2009-11-19T13:25:00Z Copyright (c) 2007-2008, The RAND Corporation Bricolage RAND Corporation urn:uuid:3737DEA0-F3A8-11DD-A6D3-DB2639788F35 urn:uuid:2659782A-E96A-11DD-AF2F-51C038788F35 2009-01-27T00:00:00Z 2009-01-27T00:00:00Z

This essay from a collection, which examines the security situation in Afghanistan through the largest public opionon survey ever conducted in Afghanistan, asks three questions. What are Afghan perceptions of the security environment? How do these perceptions vary across the country? How do Afghans feel about their security institutions?

urn:uuid:AF10CDF2-5F05-11DD-8A12-59C038788F35 2008-09-08T03:00:00Z 2008-09-08T03:00:00Z

The foreign policy success of incoming presidents, particularly in the early years of a presidency, is largely determined by how well the new administration learns from the successes and failures of the outgoing president.

urn:uuid:4A721F92-4EAF-11DD-B037-E4D638788F35 2008-08-25T03:00:00Z 2008-08-25T03:00:00Z

Historical examples and the analysis of two modified Delphi exercises augment an examination of approaches to escalation management within the demands of today’s security environment and its attendant threats involving not only long-standing nuclear powers, but also insurgent groups and terrorists.

urn:uuid:38831224-3EC3-11DD-BBE1-E1BD38788F35 2008-08-01T03:00:00Z 2008-08-01T03:00:00Z

The United States is heavily invested – diplomatically, economically, and militarily – in Iraq and Afghanistan. Based on this, the United States must clarify its long-term intentions to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the surrounding regions.

urn:uuid:45EA40C8-3C65-11DD-A032-E1BD38788F35 2008-07-01T03:00:00Z 2008-07-01T03:00:00Z

China and India's health systems have shown advances in boosting life expectancy and disease prevention in the past fifty years. However, those living in the two nations are still exposed to a high degree of financial risk, geographical inequities in health care access, and overall poorer health than in other countries.

urn:uuid:B64EC20C-1DC1-11DD-A9A0-E1BD38788F35 2008-06-09T03:00:00Z 2008-06-09T03:00:00Z

If Taliban sanctuary bases in Pakistan are not eliminated, the United States and its NATO allies will face crippling long-term consequences in their effort to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan.

urn:uuid:3847EA7E-04D4-11DD-BC45-E1BD38788F35 2008-05-27T03:00:00Z 2008-05-27T03:00:00Z

The predominant threat to U.S. security in the 21st century comes not from the actions of opposing countries but from the fallout of collapsing ones. The world’s leading states can and should help the citizens of failed states by integrating efforts to reduce violence, advance the economy, and reform government.

urn:uuid:ADB7507A-17B6-11DD-BBA2-B40839788F35 2008-05-23T03:00:00Z 2008-05-23T03:00:00Z

Since the 2002 U.S.-led attacks in Afghanistan, the country has struggled to stabilize their government and society. RAND co-hosted a conference attended by experts in academia, government and NGOs from over 20 nations to discuss the need for a strategic approach to Afghanistan's attempts at nation-building.

urn:uuid:CCAF6634-F033-11DC-857A-E1BD38788F35 2008-04-15T03:00:00Z 2008-04-15T03:00:00Z

North Korea's test of a nuclear weapon in 2006 shows that such weapons are within reach of determined regional powers. Thus, defense planners in the United States and elsewhere must begin now to confront the new security challenges posed by nuclear-armed regional adversaries.

urn:uuid:98D2A624-FF19-11DC-8779-E1BD38788F35 2008-04-02T03:00:00Z 2008-04-02T03:00:00Z

In testimony presented before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Seth Jones discusses the rising insurgency in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, opportunities for international cooperation, and room for improvement.

urn:uuid:B741F230-00C3-11DD-BCE8-80F038788F35 2008-04-01T03:00:00Z 2008-04-01T03:00:00Z

[The United States] has made some progress against the Taliban and other insurgent groups in eastern Afghanistan, and created a window of opportunity to spread this elsewhere, writes Seth G. Jones.

urn:uuid:983E1F0A-FB44-11DC-A4B5-E1BD38788F35 2008-03-21T03:00:00Z 2008-03-21T03:00:00Z

Like two years ago, last week's rage in Pakistan over reprints of cartoons and a forthcoming Dutch film that insult Islam's holy book once again entangles Muslims and the West in a fury over freedom of speech, writes Farhana Ali.

urn:uuid:98A15C9E-EEC1-11DC-820C-E1BD38788F35 2008-03-10T03:00:00Z 2008-03-10T03:00:00Z

The United States no longer can afford to blindly support Musharraf. Hence, America is moving toward defining a new policy direction for Pakistan, and for good reason, writes Farhana Ali.

urn:uuid:D336A23E-E56A-11DC-BF3D-E1BD38788F35 2008-02-27T03:00:00Z 2008-02-27T03:00:00Z

[K]illing or capturing bin Laden remains a vital national and, indeed, international priority. Not only is it important — it is worth devoting significant resources and making major tradeoffs to do so, writes Elbridge Colby.

urn:uuid:5E699AD6-DEEB-11DC-87D7-E1BD38788F35 2008-02-25T03:00:00Z 2008-02-25T03:00:00Z

Different educational approaches in China and India have been successful in stimulating economic growth; the successes and challenges of both education systems offer valuable lessons for China, India, and the rest of the developing world.

urn:uuid:D363479A-E3CF-11DC-8300-E1BD38788F35 2008-02-24T03:00:00Z 2008-02-24T03:00:00Z

The Pakistani people have seized an important democratic opportunity by voting decisively against retired general President Pervez Musharraf and the Islamist parties. The U.S. would be wise to support this action financially, diplomatically and politically, writes C. Christine Fair.

urn:uuid:75EFFFE0-D9A2-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-02-14T03:00:00Z 2008-02-14T03:00:00Z

In testimony presented before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Angel Rabasa discusses the security problems posed by ungoverned territories, and what could be done to address them.

urn:uuid:83A127D0-CE81-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-02-11T03:00:00Z 2008-02-11T03:00:00Z

Iraq and Afghanistan have revealed serious shortfalls in the capabilities of the U.S. to counter insurgency in the Muslim world. Instead of relying predominantly on military occupation, the U.S. must become more able to bolster the ability of threatened states to win the contest for the support of their people.

urn:uuid:3C8A1024-C5D4-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-01-17T03:00:00Z 2008-01-17T03:00:00Z

George W. Bush may leave a positive foreign policy legacy after all. A year ago this would have seemed difficult to credit... [Y]et over this period, Bush has put in place a series of more pragmatic policies from which even a Democratic successor will have a hard time moving away, writes James Dobbins.

urn:uuid:73F81D5A-C2C1-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-01-16T03:00:00Z 2008-01-16T03:00:00Z

In testimony presented before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Christine Fair discusses the future of U.S.-Pakistan relations, the likelihood that Pakistan's leadership will vigorously pursue counter-terrorism objectives, and more.