actors involved in Kosovo right now, the European Union has by far the most at stake. It is also in the strongest position to remedy the situation. Sadly, it is too divided over Kosovo's declaration of independence over a year ago to take effective action, writes Christopher Chivvis.

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  • commentary

    Redefining 'Old Age': 60 Is the New 40

    Linda G. Martin

    Apr 27, 2009

    Shanghai Daily

    China's population is aging quickly.To address the issue, there are basically two options: try to slow it down; develop policies and programs to deal with whatever negative consequences there might be, writes Linda G. Martin.

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  • Maritime Piracy

    commentary

    Who Has the Will to Fight Piracy?

    Brian Michael Jenkins

    Apr 21, 2009

    GlobalSecurity.org

    The recent French and American rescues of hostages held by pirates off the coast of Somalia were necessary and proper. No one believes these actions will end piracy. But unless we impose risks on the pirates--which means taking some risks ourselves--piracy will certainly flourish, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

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  • Security Cooperation

    commentary

    Leaving the Nest

    Christopher S. Chivvis

    Apr 17, 2009

    The National Interest

    In the wake of President Obama's recent European trip, hopes for a rejuvenation of transatlantic security cooperation continue to rise. This means resolving some old problems and avoiding new pitfalls, writes Christopher S. Chivvis.

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  • Terrorism Threat Assessment

    commentary

    South Asia's Taliban Problem

    Seth G. Jones

    Apr 14, 2009

    New York Times

    For India, the development of a conducive environment on its western flank for groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad has already resulted in sophisticated terrorist attacks on Indian soil. While there is good reason for India and its neighbors to be concerned, there is considerable misunderstanding of the threat, writes Seth Jones.

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  • commentary

    Seeking New Approaches to Old Problems

    Melissa Flournoy

    Apr 9, 2009

    Sun Herald - Biloxi-Gulfport, Mississippi

    Mississippi can work to find smart ways to address the chronic social and economic problems that have plagued the state for decades — now, not in some far-flung future, writes Melissa Flournoy.

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  • North Korea

    commentary

    N.K. Provocation Suggests Regime in Trouble

    Bruce W. Bennett

    Apr 9, 2009

    The Korea Herald

    North Korea spent weeks preparing to launch a ballistic missile that could reach the United States. It argued that the launch was intended to put a satellite into orbit. But a space launch vehicle is a ballistic missile used for a modestly different purpose, writes Bruce W. Bennett.

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  • Security Cooperation

    commentary

    Obama's Turkish Dilemma

    F. Stephen Larrabee

    Apr 6, 2009

    CNN

    President Obama's visit to Ankara this week highlights Turkey's growing strategic importance to the United States - and a high stakes dilemma for the President and for U.S. strategic interests, writes F. Stephen Larrabee.

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  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization

    commentary

    Afghanistan Is NATO's Most Important Challenge

    Robert E. Hunter

    Apr 4, 2009

    RFERL.org, the website of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty

    This week's NATO summit is not the most important moment on this year's trans-Atlantic calendar. That honor belonged to the Group of 20 (G20) summit that was just concluded in London, writes Robert E. Hunter.

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  • Maritime Piracy

    commentary

    Piracy Still Threatens the Freedom of the Seas

    Peter Chalk, Laurence Smallman

    Apr 3, 2009

    RFERL.org, the website of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty

    As recent events off the Horn of Africa have demonstrated, armed violence at sea is emerging as a growing threat.... Piracy, in particular, threatens the freedom of the seas, increases the cost of international business, endangers political security through corruption, and could trigger a major environmental disaster, write Peter Chalk, Laurence Smallman.

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  • Outer Space

    commentary

    Space: The Final Junkyard?

    Caroline R. Milne, Peter D. Zimmerman

    Apr 2, 2009

    CNN

    Celestial real estate is increasingly popular. Now that Iran has joined the space club, 10 countries have demonstrated the ability to launch a probe into orbit.... All in all more than 900 satellites, along with tens of thousands of bits of man-made space detritus, jockey for elbow room overhead, write Caroline S. Reilly and Peter D. Zimmerman.

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  • commentary

    Virginity Pledges Work for Some Teens

    Steven C. Martino

    Apr 1, 2009

    Providence Journal

    Essentially, the available research suggests that teaching abstinence alone to teenagers does not work — they are no more likely to delay the start of sexual activity than other teenagers. But research has not been so clear regarding virginity pledges specifically, writes Steven Martino.

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  • Counterterrorism

    commentary

    The Torture Debate, Redux

    Brian Michael Jenkins

    Apr 1, 2009

    GlobalSecurity.org

    Former Vice President Cheney has been insisting again that the coercive interrogation techniques used against terrorism detainees after 9/11 prevented attacks on the United States.... His assertions merit more careful examination, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

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  • commentary

    Quality, Transparency, and the US Government

    Robert H. Brook

    Apr 1, 2009

    The Journal of the American Medical Association

    If the government is demanding transparency of physicians and hospitals, the very least the physicians and hospitals should do is demand transparency of the government, writes Robert Brook.

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