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APRIL 2007 HIGHLIGHTS:BUILDING MODERATE MUSLIM NETWORKS
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Radical Islamists spread their message using extensive networks spanning the Muslim world, but moderates have not created similar networks. This report derives lessons from U.S. and allied Cold War experience fostering democratic networks, determines their applicability to current conditions in the Muslim world, evaluates U.S. programs of engagement with the Muslim world, and develops a “road map” to foster the construction of moderate Muslim networks.
Could China use antiaccess strategies to defeat the United States in a conflict in-the-sense of accomplishing its military and political objectives while preventing the United States from doing likewise? Analysis of Chinese military-doctrinal writings reveals a number of antiaccess concepts that could have this effect. However, there are a number of actions the United States can take to reduce the effectiveness of such strategies.
The Federal Government spends billions to protect our nation against terrorism. Might it help to understand what al-Qaeda would achieve with each specific attack? This report examines various hypotheses of terrorist targeting: is it (1) to coerce, (2) to damage economies, (3) to rally the faithful, or (4) a decision left to affiliates? It analyzes past attacks, post hoc justifications, and expert opinion to weigh each hypothesis.
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), which began on July 24, 2003, has been a remarkable success, in part because of the consistency of its message, the strength of its leadership, and its uncommon support for, rather than overt control of, the Solomon Islands government and policing capability. This report reviews RAMSI operations through the lens of a broader application to current and future counterinsurgency efforts.
The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) develops, acquires, and maintains most Air Force systems and is tailoring its workforce to adapt to changes in technology, weapons, and battlefield requirements. This report is a practical guide to the main steps in analytical workforce planning and development which include: (1) determining workforce demand, (2) describing workforce supply, (3) comparing the demand with the supply, and (4) implementing solutions.
Current U.S. counterinsurgency strategy is in need of stronger cognitive capabilities that will enable the United States to “fight smarter.” These include comprehension, reasoning, and decisionmaking, the components that are most effective against an enemy that is quick to adapt, transform, and regenerate. This occasional paper offers concrete ideas for gaining the cognitive advantage in anticipating and countering the new global insurgency.
Subversion is a critical insurgent tool, but it has long been ignored by policymakers and analysts. This occasional paper presents a set of case studies to explore the elements of subversion and discusses preliminary ideas for combating subversive activities in the context of the “long war” against violent Islamic extremism.
COMMENTARYThe following is a list of national security related commentary pieces that RAND researchers have contributed to newspapers in the past month. To retrieve past commentary pieces, please visit RAND's commentary page. MISSILE DEFENSE: AVOIDING A CRISIS IN EUROPE
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RAND CONGRESSIONAL RESOURCES STAFFMichael Rich Shirley Ruhe Sage Newman RAND Office of Congressional Relations |
TESTIMONYIRAQI SECURITY FORCES: DEFINING CHALLENGES AND ASSESSING PROGRESSAuthor: Olga Oliker Testimony presented before the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on March 28, 2007. ENDING AFGHANISTAN'S CIVIL WARAuthor: Ambassador James Dobbins Testimony presented before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 8, 2007. THE STRATEGIC CHALLENGE OF BORDER SECURITYAuthors: Michael Wermuth and K. Jack Riley Testimony presented before the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism on March 8, 2007. |
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