The RAND Blog

April 2009

Public Health Preparedness

commentary
Swine Flu: A Real Security Threat
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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Apr 30, 2009
Baltimore Sun
Melinda Moore
Health Care Reform

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Limiting Treatment to Those Who Need It
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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Apr 29, 2009
KQED online
Dana P. Goldman
Nation Building

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European Union at Cross Purposes in Kosovo
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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Apr 27, 2009
GlobalSecurity.org
Christopher S. Chivvis
commentary
Redefining 'Old Age': 60 Is the New 40
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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Apr 27, 2009
Shanghai Daily
Linda G. Martin
Maritime Piracy

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Who Has the Will to Fight Piracy?
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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Apr 21, 2009
GlobalSecurity.org
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Security Cooperation

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Leaving the Nest
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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Apr 17, 2009
The National Interest
Christopher S. Chivvis
Terrorism Threat Assessment

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South Asia's Taliban Problem
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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Apr 14, 2009
New York Times
Seth G. Jones
commentary
Seeking New Approaches to Old Problems
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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Apr 9, 2009
Sun Herald - Biloxi-Gulfport, Mississippi
Melissa Flournoy
North Korea

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N.K. Provocation Suggests Regime in Trouble
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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Apr 9, 2009
The Korea Herald
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Security Cooperation

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Obama's Turkish Dilemma
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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Apr 6, 2009
CNN
F. Stephen Larrabee
North Atlantic Treaty Organization

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Afghanistan Is NATO's Most Important Challenge
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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Apr 4, 2009
RFERL.org, the website of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
Robert E. Hunter
Maritime Piracy

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Piracy Still Threatens the Freedom of the Seas
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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Apr 3, 2009
RFERL.org, the website of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
Peter Chalk, Laurence Smallman
Outer Space

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Space: The Final Junkyard?
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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Apr 2, 2009
CNN
Caroline R. Milne, Peter D. Zimmerman
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Virginity Pledges Work for Some Teens
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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Apr 1, 2009
Providence Journal
Steven C. Martino
Counterterrorism

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The Torture Debate, Redux
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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Apr 1, 2009
GlobalSecurity.org
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
commentary
Quality, Transparency, and the US Government
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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Apr 1, 2009
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Robert H. Brook