RAND > Hot Topics > Afghanistan

HomeGo to RAND HomeResearch Areas
Share
AddThis Feed Button Subscribe to more RAND RSS feeds

Afghanistan

Selected Research, Commentary and Congressional Testimony

Going Jihad: The Fort Hood Slayings and Home-Grown Terrorism — Nov. 19, 2009

families at Fort Hood Memorial service, photo courtesy of flickr/U.S. Army

In testimony presented before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Brian Michael Jenkins assesses the tragic and disquieting events at Fort Hood in the context of terrorist violence in the U.S. and the Muslim American community .

Study of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Questions Assumptions Behind "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" — Nov. 9, 2009

soldiers

A new survey of military personnel who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan found that having an openly gay or lesbian colleague in their unit had no significant impact on their unit's cohesion or readiness, questing the assumption underlying the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

The Fall of the Wall: A World Restored? — Nov. 9, 2009

crowd celebrating atop Berlin Wall, 1989, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/SSGT. F. L. Corkran

When the Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago, those raised in the shadow of possible nuclear holocaust felt disbelief, followed by relief and hope that the end of the Cold War would bring lasting peace, and the end of conflict. And in Europe, at least, it mostly did – but not everywhere, writes Christopher S. Chivvis.

The Day After... in Jerusalem: A Strategic Planning Exercise on the Path to Middle East Peace — Nov. 6, 2009

boy holding Palestinian flag, photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/rustystewart/300021362/

Starting in 2008, the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy conducted a series of exercises to help the new U.S. administration address the challenges of the Arab-Israeli conflict (and of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular) as a key component of the broader effort to secure stability in the Middle East.

Our Man in Kabul — Nov. 5, 2009

Afghan President Hamid Karzai at press conference in presidential palace, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Tech. Sgt. J. Morrison

Now that Karzai has been declared the election's winner, the breach with Abdullah—the man most responsible for his original rise to power—could have very dangerous consequences. The last thing Karzai, NATO, and the United States can afford is the emergence of a renewed northern alliance, writes James Dobbins.

Karzai's Second Term a Test for International Community — Nov. 2, 2009

Afghan Members of Parliament, photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/webethere/2537821065/

Afghan President Hamid Karzai begins his second term with his country on the brink of chaos. To establish control, two major elements of reform are necessary, writes Terrence Kelly.

U.S. Policy in Afghanistan: Basic Questions — Strategic Choices — Oct. 29, 2009

Daily Life in Afghanistan, Photo courtesy of Boston.com

RAND convened this half-day symposium of experts—including Senator Carl Levin, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Ambassador Jim Dobbins, and others—and journalists to address assumptions and alternatives for U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

Keeping Our Allies on Our Side in Afghanistan — Oct. 27, 2009

U.S. Marines train in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Sgt. Pete Thibodeau

'There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies," observed Winston Churchill in 1945, "and that is fighting without them." It's a truth worth recalling as the Obama administration nears crucial decisions on Afghanistan, write Leo Michel and Robert Hunter.

Fighting Terror the Cold War Way — Oct. 14, 2009

Arabic books, photo courtesy of flickr/Hishaam Siddiqi

With much talk about how to "win hearts and minds" in the Muslim world, it's surprising that few are looking back to a global contest of ideas that the U.S. and its allies categorically won: the Cold War, write Todd C. Helmus and Dalia Dassa Kaye.

Afghanistan: Echoes of Vietnam — Oct. 7, 2009

photo of U.S. Army jumpmaster taken by SSG Russell Lee Klika, courtesy of defenseimagery.mil

Now that U.S. involvement in Iraq has begun to require fewer resources, Afghanistan is the new focus of American and European anti-war sentiment, and increasingly Obama's critics are drawing on the analogy of Vietnam, writes James Dobbins.

How to Tell if We're Winning the Afghan War — Oct. 5, 2009

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army, by Spc. Kelly Hunt

If one year from today, the Taliban controls less territory and the Afghan security forces are more capable, then we will know the United States is winning, writes Nora Bensahel.

Path to a Pashtun Rebellion in Afghanistan — Oct. 2, 2009

photo of Afghan National Army general taken by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu, courtesy of defenseimagery.mil

The discussion of American troop numbers misunderstands the subtle nuances of fighting a war in areas inhabited by fiercely independent Pashtun tribes, whose culture and traditions are under severe threat from the Taliban, writes Seth Jones.

