2015

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He Lived Cautiously, and Then Died Suddenly

After his father's unexpected death, RAND's Jeffrey Wasserman questions his instinct to always play it safe, and decides what risks in life are worth taking.

Jeffrey Wasserman

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A Conservative Ambition for the Defence of the United Kingdom

Prime Minister David Cameron and his new Cabinet are spending their first days in office articulating a policy and legislative agenda, to be delivered in the form of the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament on 27 May. National strategy and defence are certain to feature on that agenda.

Paul Cornish

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Another Nepal Earthquake Makes Disaster Relief Planning Even More Important

Leadership, coordination, communication, and involvement of local stakeholders are critical in order to mount an informed response to natural disasters. Improved disaster management in Nepal could help limit the suffering of impacted communities and help secure a more successful recovery in the long run.

Mahshid Abir, Melinda Moore

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How Durable Is the China-Russia 'Friendship?'

Though China and Russia share key economic interests and oppose what they claim to be a U.S.-dominated world order, their relationship over time promises to be uneven and tense.

William Courtney @courtneywmh, David Sedney, et al.

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Yemen: Victim of the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry

Instability in Yemen does not benefit Iran, Saudi Arabia, or the United States. AQAP is a major threat to all three countries. And neither side in the Yemeni conflict has the capability to impose central authority in Yemen by itself.

Alireza Nader

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U.S. Soldiers Denied Sleep Suffer Major Health Effects

More than 60 percent of service members don't get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night. About a third get by on five hours or less. The military, and society at large, needs to recognize the importance of sleep as a crucial link to physical and mental well-being.

Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel, Regina A. Shih @ReginaShih

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Examining Police, Community Relations

The “Strengthening Police-Community Trust” panel held Wednesday at RAND's Pittsburgh offices felt ripped from the headlines, and from the outset the discussion was focused on what the moderator called “the intersection between the community and the police.”

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Business Leaders (Should) Take Note: Children Make the World Go Round

Policymakers and researchers already know that investments in society's youngest members pay dividends for society at large over lifetimes. Now businesses are beginning to catch on.

Daniel Schweppenstedde, Olga van Zijverden

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Nepal Earthquake Response Shows Need for Better International Planning

The U.S. provided supplies after the earthquake in Nepal, but they piled up at points of delivery because Nepalese customs authorities insisted that standard inspections be followed, even in an emergency situation. These kinds of bureaucratic challenges can be more easily overcome if they are identified and addressed before crises arise.

Jennifer D. P. Moroney @jdpmoroney

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As Ebola Declines, Lessons Emerge

Lessons learned through the analysis of this most recent Ebola outbreak as well as other disease outbreaks can have far-reaching consequences, helping authorities to both improve the continuing, ongoing response and plan for the best possible response to future threats.

Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich

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Caring for Our Nation's Hidden Heroes?

Thanks to a growing list of more than 100 organizations that have pledged their commitment as members of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's National Coalition for Military Caregivers, our nation is taking long overdue action to support both our wounded warriors and those who care for them.

Elizabeth Dole, Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich

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Breaking Down Nuclear Waste as a Two-Part Issue

The U.S. Department of Energy is now planning separate repositories for commercial waste and the waste from the military's nuclear weapons production instead of disposing of both in the same repository as originally intended. Decoupling different parts of the nuclear waste problem is a small but positive step forward.

Tom LaTourrette, Debra Knopman

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Test Your RAND Knowledge on Jeopardy!

RAND was once a category on the long-running TV game show Jeopardy! How much money could you have won? Take the quiz and find out.

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Nuclear Negotiations with Iran: Looking Ahead

As world leaders work to piece together a nuclear deal with Iran, RAND experts asked, What would change on the day after a final deal? Their analysis helps clarify what a nuclear deal would mean for the United States, the region, and the world.

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Peacetime Fuel 'Tankering' Could Save $25 Million Per Year

Fuel tankering involves carrying excess fuel on an aircraft when flying from origins where fuel is less expensive than at the destination. Tankering fuel to a conflict zone such as Afghanistan is almost always cost-effective, but the story is more complex in other regions because of the way fuel is purchased and resold within the DoD itself.

Christopher A. Mouton