Congressional Newsletter

National Security

Russian soldiers man a checkpoint near the Georgian village of Kekhvi in breakaway South Ossetia, August 21, 2008, photo by Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters

Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters

Anticipating Adversary Military Interventions

New RAND research explores where, how, and how often U.S. adversaries (specifically, Russia, China, and Iran) have intervened militarily since 1946 and identifies why these adversaries have initiated military interventions and why they might do so in the future.

The authors find that overall, adversary military interventions remain far below Cold War levels. Several factors could contribute to a shift toward substantially more aggressive and larger-scale interventions. Looking to the future, China is a more serious long-term threat than either Russia or Iran because of its expanding global ambitions, deep pockets, and increased military capabilities, but Russian military activities have been more numerous in recent years and present a more pressing threat in the near term.
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Army Research Division

Naval personnel from China's base in Djibouti, participate in a military parade in Djibouti City

Joseph Harwood/Combined Joint Task Force

China’s Military Interventions: Patterns, Drivers, and Signposts

Timothy R. Heath et al.

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Russian soldiers aboard an armoured vehicle in western Georgia in AUgust of 2008

Umit Bektas/Reuters

Russia’s Military Interventions: Patterns, Drivers, and Signposts

Samuel Charap et al.

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An Iranian Army soldier gestures during an exercise in Fars province in 2020

Amin Bre/Alamy

Iran’s Military Interventions: Patterns, Drivers, and Signposts

Ariane M. Tabatabai et al.

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monsitj/Getty Images

An Analysis of Alternative Approaches to Measuring Multinational Interoperability: Early Development of the Army Interoperability Measurement System (AIMS)

Bryan W. Hallmark et al.

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Project Air Force

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Rose Li, right, hands a notebook to Airman 1st Class Eric Gardella, both 86th Communications Squadron wing cyber readiness technicians, while monitoring malicious network activity during exercise Tacet Venari at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, July 2, 2020, photo by Staff Sgt. Devin Boyer/U.S. Air Force

Staff Sgt Devin Boyer/U.S. Air Force

Building the Best Offensive and Defensive Cyber Workforce: Volume I, Improving U.S. Air Force Training and Development

Chaitra M. Hardison et al.

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Staff Sgt. Alex Garviria, 721st Communication Squadron senior systems controller, and 2nd Lt. Rachel James, 721st CS crew commander, work in the Global Strategic Warning and Space Surveillance System Center at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., Sept. 2, 2014, photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal Ardrey/U.S. Air Force

Airman 1st Class Krystal Ardrey/U.S. Air Force

Building the Best Offensive and Defensive Cyber Workforce: Volume II, Attracting and Retaining Enlisted and Civilian Personnel

Chaitra M. Hardison et al.

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A facility at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, was severely damaged by Hurricane Michael, October 10, 2018, photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Conroy/U.S. Air Force

Staff Sgt. Ryan Conroy/U.S. Air Force

The Growing Exposure of Air Force Installations to Natural Disasters

Anu Narayanan et al.

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Senior Airman Peter Reft/U.S. Air Force

Managing Intellectual Property Relevant to Operating and Sustaining Major U.S. Air Force Weapon Systems

Frank Camm et al.

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Maj. Bishane, a 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron MQ-9 Reaper pilot, controls an aircraft from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada

Staff Sgt. Vernon Young, Jr./U.S. Air Force

Data Rights Relevant to Weapon Systems in Air Force Special Operations Command

Frank Camm et al.

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National Security Research Division

Jessica Marie Watkins (second from left) and Donovan Ray Crowl (center), both U.S. veterans who have since been indicted for their roles in the Capitol riot, in Washington, D.C., January 6, 2021, photo by Jim Bourg/Reuters

Jim Bourg/Reuters

Reducing the Risk of Extremist Activity in the U.S. Military

Marek N. Posard et al.

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Seabees coordinate transportation of sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt who have tested negative for COVID-19 from Naval Base Guam to military-approved commercial lodging, in Guam, April 3, 2020, photo by MC Matthew R. White/U.S. Navy via Reuters

MC Matthew R. White/U.S. Navy via Reuters

Readiness Implications of Coronavirus Infections on U.S. Navy Ships

Bradley Martin et al.

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narvikk/iStock

North Korean Sanctions Evasion Techniques

King Mallory

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RAND Corporation

Potential Drivers of Crises in the Arctic

Benjamin J. Sacks et al.

Explore the visualization »

lyas Toker/Getty Images and Volha Ramanchuk/Getty Images/iStock

AI Tools for Military Readiness

Peter Schirmer et al.

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A worker at Force Protection Industries Inc., makes a Cougar H 4 X 4 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle at the factory in Ladson, S.C., Jan. 18, 2008. Production began in 2001 and increased significantly in 2006, as it became increasingly clear that the MRAP's V-shaped hull that deflects underbelly blasts was protecting troops from improvised explosive devices.

Cherie A. Thurlby/DoD

Is the Defense Acquisition System Postured to Solve National Defense Strategy Operational Problems?

Joel B. Predd et al.

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Senior Airman Rajonda Davis (left), 59th Medical Operations Squadron mental health technician, discusses concerns with Capt. Abby Fields, 59th Medical Operations Squadron psychologist, during a mock Behavioral Health Optimization Program visit at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma/U.S. Air Force

Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma/U.S. Air Force

A Process Evaluation of Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration in the Military Health System

Andrada Tomoaia-Cotisel et al.

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U.S. Army

Behavioral Health Care for National Guard and Reserve Service Members from the Military Health System

Justin Hummer et al.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Samuel Taylor, combat videographer, with Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division returns from deployment at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 19, 2017

Lance Cpl. Tanner Seims/U.S. Marine Corps

A Guide to Evaluating Marine and Family Division Programs, Services, and Capabilities

Stephanie Brooks Holliday et al.

Read the guide »

DanielBendjy/Getty Images

A Guide to Evaluating Marine and Family Division Programs, Services, and Capabilities: An Introduction to Program Evaluation

Stephanie Brooks Holliday et al.

Read the guide »

VTT Studio/Getty Images

Sleep Management in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Systematic Review

Alicia Ruelaz Maher et al.

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African American male meditating at home

Peopleimages/Getty Images

Systematic Reviews of Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Psychological and Behavioral Health Disorders

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RAND Congressional Resources Staff

Jayme Fuglesten
Director, Office of Congressional Relations

Kurt Card
National Security Legislative Analyst

Nathaniel Lutovsky
Legislative Analyst

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The Congressional Relations’ National Security newsletter includes the latest research by RAND’s three national security Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.

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