2017

Terrorism Threat Assessment
commentary
Terrorism Before and During the War on Terror: A Look at the Numbers
Sean M. Zeigler, Meagan L. Smith
Dec 12, 2017
War on the Rocks
While terror-related headlines tend to imply the worst, the truth is much more prosaic. Terrorism since 9/11 is down—and dramatically so—in countries not suffering from civil wars and insurgencies.
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International Trade
commentary
The Burdens of Brexit
Charles P. Ries @charles_ries, Marco Hafner @econ_hafner
Dec 12, 2017
Newsweek
The economic consequences of Brexit are likely to be negative across a wide range of scenarios, including the most likely outcomes that the UK now faces. If the UK leaves the EU with no trade deal it could lose 4.9 percent of GDP, or $140 billion, after 10 years.
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Military Strategy
commentary
Xi's Consolidation of Power at the 19th Party Congress: Implications for PLA Aerospace Forces
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman, Michael S. Chase
Dec 11, 2017
Jamestown Foundation's China Brief
Xi Jinping has emerged from the 19th Party Congress stronger than at least his past two predecessors. He solidified his grip on power and revealed significant changes to the Central Military Commission, which oversees the People's Liberation Army.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
Fixing America's Food Deserts Alone Won't Fix Our Terrible Diets
Christine Anne Vaughan, Tamara Dubowitz @TamaraDubowitz
Dec 11, 2017
Los Angeles Times
It's clearly hard to make healthy food choices if you can't get to a store that offers them. But what matters most is what you put in your cart once you get there.
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Border and Port Security
commentary
The Big Border Security Question
Blas Nunez-Neto
Dec 9, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
What does a secure U.S.-Mexico border look like? And what kind of security measures are needed? Despite investing billions of dollars since 9/11, it's still a struggle to measure how effective U.S. border security operations are.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Kremlin Untruths Boomerang
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Dec 4, 2017
Real Clear World
The main sources of strain in Moscow's ties with the West are actions, such as Russia's aggression in Ukraine. But untruths add fuel to the fire and can provoke stronger Western reactions and impede the search for solutions.
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Domestic Terrorism
commentary
The Origins of America's Jihadists
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Dec 4, 2017
The Hill
American jihadists are made in the United States, not imported. Homegrown terrorists have accounted for most of the jihadist activity in the U.S. since 9/11, with most of those who carried out or plotted terrorist attacks either born in the U.S. or arriving as children.
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Cybercrime
commentary
The WannaCry Cyber Attack Could Be the First of Many If the NHS Takes No Action
Erik Silfversten
Dec 1, 2017
The BMJ
In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) was one of the organizations most severely affected by the WannaCry ransomware. The NHS and other public sector organizations need to improve their cybersecurity processes and quickly before a more severe cyber attack takes place.
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Counterinsurgency
commentary
Mali Is France's Afghanistan, but with a Difference
Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Michael Shurkin @MichaelShurkin
Dec 1, 2017
War on the Rocks
At first glance the comparison between the French military operations in Mali and America’s involvement in Afghanistan is compelling, and in some important ways, accurate. It also presents some fundamental differences that give reason for optimism in France.
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Databases and Data Collection, Analysis, and Processing
commentary
Blockchain: Should We Believe the Hype?
Salil Gunashekar, Advait Deshpande, Katherine Stewart
Nov 30, 2017
Prospect Magazine
Industry, governments and academics are all speculating on the ways in which blockchain could revolutionize everything from finance to the music industry. Now is the time for policymakers and industry to take note and find out what blockchain could offer.
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Missile Defense
commentary
Is Iron Dome a Poisoned Chalice? Strategic Risks from Tactical Success
Elizabeth M. Bartels
Nov 29, 2017
The Strategy Bridge
While Iron Dome's past success in defending Israel makes it a tempting solution to future challenges, it does have shortcomings. This becomes even more serious when considering using the system in Korea, where the threat posed is substantially greater, and the targeted terrain substantially harder to defend.
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Terrorism Threat Assessment
commentary
All for One and One for All: Toward a Coordinated EU Approach on Returnees
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Nov 28, 2017
Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
To combat the threat posed by returning fighters, EU intelligence and police agencies will need to coordinate to find potential terrorists before they are able to conduct attacks in Europe. The return of dangerous foreign fighters to European soil should be motivation enough for an overarching review of each country’s vulnerabilities.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
Is the Philippines the Next Caliphate?
Patrick B. Johnston, Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Nov 28, 2017
Foreign Policy
The Philippines is a long way from the Islamic State's birthplace in the Middle East. But the jihadis have already seized and held a city there for three months. Even if the Philippines doesn't become a major node in the Islamic State's network, it will likely remain fertile ground for supporting the group and its violent agenda.
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Autonomous Vehicles
commentary
Driverless Cars: The Race Is On for Policy to Catch Up
Charlene Rohr
Nov 27, 2017
The Huffington Post
Driverless cars could be tested on Britain’s roads by 2021. While this is likely to be great news to many, the race is now on for policymaking to catch up. Why? Because driverless cars could substantially change more than just the way people travel.
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Finance
commentary
Environmental Impact Bonds May Not Bear Fruit for Green Investors
Aaron Strong, Benjamin Lee Preston @bl_preston
Nov 26, 2017
Zilient
Investors may be willing to accept a lower return for socially responsible investments. But environmental impact bonds may not be the best way to leverage these investment possibilities.
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