2013

commentary

Modernisation and Austerity

In a time of austerity, strategic planning is about prioritisation. How should India prioritise its future military modernisation to meet its envisioned security requirements? Each of the three services can claim urgent need.

Christopher Clary, Vipin Narang

commentary

10 Reasons U.S. Influence Has Fallen in the Middle East

By most assessments, U.S. influence in the Middle East has dramatically declined since the Arab uprisings began in January 2011. Critics have blamed this on inept diplomacy by the current administration, but this is only a partial explanation for America's loss of authority in the region.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

To Stop Prisons' Revolving Door

If California wants to reduce its prison population, it needs to address recidivism, and the best way to do this is through education and job training. Cutting education and vocational training may seem like a tempting way to plug short-term budget gaps, but it actually ends up costing the system more over time.

Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis

commentary

What to Do About 'Futile' Critical Care

There are times when no amount of care, however cutting-edge it is, will save a patient. In these instances, further critical care is said to be “futile.” This type of treatment is not uncommon in intensive care units, and that raises some uncomfortable questions.

Neil S. Wenger

blog

Examining the Diplomatic Option in Syria

The United States' options in Syria are all miserable, but the Russian proposal appears to be the least miserable of the lot, says Bruce Bennett.

commentary

A Not-So-Special Relationship?

While the House of Commons vote against Britain's participation in a military strike against Syria was largely attributable to short-term miscalculations on Cameron's part, it also reflects important long-term trends that could complicate U.S.-British ties and weaken the traditionally strong bonds between the two countries.

F. Stephen Larrabee

commentary

What to Do Now? Iran Torn on Syria

Iran has a strategic interest in opposing chemical weapons due to its own horrific experience during the 1980–1988 war with Iraq. But it also has compelling reasons to continue supporting Damascus. The Syrian regime is Iran's closest ally in the Middle East and the geographic link to its Hezbollah partners in Lebanon.

Alireza Nader

blog

What Has America—and Its Enemies—Learned Since 9/11?

The attacks on September 11, 2001 provoked America's global campaign against terrorism and jump-started the nation's efforts to improve intelligence, airport security, and emergency preparedness. Meanwhile, al Qaeda, while weakened by the death of its leader in 2011, still generates fear. RAND experts continue to examine U.S. policy options, recommend strategy, and shed light on various aspects of the terrorism threat.

commentary

Punishing the Wicked in Syria

The international community has once again defined a global standard of “the wicked” against whom sovereign states have a duty to fight, writes Paul D. Miller. Instead of pirates and cannibals, it is war criminals and genocidaires. This appears to be the implicit argument for military action against Syria.

Paul D. Miller

commentary

Objectives in Syria? Look at U.S. Targets

If you want to understand the Obama administration's objectives in Syria, don't just listen to what officials say — watch what they bomb, writes Seth G. Jones. There are at least four sets of potential political objectives. Each is linked to a different set of targets.

Seth G. Jones

commentary

America's Great Yellow School Buses

One of the things taken for granted in the United States is the vast network of school buses—about 26 million children ride 480,000 buses every day. But in other parts of the world, getting millions of children to and from the right school, on time, safely, and for a reasonable cost is a significant challenge.

Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson

blog

Five Views on U.S. Military Action in Syria

RAND experts offer insights into the potential scope of U.S. action in Syria and the ramifications it could have on Iran, Israel, al Qaeda, and the Assad regime.

commentary

Limited U.S. Military Strikes Do Not Unseat Dug-in Dictators

Like the measured attacks that may soon strike Syrian targets, America's first military attacks on Serbia, Libya, Iraq, Sudan, and Afghanistan were not aimed at regime change. Their purpose was to retaliate for attacks or coerce changes in policy.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

The Desirability of 'Free' C-27s for the U.S. Forest Service

Although we believe that a scooper-centric firefighting aircraft portfolio for initial attack would still be preferred, Air Force-provided 1,850-gallon C-27Js could be a cost-effective component of the retardant-bearing portion of the Forest Service's airborne firefighting arsenal, write Edward G. Keating and Daniel M. Norton.

Edward G. Keating, Daniel M. Norton

commentary

US Should Keep Focus on Syria, Not Iran

Those arguing for US-led airstrikes based on the premise of preventing a precedent with Iran would only make it easier for Iran and Syria to paint military action against the brutal Assad regime as an Israeli-inspired scheme rather than a regionally and internationally supported option, writes Dalia Dassa Kaye.

Dalia Dassa Kaye