2015

Critical Infrastructure Protection
commentary
Define Acceptable Cyberspace Behavior
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Sep 27, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
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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International Diplomacy
commentary
The U.S.-China Summit Is More Significant for Xi Jinping Than Obama
Andrew Scobell, Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
Sep 24, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
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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International Diplomacy
commentary
Nuclear Weapons Should Be on the U.S.-China Summit Agenda
Caroline R. Milne
Sep 23, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
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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China
commentary
Xi's Visit Exposes Mismatch in U.S and Chinese Expectations
Timothy R. Heath
Sep 23, 2015
World Politics Review
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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Global Health
commentary
New Partnerships for Improving Global Health Research
Gavin Cochrane
Sep 22, 2015
The RAND Blog
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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Educational Program Evaluation
commentary
How Failure Can Feed Success: Using Evidence on 'What Does Not Work' to Improve Services and External Recognition
Daniel Schweppenstedde, Anne-Marie Reid
Sep 18, 2015
The RAND Blog
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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Refugees
q&a
Syrian Refugees: All You Need to Know
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Sep 17, 2015
Newsweek
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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Military Acquisition and Procurement
commentary
Lessons from the Past for the Future of the KC-46A
Laura H. Baldwin @LauraHBaldwin, Mark A. Lorell, Obaid Younossi
Sep 16, 2015
Breaking Defense
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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Refugees
commentary
Putting a Human Face on the Refugee Crisis
Obaid Younossi
Sep 15, 2015
Fox News Channel
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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Petroleum
commentary
Why Selling Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Is a Bad Idea
Keith Crane
Sep 15, 2015
The Wall Street Journal
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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Affordable Care Act
commentary
Charging Older Adults Higher Premiums Could Cost Taxpayers
Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner, Evan Saltzman
Sep 15, 2015
The Commonwealth Fund Blog
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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China
commentary
Xi in Command: Downsizing and Reorganizing the People's Liberation Army
Michael S. Chase
Sep 14, 2015
Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, CSIS
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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Iraq
commentary
Vietnam Teaches Us That Iraq Needs More Than U.S. Combat Advisers
David E. Johnson @DaveJohnsonDC
Sep 14, 2015
War on the Rocks
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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China
q&a
China's Military Modernization: Eric Heginbotham and Michael Chase in Conversation
Eric Heginbotham, Michael S. Chase
Sep 14, 2015
The RAND Blog
Two RAND experts discuss their recent assessments of Chinese military modernization and its implications for U.S. interests in Asia.
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California
commentary
Creating a Smart Market for California Water
John F. Raffensperger, Craig A. Bond
Sep 13, 2015
Orange County Register
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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