Integrating Civilian Agencies in Stability Operations — Sep. 25, 2009

military member and NGO rep review map

RAND Arroyo Center examined the question of how the Army can help make key civilian agencies more capable partners in stability, security, transition, and reconstruction operations. Even without much action at the national level, the Army can still improve civilian participation in these activities.

Barriers to the Broad Dissemination of Creative Works in the Arab World — Sep. 22, 2009

Arab woman reads at a bookstore

Many analysts have examined the media that violent extremists use to communicate their core messages. Far less research, however, has been devoted to the growing body of creative works produced by Arab authors and artists that counter the intellectual and ideological underpinnings of violent extremism.

The Right Move in Europe: Improved Opportunities with NATO, Russia — Sep. 22, 2009

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer meets with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, October 2006, photo courtesy of www.nato-russia-council.info

Obama's decision to alter course on missile defense was the right choice. Those who call it a capitulation to Russia are wrong, and it plays into Russia's hands to portray the decision in that manner. But the change of course will have to be complemented with more appropriate initiatives, writes Christopher S. Chivvis.

China's International Behavior: Activism, Opportunism, and Diversification — Aug. 27, 2009

Chinese flag superimposed over globe

China is a global actor of significant and growing importance, now integrated into the international system and altering that system's dynamics. The complexity of China's ever-changing global activism raises questions about its intentions and the implications for global stability and prosperity.

How Russia Can and Can't Help Obama — Aug. 26, 2009

U.S. President Obama and Russian President Medvedev sign documents on nuclear arms reduction July 2009, photo courtesy of Whitehouse.gov/Kennedy

In hindsight, KGB analysts and Soviet officials were extraordinarily prescient about the perils of Islamist terrorism and the fallout from the Afghan jihad. But could Russia, for all its faults and foibles, be a more valuable counterterrorism partner today, asks Brian Michael Jenkins.

Going Local: The Key to Afghanistan — Aug. 8, 2009

U.S. Army soldier and interpreter talk to Afghani village elders, photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Thompson

The rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan is now President Barack Obama's war, one he pledged to win during his election campaign. One of the biggest problems, however, is that since late 2001, the United States has crafted its Afghanistan strategy on a fatally flawed assumption, writes Seth Jones.

World Economic Recession Unlikely to Have Lasting Geopolitical Consequences — Jul. 30, 2009

Global Network

Will the current global economic recession have long-term geopolitical implications? Assuming that economic recovery begins in the first half of 2010, lasting structural alterations in the international system — a substantial change in U.S.-China relations, for example — are unlikely. This is because economic performance is only one of many geopolitical elements that shape countries' strategic intent and core external policies.

The Phoenix Program and Contemporary Counterinsurgency — Jul. 22, 2009

guarded Viet Cong captive, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have re-focused attention on past U.S. counterinsurgency operations like the Phoenix Program, aimed at dismantling the Viet Cong underground during the Vietnam War. This study helps balance claims about the program's effectiveness against charges of its brutality and its political costs.

In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan — Jul. 14, 2009

abandoned Russian tank in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of USAF/Sturkol

Longtime Afghanistan expert Seth G. Jones harnesses important new historical research, thousands of declassified government documents, and interviews with prominent figures to reveal how the siphoning of resources to Iraq left Afghanistan vulnerable to a "war of a thousand cuts." He argues for a radically new approach.

Mullah Sprung from Gitmo Jail Now Leads Foe in Afghan Campaign — Jul. 5, 2009

U.S. and Afghan Army commanders meet, photo courtesy of U.S. Navy/Gay

As Marine Corps forces roll into southern Afghanistan, they face an enemy familiar to US officials — Mullah Zakir, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who now leads a reconstituted Taliban, writes Seth G. Jones.

Can Gitmo's Terrorists Be Rehabilitated? — Jun. 29, 2009

back of Guantanamo detainee being escorted, photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Baltz

Before he closes Guantánamo, Obama must take a clear-eyed look at the record – and anticipate the next chapter of the fight against terrorism. What happens to terrorist suspects after they leave the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, asks Aidan Kirby Winn.

