2015

Critical Infrastructure Protection

commentary
Define Acceptable Cyberspace Behavior
While a U.S.-China cyberspace agreement is a welcome step, it also underscores the greater issues facing the United States and the international community in this largely ungoverned space. A precondition for securing U.S. networks should be the development of an overarching cyber doctrine that defines acceptable behavior and allows the U.S. to defend its networks against threats.
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Sep 27, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
International Diplomacy

commentary
The U.S.-China Summit Is More Significant for Xi Jinping Than Obama
The Xi-Obama summit will provide the opportunity to discuss contentious issues like cybersecurity and the South China Sea, as well as other issues, such as climate change and economic cooperation. For Xi, the visit underscores the tremendous importance of messaging to a Chinese audience the narrative of a continued stable and robust partnership with the country that matters most to China politically and economically.
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Sep 24, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
Andrew Scobell, Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
International Diplomacy

commentary
Nuclear Weapons Should Be on the U.S.-China Summit Agenda
At the impending U.S.-China summit, it would make sense for Obama to put on the table official discussions of strategic nuclear issues between U.S. and Chinese government or military representatives.
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Sep 23, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
Caroline R. Milne
China

commentary
Xi's Visit Exposes Mismatch in U.S and Chinese Expectations
Chinese President Xi Jinping's U.S. visit this week appears to face serious headwinds. Contrasting U.S. and Chinese priorities will likely lead to disappointment on both sides.
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Sep 23, 2015
World Politics Review
Timothy R. Heath
Global Health

commentary
New Partnerships for Improving Global Health Research
Partnerships between public and private organizations have become a powerful mechanism for addressing longer-term and structural challenges faced by developing countries that have a high burden of poverty-related diseases.
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Sep 22, 2015
The RAND Blog
Gavin Cochrane
Educational Program Evaluation

commentary
How Failure Can Feed Success: Using Evidence on 'What Does Not Work' to Improve Services and External Recognition
Applying practices and interventions requires learning not only about what works, but also what does not. Negative evaluation findings can be disappointing. But acting on the information they provide can present an opportunity to strengthen an organization.
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Sep 18, 2015
The RAND Blog
Daniel Schweppenstedde, Anne-Marie Reid
Refugees

q&a
Syrian Refugees: All You Need to Know
The world can only absorb so many millions of refugees. The civil war in Syria demands a political solution facilitated by international leadership that will bring stability and enable refugees to return to home.
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Sep 17, 2015
Newsweek
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Military Acquisition and Procurement

commentary
Lessons from the Past for the Future of the KC-46A
Analysis suggests that fixed-price contracts have not successfully reduced costs to the DoD associated with developing complex weapon systems. This has implications for the Air Force, given the importance of the ongoing KC-46A program.
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Sep 16, 2015
Breaking Defense
Laura H. Baldwin, Mark A. Lorell, et al.
Refugees

commentary
Putting a Human Face on the Refugee Crisis
By welcoming and accepting refugees, the West can send their oppressors a message about what it means to be a free democratic society.
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Sep 15, 2015
Fox News Channel
Obaid Younossi
Petroleum

commentary
Why Selling Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Is a Bad Idea
Some lawmakers are proposing a sell-off of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to finance highway and bridge work. This is a shortsighted strategy.
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Sep 15, 2015
The Wall Street Journal
Keith Crane
Affordable Care Act

commentary
Charging Older Adults Higher Premiums Could Cost Taxpayers
Under the Affordable Care Act, older adults cannot be charged more than three times as much as 21- to 24-year-olds for the same plan. Changing this rule to 5-to-1 may not be a cost-effective way to encourage enrollment among the young and healthy.
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Sep 15, 2015
The Commonwealth Fund Blog
Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner, Evan Saltzman
China

commentary
Xi in Command: Downsizing and Reorganizing the People's Liberation Army
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced that China would reduce the number of troops in its army by 300,000. But that is only a first step in a more ambitious reform and reorganization plan.
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Sep 14, 2015
Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, CSIS
Michael S. Chase
Iraq

commentary
Vietnam Teaches Us That Iraq Needs More Than U.S. Combat Advisers
There are issues that must be examined, understood, and planned for if the United States does not wish to have U.S. advisers left to the cruelties of the Islamic State.
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Sep 14, 2015
War on the Rocks
David E. Johnson
China

q&a
China's Military Modernization: Eric Heginbotham and Michael Chase in Conversation
Two RAND experts discuss their recent assessments of Chinese military modernization and its implications for U.S. interests in Asia.
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Sep 14, 2015
Eric Heginbotham, Michael S. Chase
California

commentary
Creating a Smart Market for California Water
A smart market approach could reduce the transaction costs of trading water in California, allow the price of water to better match its value, and bring that value to the state.
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Sep 13, 2015
Orange County Register
John F. Raffensperger, Craig A. Bond