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February 2012

Nation Building
commentary
Bringing Libya Under Control
Frederic Wehrey
Feb 25, 2012
NYTimes.com on February 24, 2012 and in International Herald Tribune
While NATO countries and allies like Jordan and Qatar have started to train and equip the security forces, there is more that outsiders can do to help, writes Frederic Wehrey.
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International Economic Relations
commentary
Khamenei: The Nuclear Decision-maker
Alireza Nader
Feb 23, 2012
PBS FRONTLINE
Many Iranians are increasingly concerned that the supreme leader is taking Iran down a dangerous path and is unwilling to turn back, whatever the pressures, writes Alireza Nader.
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Measuring Health Care Costs
commentary
Do Physicians Need a 'Shopping Cart' for Health Care Services?
Robert H. Brook
Feb 22, 2012
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Providing physicians with cost data in real time automatically as a part of the electronic medical record could make them better purchasers for their patients and provide better value, writes Robert H. Brook.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Israel's Risky Option on Iran
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Feb 21, 2012
Los Angeles Times
While a nuclear-armed Iran that hasn't been attacked is dangerous, one that has been attacked may be much more likely to brandish its capabilities, to make sure it does not face an attack again, writes Dalia Dassa Kaye.
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Syria
commentary
Syria Is Trending Toward the Libya Model
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Feb 14, 2012
U.S. News & World Report, Debate Club
If the Syrian opposition clearly asks for American help, if the rest of the Arab world supports such a military intervention, and if America's European allies prove ready to join in—and indeed lead—such an effort, the United States should contribute those military assets which only it can provide, writes James Dobbins.
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Veterans Education
commentary
Colleges Can Learn from For-Profits' Emphasis on the Consumer
Jennifer L. Steele
Feb 9, 2012
Military Times
Though for-profit institutions had been criticized in the Senate report as offering credits that were hard to transfer elsewhere, it was the colleges' willingness to accept military transcripts that appealed to veterans who wanted to complete their degrees as fast as possible, writes Jennifer Steele.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
The NDAA Makes It Harder to Fight Terrorism
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Feb 1, 2012
Foreign Affairs
Much of the debate over this bill has focused on the political issue of executive authority versus rule of law. In doing so it has overlooked the indirect and insidious effects the new law may have on the United States' largely successful counterterrorist campaign, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
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Civil-Military Relations
commentary
U.S. Control of Contractors in Iraq Is Vital
Molly Dunigan
Feb 1, 2012
The Hill
With U.S. troops out of Iraq, the U.S. presence there will fall to 5,000 private security contractors....The experience with private security contractors during the war was fraught with challenges that pose risks now, writes Molly Dunigan.
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