2015

commentary

ISIS's Calculated Barbarity

ISIS's decision to murder its Jordanian hostage by burning him alive may turn out to be a strategic miscalculation, but it is not madness. Through self-selection, continued fighting, and the exaltation of unlimited violence, ISIS has created a cult whose members command and revel in displays of ever-increasing cruelty.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

Cyberattacks Are a Nuisance, Not Terrorism

The United States needs to consider both the risk of further attacks like the Sony breach and also further ill-considered reactions that may arise if the problem of insecurity in cyberspace is shoved into the counterterrorism paradigm.

Martin C. Libicki

commentary

The Pros and Cons of Obama's Restraint

The signal achievement of the Obama foreign policy — fully on display in the new National Security Strategy — has been to avoid further missteps and lay the groundwork for progress by husbanding U.S. power, restoring the economic foundations of influence, and repairing the U.S. global image.

Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr

q&a

Experts React to ISIS's Gruesome Execution of Jordanian Pilot

A grisly video released yesterday by ISIS appears to show Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh burned alive in a cage. Why the shift away from beheadings? What does the execution mean for Jordan? What implications will it have for ISIS?

commentary

Health Benefits of Addressing Climate Change

Opponents of action to mitigate climate change often suggest that regulation could have a negative impact on jobs, but stakeholders need to consider benefits, too. For instance, lower emissions could produce savings in the form of lower health care costs, reductions in premature death, and greater well-being.

Ramya Chari, Jeffery B. Greenblatt, et al.

commentary

Reauthorizing ESEA: Four Recommendations to Improve Teaching Effectiveness

Policies aimed at boosting teaching effectiveness are a key component of a strong ESEA reauthorization. Addressing discrepancies in teacher quality helps teachers improve, retains effective teachers, and makes the teaching profession an attractive option for those contemplating careers.

Laura S. Hamilton, Brian M. Stecher, et al.

commentary

U.S.-India Relations: Will the Obama-Modi Personal Chemistry Suffice?

U.S. President Barack Obama's visit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India has generated generally positive reactions from analysts. These judgments will be reinforced if the leaders' current chemistry changes Indo-U.S. policy for the better.

Gulrez Shah Azhar

commentary

Decoding the Breach: The Truth About the CENTCOM Hack

When ISIS hackers hijacked the Twitter account of U.S. Central Command on Jan. 12, they falsely claimed that they had hacked into U.S. military computers. While the incident was embarrassing, it was not concerning in operational military terms. It was, however, damaging to the counterinsurgency against ISIS.

David C. Gompert, Martin C. Libicki

commentary

North Korean Charm Offensive: Peace for Our Time?

Is North Korea really sincere about wanting to negotiate improved relations with South Korea and the United States? Or is it seeking to undermine the strength and sovereignty of its neighbor, just as Germany did before World War II?

Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett

commentary

The Afterparade: No Breakthroughs — and That's Just Fine

President Obama's visit to India last week was hailed in many quarters as a landmark event, perhaps signaling a new era of cooperation. In reality, the concrete takeaways were quite modest: there was no breakthrough on climate change, trade, or civil nuclear liability. But the trip should nonetheless be judged a success.

Jonah Blank

commentary

Syrian Refugees: A Blessing in Disguise?

To avoid further resentment and restrictions on Syrians desperate to escape their war-torn country, as well as the instability such attitudes generate, the international community must work with host governments to increase and highlight the benefits refugee populations can bring to neighboring states.

Dalia Dassa Kaye

commentary

Snuffing Out China's Deadly Habit

To help address China's smoking problem, China's parliament is considering a ban on all tobacco ads except those at point-of-sale retail locations. How does this compare to the current state of play regarding Chinese tobacco ads? And could the new law shift the tobacco-control landscape?

Min Gong, William G. Shadel

commentary

Improving Domestic Security to Combat Today's Terrorist Threats

Today, the U.S. confronts a multilayered terrorist threat and the recent spate of attacks in Europe underscores the necessity for ensuring that intelligence keeps up with it. Intelligence services must continue to prevent terrorist assaults dispatched from abroad, head off new shoe and underwear bombers, intercept individuals returning from jihadist fronts with terrorist intentions, while at the same time uncovering and thwarting homegrown plots.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

Growth Versus Equality: Striking the Right Balance

There's a difficult trade-off between income equality and the growth that comes from successful innovation. But one doesn't have to overwhelm the other.

Charles Wolf, Jr.

commentary

To Hit the Road, Driverless Cars Must Be Safe, Not Perfect

Once driverless cars are safer than the average human driver, they should be allowed to hit the road. Indeed, waiting for autonomous vehicles to be perfect would be its own safety concern because it would mean the needless perpetuation of the risks posed by human drivers.

Nidhi Kalra