October 2017

Law Enforcement
commentary
Can Ambulance Data Help Police Forces Do More with Less?
Alex Sutherland, Lucy Strang
Oct 24, 2017
The Daily Telegraph
Police forces in England and Wales may not be aware of a large proportion of violent incidents taking place in their areas. Ambulance data could contribute to a more complete picture of violent crime and help police target resources more effectively.
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Artificial Intelligence
commentary
AI's Promise and Risks
Marjory S. Blumenthal @MarjorySB, Andrew Parasiliti, Ali Wyne
Oct 24, 2017
TechCrunch
Artificial intelligence seems to be advancing faster than efforts to understand its potential consequences, good and bad. And discussions about AI often veer toward extremes. More balanced, rigorous analysis is needed to help shape policies that mitigate AI's risks and maximize its benefits.
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Al Qaida
commentary
The Moderate Face of Al Qaeda
Colin P. Clarke
Oct 24, 2017
Foreign Affairs
Al Qaeda in Syria cut ties with its parent organization to portray itself as a legitimate, capable, and independent force in the Syrian civil war. The group appears dedicated to helping Syrians prevail, and now that ISIS has lost its capital in Raqqa, al Qaeda may be the only group viewed as militarily capable of challenging the Assad regime.
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Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Reauthorizing DHS: Aligning Requirements, Research, Development and Acquisition
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 23, 2017
The National Interest
As part of the discussion about reauthorizing the Department of Homeland Security, Congress might want to consider how to improve acquisitions. Rather than focusing only on the steps in the acquisition process, that discussion could also include consideration of pre and post-acquisition activities.
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Vietnam
commentary
How One French Director Brought the Vietnam War Home for Americans
James T. Quinlivan
Oct 23, 2017
The National Interest
In 1967, the first major documentary about the Vietnam war appeared as a CBS News Special Report featuring a film by French director Pierre Schoendoerffer. It introduced key features of the war told through the filming of an American platoon, and provided texture and background so a viewer could gain a sense of what was happening there.
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Missile Defense
commentary
Why Japan Needs Long-Range Strike Capabilities
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Oct 23, 2017
Defense One
Japan's pacifist constitution allows it to exercise force only when its survival is threatened and there are no other means to repel the attack. But North Korea's advancing military capabilities have drastically changed the threat environment. Japan no longer has the luxury to be complacent about its security threats.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Why the Iran Nuclear Deal Benefits the U.S.
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Suzanne DiMaggio
Oct 23, 2017
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Iran deal has stretched the time needed to produce a nuclear weapon from three to at least 12 months and has established the strongest inspections system ever negotiated. Walking away from the agreement now will only isolate the U.S. and provide Iran an easy excuse to join North Korea on the road toward nuclear weapons.
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Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Reauthorizing DHS: Improving Operational Control
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 23, 2017
The National Interest
One area of focus in the debate on reauthorizing the Department of Homeland Security should be its role in directing homeland security operations. The debate should include a comprehensive discussion of the future role for the department headquarters.
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Japan
commentary
Japan's Election Matters for U.S. Interests
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Oct 21, 2017
Newsweek
What happens in Japan's election carries enormous consequence for the United States and its interests in the region. U.S. Asia policy begins and ends with America's critical alliance with Japan.
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Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Reauthorizing DHS: The Case for Reauthorization
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 20, 2017
The National Interest
Reauthorization of the Department of Homeland Security is vital to clarifying responsibilities and setting expectations for the continued evolution of the department. Policymakers might also wish to conduct an external review, which could help inform a broader future reform bill.
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Workforce Development
commentary
Keeping Americans on the Job in a Changing Economy
Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Oct 20, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
Despite calls to bring back U.S. coal mines and factories, the real issue isn't a lack of family-sustaining jobs, it's a mismatch between workers and available jobs.
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Cybersecurity
commentary
Equifax and the Data-Breach Era
Lillian Ablon, Sina Beaghley
Oct 18, 2017
The Hill
The personal and financial data of almost 146 million U.S. consumers has been compromised by the Equifax breach, the latest in a long line of high-profile hacks. Do consumers worry enough about such breaches? And what options are available to Congress?
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Military Transformation
commentary
What Does the 19th Party Congress Mean for the PLA?
Timothy R. Heath
Oct 18, 2017
China Policy Institute Blog
The People's Liberation Army has a lot at stake in China's Communist Party Congress. In addition to changes in military leadership, reports issued at a Party Congress invariably contain directives to the military that can add impetus to ongoing initiatives.
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Warfare and Military Operations
commentary
A Glass Half Empty? Taking Stock of Hezbollah's Losses in Syria
Colin P. Clarke
Oct 17, 2017
The Jerusalem Post
Hezbollah has gained valuable combat experience in Syria, but the cost of that experience may not outweigh the losses in troops, the damage to its image and the need to cede some of its autonomy to Iran and the Assad regime. The longer the war drags on, the more apparent these losses will become.
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Big Data
essay
Big Data, Big Questions
Oct 16, 2017
RAND-Lex is a computer program that can scan millions of lines of text and identify what people are talking about, how they fit into communities, and how they see the world. The program has shed light on how terrorists communicate, how the American public thinks about health, and more.
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