January 2014

commentary

Sochi and Singletons

Given Russian capabilities, it would be surprising if a terrorist group was able to mount a successful large-scale, coordinated attack during the Games. For spectators and athletes alike, the more likely threat will be from individuals, acting alone outside of arenas and other official venues.

Mark Sparkman

commentary

The Terrorist Threat to the Sochi Olympics

From the Black September attacks on Israeli athletes in 1972, to the post 9/11 games in Salt Lake City, to the 2012 games in London, security has been a concern at all modern Olympics. Recent terrorist attacks in Russia, though, present particular concern as the world's athletes descend on Sochi.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

blog

Dr. Gill Samuels CBE Joins RAND Europe Council of Advisors

Dr. Gill Samuels CBE joined the RAND Europe Council of Advisors during its meeting in January. She is a physiologist and neuropharmacologist by training and was Director of Cardiovascular Biology at Pfizer, contributing to the discovery and development of a number of medicines.

commentary

Iraq Picture May Not Be as Bleak as It Seems

Over the past month, al Qaeda affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has made a concerted effort to seize the Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Fallujah. The attacks have received a lot of attention, but ISIS does not represent a majority of Iraqi Sunni in Anbar. Many Sunni Anbari leaders continue to reject al Qaeda.

Ben Connable

commentary

U.S. Needs to Improve Community-Based Drug, Alcohol Prevention

As familiar as Americans are with the problems of youth drug and alcohol abuse, we are not identifying all the potential solutions. While observers criticize overemphasis in U.S. policy on enforcement and scant resources devoted to treatment, the focus on these approaches often ignores a key piece of the puzzle: prevention.

Matthew Chinman, Joie D. Acosta, et al.

blog

Gen. Amos Discusses the Future of the USMC at RAND

Gen. James F. Amos discusses the future of the United States Marine Corps during a visit to the RAND Corporation

blog

State of the Union 2014: President Obama Calls for a Year of Action

Obama called for “a year of action” to achieve his 2014 agenda — from helping people sign up for health insurance, to immigration reform, to completing the mission in Afghanistan. RAND is committed to raising the level of public policy debates and offering evidence-based, actionable solutions.

blog

Small Ideas for Saving Big Health Care Dollars (No. 11-14)

Focusing on smaller, more focused approaches can identify less controversial opportunities for modest health care savings.

commentary

EU-Ukraine Alliance Will Benefit Russia, Too

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement would benefit both Ukraine and Russia in many ways, especially in greater trade, social, and cultural exchanges. Ukraine's closer association with the EU would actually increase Russian trade with Ukraine as long as Russia does not impose artificial restrictions.

Oleh Havrylyshyn, Svitlana Kobzar

commentary

With Self-Driving Cars, Promise Outweighs Peril

The promise of autonomous vehicles is finally near to being realized and the substantial benefits to society in terms of safety, mobility, and fuel economy cannot be ignored. It is not too early for policy makers to begin to think about the challenges that lie ahead.

James M. Anderson

commentary

Iraq's Turmoil Highlights Extent and Limits of Iran's Influence

Iran may be more influential in Iraq today than it has been since the Safavid era, but this is not so much due to Iranian strength as Iraqi weakness. Iraq will need Iran as long as it faces an uncertain future — unrest at home, war in Syria, and isolation from the Arab world.

Alireza Nader

commentary

Failure to Learn: Reflections on a Career in the Post-Vietnam Army

In the aftermath of a decade of war, the Army must have an objective, serious debate — one that it never engaged in after Vietnam — to understand its experiences, both good and bad.

David E. Johnson

commentary

The Facts About the Metadata 'Menace'

Metadata from a phone call include information such as the direction (who called whom), length, date and time. The program does not record the location or the name associated with a call. No one is listening to the call and no content is recorded.

K. Jack Riley

commentary

Public Opinion of the Affordable Care Act Appears to Remain Stable

Overall opinion of the ACA continues to be stable with no discernible changes in the rate of favorable opinion since last week. Unfavorable opinion was in line with findings from the last few weeks of December and the first week of January.

Katherine Grace Carman

commentary

Why New Sanctions on Iran Won't Work

Sanctions are not a button that can be pushed to strengthen the U.S. position automatically; they must be used in tandem with diplomacy, and a deeper understanding of Iranian, Chinese and Russian motivations.

Alireza Nader