Reconstruction Under Fire: Unifying Civil and Military Counterinsurgency — Jun. 17, 2009

Muslim woman gets blood pressure taken by another amid U.S. military

Effective civilian reconstruction work can help convince people to support their government against insurgency, Therefore, insurgents typically target such work, thereby threatening the civilian population. This too often results in a postponement of reconstruction efforts and/or excessive reliance on force to defeat insurgents.

The Long March: Building an Afghan National Army — Jun. 2, 2009

soldiers walk in line through Afghan countryside

The Afghan National Army (ANA) is critical to the success of achieving a stable Afghanistan. This monograph assesses the ANA's progress and finds that though it has come a long way since the outset of the recent conflict in the country, the United States will play a crucial role in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future.

Dangerous But Not Omnipotent: Exploring the Reach and Limitations of Iranian Power in the Middle East — May 19, 2009

cover of MG-781

Iran's rise as a regional power presents a key foreign policy and security challenge to the United States, but its reach may be more limited than Western conventional wisdom suggests. U.S. strategy should work to exploit existing barriers to Iran's harmful activities, while simultaneously seeking areas of engagement.

Countering the Military's Latest Fad: Counterinsurgency — May 17, 2009

Army Maj. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal briefs reporters in 2003, photo courtesy of DefenseLINK/Stikkel

When Defense Secretary Gates announced that he was dismissing Gen. McKiernan as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan and replacing him with Lt. Gen. McChrystal, he signaled his support for an intellectual movement that in a few short years has come to dominate military thinking in Washington, writes Celeste Ward.

The U.S. and India Need to Work Together to Prepare for an Increasingly Chaotic Pakistan — May 12, 2009

pictures from the flag off ceremony at the india pakistan border at sunset, wagah, near amritsar, 2000, photo courtesy of flickr/radicaleye

For every good reason, the Obama Administration is devoting enormous thought to Pakistan. In my judgment, the evolving situation in Pakistan is potentially the most dangerous international situation since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, writes Robert D. Blackwill.

NATO After the Summit: Rebuilding Consensus — May 6, 2009

A display of flags outside the Nato Summit in Strasbourg, 4 April 2009, photo courtesy of flickr/Downing Street

In testimony presented before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on European Affairs, Robert E. Hunter sets forth the need for a revised transatlantic compact with engagement beyond Europe's borders, efforts to reinvigorate the NATO-Russia Council, and the development of non-military activities.

Justification and Options for Creating A U.S. Stability Police Force — May 4, 2009

man with rifle in police truck

Establishing security is the sine qua non of stability operations, since it is a prerequisite for reconstruction and development. Security requires a mix of military and police forces to deal with a range of threats from insurgents to criminal organizations. This research examines the creation of a high-end police force, which the authors call a Stability Police Force.

Leaving the Nest — Apr. 17, 2009

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates during the Southeastern European Defense Ministerial in Ohrid, Macedonia, Oct. 8, 2008, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/morrison

In the wake of President Obama's recent European trip, hopes for a rejuvenation of transatlantic security cooperation continue to rise. This means resolving some old problems and avoiding new pitfalls, writes Christopher S. Chivvis.

Obama's Turkish Dilemma — Apr. 6, 2009

depiction of Turkish/Armenia reconciliation, photo courtesy of EAFJD.eu

President Obama's visit to Ankara this week highlights Turkey's growing strategic importance to the United States - and a high stakes dilemma for the President and for U.S. strategic interests, writes F. Stephen Larrabee.

Ways to Improve U.S. Stability and Reconstruction Missions Are Outlined — Apr. 3, 2009

cover of MG852

Recent stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq have underlined the need for the United States to shift the burden of these operations away from the Defense Department and onto other government agencies better suited to the work.

Afghanistan Is NATO's Most Important Challenge — Apr. 3, 2009

U.S. President Obama and England PM Brown confer at NATO Summit, photo courtesy of Downing Street

NATO has a useful future. But it will require bridging the gap in perceptions between the U.S. and most of the European allies about what is important for security and what to do about it. Both sides have to start seeing the other's interests and concerns; and the time to make those commitments is at the NATO summit, writes Robert E. Hunter.

U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan — Apr. 2, 2009

u.s. soldier and afghan villager shaking hands, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Chasse

In testimony presented before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, Seth G. Jones asserts that a key challenge to bringing about the end of the Afghan insurgency lies in implementing the new U.S. strategy.

