2013

commentary

New Approach to Prison and the War on Drugs

If you want to reduce cocaine consumption and drug-related crime, you get more bang for the buck if you put money into treatment rather than paying for the increase in incarceration produced by federal mandatory minimum sentences, writes Beau Kilmer.

Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer

commentary

A Last Chance for Iran's Pragmatists

Rouhani's new government is not pro-Western by any stretch of the imagination, writes Alireza Nader. But its political interests and Iran's current predicament provide a unique opportunity to solve the nuclear crisis peacefully.

Alireza Nader

commentary

What Did Edward Snowden Get Wrong? Everything

Unfortunately, during the Snowden affair, many news outlets have spent more time examining ways the government could abuse the information it has access to while giving scant mention to the lengths to which the intelligence community goes to protect privacy, writes Andrew Liepman.

Andrew Liepman

commentary

Signs of New Life in Northern Iraq

For a region that has seen decades of strife, Kurdistan is emerging as “the other Iraq,” a place where progress is marked by the opening of new shopping malls and the pouring of concrete at countless construction sites.

Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson

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Japan's Sun May Be Rising

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s plans for reviving Japan’s economy after two decades of stagnation differ sharply from the policies pursued by the United States and the European Union to recover from the deep recession of 2008-2009.

Charles Wolf, Jr.

blog

The Snowden Affair: Questions and Answers with Olga Oliker

There is an element of hypocrisy in Russian officials and pundits lauding Snowden as a human rights hero for his actions, says Olga Oliker, when Russia itself has a terrible record on free political speech.

commentary

Escalation Cause: How the Pentagon's New Strategy Could Trigger War with China

David C. Gompert, Terrence K. Kelly

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Embassy Closings and the al Qaeda Threat

Many people, including President Obama, have talked about al Qaeda’s imminent defeat. But right now, all signs indicate that the group founded by Osama bin Laden is far from dead.

Seth G. Jones

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Will Iran's Opposition Leaders Be Released?

The resolution of Iran's nuclear crisis does not only depend on U.S.-Iranian relations, but also on other factors including the fate of three Iranian prisoners.

Alireza Nader

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Israel-Palestine Talks Offer New Prospects for Peace

After a five-year delay, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed this week to resume direct peace talks. RAND researchers have worked with Palestinians, Israelis, and the international community since 2002 to develop a comprehensive nation-building plan.

commentary

Egyptian Liberals, Please Stand Up

While Egypt really is in trouble, what is needed is not a U.S. signal in the form of an aid cut off or another European mediation effort, it is for Egyptian liberals to stand up and condition their participation in government on genuine national reconciliation.

Jeffrey Martini

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Could Britain See a Baby Boom?

The royal birth comes at a time when fertility in Britain is increasing after decades of decline. Today, the U.K.'s total fertility rate, a proxy for the average number of children per women in a given year, is the third highest in Europe behind only France and Ireland.

Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens

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Remembering What Mali Needs

Free and fair elections are important, to be sure, but what Mali really needs is a leader who is dedicated to democracy, unity and reform of Mali's politics and institutions, write Stephanie Pezard and Michael Shurkin.

Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Michael Shurkin

commentary

Leave Hezbollah Alone!

If Hezbollah's participation in the Syrian civil war begins to clearly tip the balance in favor of the Assad regime, the U.S. could face pressure to adjust its position and support efforts to minimize Hezbollah's position in Lebanon.

Julie E. Taylor

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A Public-Private Model for Funding Space Missions

The future of manned space flight, including missions to Mars and other deep space destinations, will likely depend on the combined resources of governments and commercial enterprises, say Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.