September 2014

commentary

In Ferguson's Wake, How a Data-Driven Approach Can Improve Police-Community Relations

Community leaders and police departments have a responsibility to their citizens to address questions about their policing practices, such as: What are the most significant areas of concern? How severe are the problems? What are the most effective solutions?

Keith Henry

commentary

The State of Washington and Its Focus on Rehabilitation

California can learn a great deal from the state of Washington, which has implemented a series of reforms focused on rehabilitation--on diverting offenders to treatment and other options and making serving time in prison the last option.

Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis

commentary

The U.S. Can't Count on Regional Support in the Fight Against ISIS

Regional governments may put some of their differences aside to help fight ISIS. But in a region rife with turmoil and multiple internal fissures, Washington cannot count on its confrontation with ISIS as its partners' overriding priority.

Dalia Dassa Kaye

q&a

RAND Experts Discuss U.S. Strategy on ISIS

President Obama outlined a strategy last week to deal with the threat posed by the terrorist group known as ISIS. RAND experts discuss the speech and the follow-up efforts so far.

commentary

CVS Health: Breathing a Little Easier and Holding Our Breath

CVS has officially stopped selling cigarettes and other tobacco products, a move that will cost the pharmacy chain about $2 billion in annual profits. It's difficult to say if this will affect smoking. For now, the ban is most significant for what it represents symbolically.

William G. Shadel

commentary

To Defeat the Islamic State, Follow the Money

ISIS, likely the world's richest terrorist organization, has bills to pay and mouths to feed. If U.S. President Obama wants to defeat them, he should follow the money.

Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz

commentary

The Faceless National Security Threat

The rapid, uncontrolled spread of aggressive diseases such as Ebola is often a matter of national security. U.S. intelligence professionals must establish relevant information collection and dissemination mechanisms to deal with such contingencies.

Peter Chalk

commentary

Big Trouble in Little China

As China's central government and Hong Kong residents consider next steps after last week's decision on the 2017 chief executive election, they will do so against a background of deteriorating trust, declining social acceptance of integration, and a worsening of relations between Hong Kong and mainland Chinese society.

Scott W. Harold

commentary

Hackerazzi: How Naked Celebrities Might Make the Cloud Safer

Despite data breach after data breach that lays bare the personal information of millions of people, leading to only incremental changes by the hacked company, it seems it only takes a handful of celebrity nude selfies to bring issues like cloud security and multi-factor authentication to the fore causing immediate changes.

Lillian Ablon

commentary

Afghanistan on the Brink

The impasse between the Abdullah and Ghani camps has grown so significant that some senior Afghan political and security officials considered imposing an interim government, a move tantamount to a coup.

Seth G. Jones

commentary

How ISIS Funds Its Reign of Terror

ISIS raises much of its money just as a well-organized criminal gang would do. It smuggles, it extorts, it skims, it fences, it kidnaps and it shakes down. Although supposedly religiously inspired, its actions are more like those of an organized criminal cult.

Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz

commentary

The Damage Already Done

The conflict in Ukraine calls for capable diplomacy, open channels of communication, and clear strategies. At least the latter two appear to be absent, but they can be developed in time. Ending the conflict, however, calls for clear mutual intent to solve problems, build trust, and move forward. That may prove even more elusive.

Olga Oliker

commentary

Let's Talk About Kashmir

When U.S. combat troops have withdrawn from Afghanistan in December 2014, and training units follow two years later, the dynamics that once turned northern India's Kashmir into both a target and an incubator of global terrorism may return. This would threaten U.S. security, as well as that of the region.

Jonah Blank

commentary

Crimean Adventure Will Cost Russia Dearly

Moscow may have overreached, as it appears ill-prepared to come up with the necessary funds to cover Crimea-related costs. Infrastructure improvements, development aid, government operations, and other costs will be a multi-billion drain -- as much as $4.5 billion per year.

Larry Hanauer

commentary

Nuclear Deal or No Deal, Don't Expect Iran Changes

The impeachment of Iranian science minister Reza Faraji-Dana, the latest episode in the struggle between Iran's so-called moderates and hard-liners, is likely a sign of troubling times ahead. And even though President Hassan Rouhani is the West's best hope of the nuclear issue being addressed, a deal could energize his rivals in their bid to stave off change.

Alireza Nader