The Torture Debate, Redux — Apr. 1, 2009

U.S. soldiers with captured suspected Iraqi terrorists, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Moses

Former Vice President Cheney has been insisting again that the coercive interrogation techniques used against terrorism detainees after 9/11 prevented attacks on the United States.... His assertions merit more careful examination, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan — Mar. 26, 2009

U.S. soldier and Afghani police office map out security, photo courtesy of defenseimagery.mil/Chasse

In testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs former Ambassador to Afghanistan James Dobbins outlines the steps the Obama administration should take to secure the nation as the situation there worsens.

Ultimate Exit Strategy — Mar. 26, 2009

Afghan policeman at Pakistan border checkpoint, photo courtesy of flickr/lafrancevi

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has described the upcoming high-level conference on Afghanistan at The Hague as a "big-tent meeting, with all the parties who have a stake and an interest in Afghanistan." With the situation in that country growing more precarious by the day, those attending this meeting must also think big, write Karl F. Inderfurth and James Dobbins.

Assessing Combat Exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Troops and Estimating the Costs to Society — Mar. 24, 2009

soldiers in shadow

In testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Teri Tanielian discusses the implications from the 2008 RAND study, "Invisible Wounds of War."

Context and Implications of the Recent Mumbai Attack: Militant Groups in Pakistan — Mar. 11, 2009

Home Guard guiding traffic with the Mumbai Police, photo courtesy of flickr/calamur

In testimony presented before the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, C. Christine Fair discusses antecedents and implications of the November 2008 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) attack upon several targets in the Indian mega-city of Mumbai.

U.S.-NATO Immersion Course — Mar. 10, 2009

Vice President Joe Biden, photo courtesy of flickr/Center for American Progress Action Fund

At a major conference in Munich last month, Vice President Joseph Biden underscored the U.S. determination to rebuild strong and productive relations with its European allies. No issue matters more than Afghanistan, writes Robert E. Hunter.

Wanted Dead or Alive? When We Don't Get Our Man — Mar. 3, 2009

image from TV broadcast of Osama bin Laden, photo courtsey of Flickr/KarlMarx

On his first day in office, President Barack Obama issued a dramatic series of executive orders intended to symbolize a change of direction in America's "war" on terrorism. Despite the headlines these orders generated, a more significant policy shift may have been the one signaled the week before his inauguration, writes Benjamin Runkle.

Power to the People: Rebooting Conventional Diplomacy — Feb. 27, 2009

teen boy gives peace sign

The story of how President Obama engineered a grass-roots campaign, mobilizing formerly disengaged U.S. citizens with new media and new technologies, has reached almost mythological proportions. Less well known is the story of similar grass-roots efforts emerging in local communities around the world, write Cherl Benard and Edward O'Connell.

Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan — Feb. 26, 2009

troops in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Casteel

In testimony presented before the Senate Armed Services Committee, James Dobbins suggests steps the new Administration and its allies should consider in reviewing Afghan policy.

In Afghanistan, It's Deadly at the Top — Feb. 23, 2009

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, photo courtesy of Flickr/KarlMarx

Rather than perpetuating a love-hate-kill relationship with their leaders, Afghans need to develop respect for the laws and institutions of their new democracy, writes Cheryl Benard.

A Trans-Atlantic Moment — Feb. 22, 2009

NATO Response Force, photo courtesy of Flickr/MATEUS_27:24&25

The election of Barack Obama provides an important opportunity to revitalize the trans-Atlantic security partnership. This partnership has served both sides well in the past. But after eight years of deep ideological differences during the Bush administration, it is badly frayed and in need of new leadership and new vision, write F. Stephen Larrabee and Julian Lindley-French.

U.S. Army Guidebook on Using Economic Development to Support Stability Operations — Feb. 21, 2009

soldier plays with Afghan children, photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force/Ricardo

This guidebook instructs U.S. Army personnel on how to better use various economic assistance programs and projects to support economic and infrastructure development in the course of their operations. Suggestions efforts include the realms of humanitarian assistance, agriculture, natural resource management, and private sector activity.

Two RAND Researchers in the News for USIP Report on Afghanistan Security Weaknesses — Feb. 17, 2009

U.S. Sgt and Royal Danish soldier march in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of Army/Pullen

C. Christine Fair and Seth G. Jones are in the news for Securing Afghanistan, a report they've written for the United States Institute of Peace on weaknesses in the Afghan security environment. The authors largely attribute failed efforts to stabilize the country to a lack of oversight of international aid programs at work there.

