2015

commentary

To Defeat ISIS, Focus on Its Real Sources of Strength

The threat ISIS poses today is graver than ever for two reasons: its war chest and its ability to attract foreign recruits are both at their peak. Redoubling international efforts to cut off ISIS from these two pillars of its war machine is necessary to sap the group's strength.

Benjamin Bahney, Patrick B. Johnston

commentary

Inside the Fish Bowl: High Stakes Acquisition Protests

The Boeing-Lockheed Martin team filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office asserting that the U.S. Air Force's selection of Northrop Grumman to build the Long Range Strike-Bomber was fundamentally flawed. Work on the program, valued at approximately $80 billion, is now paused.

Edward R. Harshberger, Obaid Younossi, et al.

commentary

To Undermine ISIS, We Should Welcome Syrian Refugees

Demonstrating American goodwill to Syrian refugees is the best way to help defeat ISIS and rehabilitate America's image in the chaotic Middle East.

Kim Cragin, Ben Connable

commentary

Will Syria's Civil War Turn Out Like Spain's Did?

The similarities between the Syrian and Spanish civil wars, including foreign involvement and the level of brutality against civilians and captives, suggest that the Syrian war, like the Spanish one before it, could potentially foreshadow future conflicts.

Scott Savitz

commentary

Book Review: 'Strategic Asia 2015-16, Foundations of National Power in the Asia-Pacific'

Which nations have the resources and motivations to either cooperate with or frustrate Washington's designs? What liabilities and assets reside with each country? The book, Strategic Asia 2015-16, surveys some of the most powerful nations in Asia with such questions in mind.

Timothy R. Heath

commentary

It's Getting Harder and Harder to Live on Top of the World

In September, a relatively new kind of storm, made possible due to larger swaths of ice-free Arctic Ocean, battered Barrow, Alaska, washing away chunks of coastline, threatening businesses, houses, and the freshwater supply. While mitigation efforts are necessary on a macro level, adaptation measures are needed now for such Arctic communities.

Timothy William James Smith

commentary

Brussels Locked-Down Heartbeat: A View from Within

To understand Molenbeek, the Brussels district that can be linked to most of the terror attacks on European soil in the past 18 months, it's necessary to examine the broader political and cultural context in Belgium.

Ines von Behr, Sonja Thebes

commentary

The SDSR: A Step Forward, but Questions Remain

The United Kingdom's Strategic Defence and Security Review contains a number of commitments that will be welcomed by defense and security experts. But some unanswered questions will play a critical role in determining the overall success of Britain's security strategy.

Hans Pung

commentary

France Is Right to Stay the Course

President Hollande announced that 30,000 Syrian refugees would be welcomed in France, honoring the commitment France made to its European partners before the Paris attacks. Altering its policy would only give the terrorists what they want.

Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard

commentary

What Happens If the ACA's Tax Credits Are Replaced with Premium Support?

As policymakers consider alternatives to reduce the federal government's financial burden from providing subsidies under the ACA, they should consider the consequences for enrollees. Existing premium-support models yield considerable savings for the federal government but could create age and income disparities in coverage.

Evan Saltzman, Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner

commentary

COP 21 Not a Silver Bullet on Climate Change

The Paris climate conference cannot provide the engine that will drive a solution to the world's climate change challenge. Rather, it can best serve as a mediator that will help guide and structure the swirling, bottom-up process of radical change that is the best hope of preserving Earth's climate.

Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert

announcement

RAND Is Accepting Applications for Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowships

RAND is accepting applications for up to three Stanton Nuclear Security Fellows. The application deadline is February 8, 2016. The program was created to stimulate the development of the next generation of thought leaders on nuclear security.

commentary

A Comprehensive Approach to Early Education

A relatively new approach to improving long-term educational outcomes, called “preschool to third grade,” or P-3, focuses on the youngest students. Hawaii's recent initiative has been successful at raising third-grade reading scores.

Gail L. Zellman, M. Rebecca Kilburn

commentary

Improving the U.S. Security Assistance Model

The United States often approaches security assistance the same way it did in Vietnam, with the same results. A better way would be to focus on politics and shaping the political context.

Michael Shurkin

commentary

Flirting with Genocide in Burundi: Paying Attention Could Save Lives

Burundi has been afflicted by political violence since April. President Pierre Nkurunziza, who helped bring peace to the country in the last decade, is risking everything for the sake of staying in power. He is dragging the country backwards after 10 years of progress.

Michael Shurkin