August 2011

Modeling and Simulation
commentary
All Models Fail in Certain Situations
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_
Aug 31, 2011
Financial Times
Perhaps fiscal and monetary policies have not been effective in the U.S. because the underlying problems may be structural. A key problem facing the technology-laden globalized U.S. economy is the gap between skills that employers demand and the unemployed have.
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Emergency Preparedness
commentary
Quake a Disaster 'Drill' D.C. Flunked
Lynn E. Davis, Arthur L. Kellermann
Aug 29, 2011
CNN
Fortunately for the nation's capitol, Hurricane Irene and the East Coast earthquake proved to be relatively minor events, as far as disasters go. But before everyone breathes a sigh of relief, it would be wise to reflect on how people responded to what were essentially dress rehearsals for much bigger events, write Lynn E. Davis and Arthur L. Kellermann.
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Racial Equity
commentary
Dropping Out, Imprisoned or Killed: Disparities in Outcomes Faced by Young African American Men
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Aug 26, 2011
Tavis Smiley on PBS
Boys and men of color—in particular, young African American men—are particularly vulnerable to racial and ethnic disparities. That such disparities exist should surprise no one. Nor should the fact that such disparities diminish the life chances of those affected, writes Lois M. Davis.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
Commanding Democracy in Egypt: The Military's Attempt to Manage the Future
Jeffrey Martini, Julie E. Taylor
Aug 25, 2011
Foreign Affairs, Sept/Oct 2011
The SCAF's attempts to curtail dissent and the democratic process have fueled doubts about its true intentions. Will the military fulfill its promise to support democracy? Or will it seek to replace Mubarak's rule with its own or that of a friendly autocrat? write Jeffrey Martini and Julie Taylor.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Tokyo's Transformation
Eric Heginbotham, Ely Ratner, Richard J. Samuels
Aug 25, 2011
Foreign Affairs, Sept/Oct 2011
The U.S. response to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami showcased its lasting commitment to Japan, as well as the unique logistical and material capabilities that the U.S. military forces stationed in the Pacific can provide, write Eric Heginbotham, Ely Ratner, and Richard J. Samuels.
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Nation Building
commentary
Libyan Nation Building After Qaddafi
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Frederic Wehrey
Aug 23, 2011
Foreign Affairs
If Libya is to have a chance of replacing Qaddafi with something better, the United States, its allies, and the rest of the international community will need to pivot very quickly from the rather straightforward requirements of war fighting to taking seriously the complex and demanding tasks of peace building, write James Dobbins and Frederic Wehrey.
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Health Care Costs
commentary
California's Prisoner Shuffle
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Aug 19, 2011
Los Angeles Times
The state needs to deal with prison overcrowding and inadequate medical care for prisoners in ways that don't simply transfer the burden to county criminal justice systems and the healthcare safety nets of local communities, writes Lois Davis.
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Measuring Health Care Costs
commentary
The Role of Physicians in Controlling Medical Care Costs and Reducing Waste
Robert H. Brook
Aug 10, 2011
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Because the budget crisis is really a crisis, it behooves physicians to answer the waste question as rapidly as possible. Without an answer, there is no hope that an appropriate policy process for reining in health care costs will be identified, writes Robert H. Brook.
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Health Literacy
commentary
Insurance Expansion and Health Literacy
Laurie T. Martin, Ruth M. Parker
Aug 9, 2011
The Journal of the American Medical Association
The ongoing evolution of the health care system is leading US households toward greater responsibility for their own well-being. With this responsibility, however, comes an increasing need to be able to find, trust, use, and act on relevant information to make informed choices, write Laurie T. Martin and Ruth M. Parker.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
The Case for Keeping U.S. Troops in Northern Iraq
Larry Hanauer
Aug 3, 2011
CNN
Both Iraqi and Kurdish officials have expressed concern that ethnic violence will break out in the north once U.S. troops withdraw. Though many state publicly that the U.S.
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U.S.-European Relations
commentary
Redefining the Transatlantic Relationship—Europe's Paradoxical Pacifism
Jeremy Ghez
Aug 1, 2011
The European Magazine
While Europeans dislike a ubiquitous America which is always ready to prove its power, they seem to dislike an isolationist America even more, writes Jeremy Ghez.
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