Obama's Foreign Policy Team and U.S.-Korean Relations — Feb. 16, 2009

North Korean officer, photo courtesy of Flickr/yeowatzup

The concrete contours of President Obama's foreign policy team have finally begun to emerge. What is intriguing is how many assignments are being given to those who have worked on the Korean peninsula, writes Chaibong Hahm.

Going the Distance — Feb. 15, 2009

soldiers in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Abney

Afghanistan has a reputation as a graveyard of empires, based as much on lore as on reality.... Yes, the situation is serious, but it's far from doomed. We can still turn things around if we strive for a better understanding of the Afghan insurgency and work to exploit its many weaknesses, writes Seth G. Jones.

Family Readiness and Coping During Deployments Key Issues for National Guard and Reserve — Feb. 11, 2009

soldiers say goodbye to wives

As the U.S. military continues to rely on the National Guard and Reserve for overseas deployments, making sure their families are adequately prepared for those missions is critical.

Afghanistan's Growing Security Challenge — Jan. 27, 2009

soldier with Afghan villagers, photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Hall

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?

The Secret Briefing Obama Needs on Day One — Jan. 22, 2009

locked briefcase

A select few Americans will ever see the president's daily brief -- a digest of the intelligence community's most closely guarded secrets. But trust me, Barack Obama is going to need much more useful information than he is getting now, writes Gregory F. Treverton.

Unfolding the Future of the Long War: Implications for the U.S. Military — Jan. 19, 2009

black hoods and tools hang on wall

While policymakers, military leaders, and scholars have offered numerous definitions of the "long war" - an epic struggle against adversaries bent on forming a unified Islamic world to supplant western dominance; an extension of the war on terror - no consensus has been reached about this term or its implications for the United States.

How the U.S. Government Can Strategically Reach Policy Goals, Using the Example of Counterterrorism — Jan. 12, 2009

security exercises in Guantanamo Bay, photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Williams

While the United States government has historically undertaken strategic reviews and produced numerous strategy documents, these have provided only very general directions for U.S. policymakers. This paper defines an approach to strategic planning and illustrates its application using the example of the critical national security topic of counterterrorism.

India, Pakistan Must Confront Threat of More Violence — Dec. 9, 2008

Indian security guard, photo courtesy of Flickr/ayaschok

As the last Mumbai sites were being cleared of terrorists, grim signs emerged of the challenges that face India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, beginning to know what the Mumbai attack was -- and what it was not -- only augurs more violence for India. At least three factors are at play, writes Christine Fair.

Mumbai's Terrifying Logic — Dec. 9, 2008

Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai

We tend to describe terrorism as senseless violence, but it seldom is. If we look at the attacks from the attackers' perspective, we can discern a certain strategic logic, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

The Backlash Against Terror — Dec. 8, 2008

Muslim woman and child, India

The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, are part of a disturbing trend across the Muslim world of groups that target civilians in the name of Islam. Less visible to Western eyes, but potentially just as significant, is a growing backlash among Muslims who condemn such attacks as unethical, writes Seth Jones.

Explaining the Increase in Unemployment Compensation for Veterans During the Global War on Terror — Nov. 26, 2008

veteran ceremony, photo courtesy of Air Force/Moore

The Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) program provides income assistance to unemployed veterans as they search for work, a number that increased by about 75 percent between 2002 and 2004, raising concerns that veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are having difficulty finding civilian jobs.

For 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, Retirement Revisions Recommended — Nov. 13, 2008

troops at dusk

As military compensation is a fundamental tool for recruiting and retaining an all-volunteer force, it is reviewed every four years to make sure it can meet the U.S. military's objectives. This research examines the value and effectiveness of the current retirement system and possible alternatives, drawing on military personnel career data.

Talk to the Taliban? Not Now — Nov. 11, 2008

a Taliban captured by soldiers in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of Army/J. Wagner

As new U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus got a firsthand look at the worsening security situation in Afghanistan last week, he heard from some U.S., British and Afghan officials that the best way forward is to engage in peace talks with the Taliban. Such talks have already even tentatively begun. This is a bad idea.

