2015

commentary

Here's What Will Happen If the Iran Deal Falls Through

Even a strong nonproliferation agreement that prevents all pathways toward the Iranian bomb won't magically transform the Middle East. But on balance, the region would be better off with a good nuclear deal than without one.

Dalia Dassa Kaye

commentary

U.S. Needs a New Electronic Identity-Protection Strategy to Prevent 'Hybrid Warfare' Attacks

The U.S. government needs to develop a strategy to protect its citizens that includes a unique identifying number or code and a method for protecting these identity keys in online transactions.

Daniel Gonzales @gonzadan

commentary

Afghanistan After the Drawdown

If neither victory nor a political settlement are likely in the short term, and if complete withdrawal is unpalatable, then the United States must ensure that its support of Afghanistan remains politically sustainable.

Stephen Watts, Sean Mann

commentary

A Frontline Civilian's Invisible Wounds of War

For frontline civilians, daily life built around war often involves waking up on a remote base and working side by side with soldiers in hazardous places. They often don't get the care and support that they need, whether in an area of crisis and instability, or when they return home.

S. Rebecca Zimmerman

commentary

The Baltic Balance: How to Reduce the Chances of War in Europe

Recent announcements of increased U.S. military support in the Baltics are a positive step in addressing a major new challenge to European security.

Christopher S. Chivvis

commentary

Who Benefits from Iran Sanctions Relief?

More than $100 billion of Iranian oil proceeds are “frozen” in foreign bank accounts under the current sanctions regime. The repatriation of Iran's money would no doubt boost a flagging economy.

Alireza Nader

commentary

Family Planning Must Be Part of the Humanitarian Response in Africa's Conflict Zones

Worldwide, nearly 800 women die every day due to mostly preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. More than half of these deaths occur in fragile states torn by armed conflict and generalized violence.

Mahlet Atakilt Woldetsadik

q&a

Your Questions About Sleep, Answered

RAND's Wendy Troxel, an expert on sleep, hosted an 'Ask Me Anything' session on Reddit to answer questions about how to improve sleep health, what to do about a snoring partner, and more.

essay

Putting Health to the (Taste) Test

Researchers teamed up with a dozen Los Angeles lunch trucks to test healthier menu items—chicken breasts and grilled fish alongside the usual tacos and hamburgers.

commentary

The Political Solution to the Greek Financial Crisis

The outcome of Greece's financial crisis will have broad consequences for its already-devastated economy and, to a considerable extent, for the rest of Europe. The core problem is less about economics than about politics.

Charles P. Ries @charles_ries

commentary

China's Foreign Aid Offensive

China has given an average of $174 billion per year in foreign assistance for the last six years. How will the scale of its foreign aid change in the future?

Charles Wolf, Jr.

commentary

Understanding the U.S. Military's Morale 'Crisis'

The military's discontent may stem from dissonance between the commitment to, and pride in, the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan and the knowledge that these sacrifices have not yielded the desired results. Those wars arguably have prompted a crisis of confidence within the military itself.

Raphael S. Cohen

commentary

After Attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait, West Must Do More to Fight Surge of Terrorist Attacks

The terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait are just the latest warnings that ISIS is turning its campaign into a global enterprise.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

The 'Holistic Security Concept': The Securitization of Policy and Increasing Risk of Militarized Crisis

Reflecting critical developments under the Xi administration, China's recent 'Military Strategy' white paper signals a turn toward a potentially more coercive phase of China's rise.

Timothy R. Heath

commentary

In the Interest of Justice

As the line between criminal justice and national security continues to blur, K. Jack Riley offers three principles that can help young criminology practitioners and scholars.

K. Jack Riley @K_Jack_Riley