In the Middle of the Fight: An Assessment of Medium-Armored Forces in Past Military Operations — Nov. 11, 2008

Stryker vehicle in Iraq, photo courtesy of Army/Foster

This monograph presents a qualitative assessment of the performance of medium-armored forces in 13 past conflicts that span the range of military operations. The accompanying analysis is designed to help inform U.S. Army decisions about fielding medium-armored forces in the future. The case histories yielded three major insights.

Know Your Enemy: From Iraq to Afghanistan — Nov. 9, 2008

U.S. soldiers walk through Afghan poppy fields, photo courtesy of Army/SSG K. Davis

As debate continues about how to fight a resurgent Al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan and along the Pakistan border, leaders in Washington, Kabul and Islamabad seem lost about what to do next.... And most experts agree that an Al Qaeda-orchestrated attack on the U.S. homeland would likely be plotted from their sanctuary in these border areas, write Benjamin Bahney and Renny McPherson.

Lessons from Six Decades of Research on Deterrence, From Cold War to Long War — Oct. 30, 2008

soldier hangs u.s. flag on Saddam Hussein statue

The United States' 2006 reversal of its 2002 proclamation that deterrence was irrelevant to most future national security strategies is bolstered by research which shows that deterrence will likely play an ongoing role in U.S. efforts to manage a variety of threats, including both near-peer competitors and terrorist organizations.

New Book Provides Unique View Into Mind of Fanatical Jihadists — Oct. 15, 2008

masked terrorist

David Aaron, a veteran U.S. diplomat and director of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy, has compiled a wide range of writings by Islamic terrorists that offer an unusual window into their mentality. The book, "In Their Own Words: Voices of Jihad," is a virtual encyclopedia of jihadist rhetoric written by the terrorists themselves.

Changes Needed in Way the United States Conducts Military Interventions — Oct. 2, 2008

U.S. troops at capitol building

In preparing for possible future military interventions, the United States needs to shift substantial resources to the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development, and military-civilian efforts must be integrated from top to bottom.

War's Invisible Wounds: Our Veterans Are Not Getting the Care They Need, Deserve — Sep. 28, 2008

Soldier hugging family member

Nearly 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan service veterans who have returned home -- about one in five -- may suffer from combat-stress-related mental health problems. Our veterans ought to get the best available treatments our nation can offer, but they don't, write authors Terry Schell, Terri Tanielian and Lisa Jaycox.

Army Can Boost Mission Success by Better Managing Environmental Considerations — Sep. 23, 2008

Green warriors

By better managing environmental issues during deployments, U.S. Army units can gain tactical and strategic advantages that will help in combat and post-conflict operations, and boost overall mission success.

A President's Early Foreign Policy, National Security Success Depends on Transition — Sep. 8, 2008

President George W. Bush

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.

Ambassador James Dobbins Recounts U.S. Diplomatic Efforts, Failure in Afghanistan — Aug. 18, 2008

U.S. Marine with Aghani children, photo courtesy U.S. Marines

James Dobbins' memoir of his ambassadorship in war-torn Afghanistan, where he was sent to help the Afghans assemble a successor government to the Taliban, yields insights into how government and diplomacy really work, and explains why the United States has failed to stabilize either Afghanistan or Iraq.

DoD Should Consider Nonmilitary Means to Advance U.S. National Security Interests — Aug. 13, 2008

MG-707 cover

The nature of recent challenges and the types of missions the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has undertaken highlight the need for training DoD personnel in the simultaneous use of different types of tools, military and otherwise.

Flexibility and Sensitivity to Local Concerns Are Crucial to Long-Term U.S. Security Relationships with Iraq and Afghanistan — Aug. 1, 2008

soldiers meet with Afghani elders, photo courtesy of Air Force

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.

Testimony on America's Need of a New Grand Strategy, Shift in National Security Policy — Jul. 15, 2008

Cheney at podium before troops, courtesy of U.S. Army and Spc. Sam P. Dillon

The unanticipated costs and unpredictable outcomes of the War on Terror necessitate a reevaluation of national security strategy, including a shift away from policies of preemption and democratization and towards nation-building with its consequent need for a rebalancing of political and military power.

How to Save Karzai — Jul. 15, 2008

Image Courtesy of Flickr

The United States and other NATO countries should stop undermining Hamid Karzai now, shore up support for him as the democratically elected president of Afghanistan, and help him show progress, writes Seth G. Jones.

Shortcomings in Planning for Post-Combat Period in Iraq — Jun. 30, 2008

three soldiers in urban warfare training

Efforts to adequately plan for the post-combat period in Iraq were thwarted by overly optimistic views held by top civilian leaders and a belief among military leaders that civilian authorities would be responsible for postwar operations.

U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan Will Fail If Taliban Not Routed from Pakistan — Jun. 9, 2008

Army soldier rifle taliban stronghold afghanistan

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.

U.S. Military Prone to Operations Not in Accord with COIN Doctrine — Jun. 4, 2008

soldiers battle iraq insurgency by Stacy L. Pearsall USAF

Similarities between the Vietnam War and current Middle East operations reveal our military is apt to engage in traditional warfare despite the more nuanced tactics called for by counter-insurgency doctrine.

Afghanistan: From Chaos and Corruption to Sustainable Success — May 23, 2008

stabilize afghanistan

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.

Give Them Sabbaticals — May 7, 2008

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

In academia and, increasingly, corporate America, sabbaticals are a time-honored way to step aside from the daily grind and intellectually reboot. The U.S. Army should embrace something similar, writes Laura Miller.

Afghan Progress Spotty but Hopeful — Apr. 29, 2008

Afghanistan reconstruction, photo courtesy U.S. Air Force

As NATO's role in Afghanistan was debated in Bucharest recently, the bad headlines continued rolling in. And yet, on the ground, there is equally compelling evidence that the efforts of the international community are making a difference, write Obaid Younossi and Peter Dahl Thruelsen.

One In Five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Suffer from PTSD or Major Depression — Apr. 17, 2008

soldiers in shadow

Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment.

America is Making a Difference in Eastern Afghanistan — Apr. 1, 2008

U.S. soldier and Afghani working on building, photo courtesy U.S. Army

[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.

Developing U.S. Civilian Personnel Capabilities in State-Building Operations — Mar. 19, 2008

Civilian staffing in reconstruction effort

Recent U.S. experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq have shown that engaging in stability and reconstruction operations is a difficult and lengthy process that requires appropriate resources. A framework for improving U.S. civilian personnel and staffing programs for state-building efforts could help.

Women and Nation-Building — Feb. 27, 2008

Women and nation-building

Women's participation in post-conflict nation-building is an important ingredient in achieving an equitable, peaceful and more prosperous society. Leaders should include women in the earliest economic reconstruction activities.

Why We Need to Nail Osama — Feb. 27, 2008

osama bin laden

[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.

Addressing the Security Problems Posed by Ungoverned Territories — Feb. 14, 2008

Jungle

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.

International Perspectives on Interagency Reform — Jan. 30, 2008

Soldier giving child injection, photo courtesy of www.definselink.mil

In testimony presented before the Armed Services Committee, Nora Bensahel discusses the lack of civilian capacity in stability and nation building operations, which has led to an overreliance on military forces.

The State of the Afghan Insurgency — Dec. 10, 2007

Soldiers and police inspecting an IED, photo courtesy U.S. Navy

In testimony presented before the Canadian Senate National Security and Defence Committee, Seth G. Jones discusses the increasingly violent insurgency that threatens Afghanistan, the challenges its government faces, and the strategic importance of Afghanistan to the national security of NATO countries.

Improving Army Doctrine and Planning for Stability Operations — Nov. 26, 2007

Army stability operation, photo courtesy U.S. Army

The U.S. Army has put much effort into revising the approach to planning and implementing Stabilization, Security, Transition, and Reconstruction operations to ensure a common U.S. strategy. However, some elements essential to the success of the process are not yet in place.

Army Resource Gaps Can Be Filled by Building Partner Capabilities — Nov. 6, 2007

Coalition flags

Ongoing operations and emerging mission requirements place a heavy burden on U.S. Army resources, resulting in capability gaps that the Army might fill by building appropriate capabilities in allies and partner armies through focused security cooperation.

Women and Human Security: The Case of Post Conflict Afghanistan — Oct. 27, 2007

Improvements to the outcomes of post-conflict nation-building can be made through a stronger emphasis on the broader concept of human security from the earliest phases of the nation-building effort; a focus on establishing governance on the principles of equity and consistent rule of law from the start; and women's earliest inclusion in reconstruction.

The Right Way to Withdraw — Oct. 14, 2007

Iraqi girl receiving aid from U.S. soldier, photo courtesy U.S. Army

Had we not invaded Iraq, there are any number of better things we could do to fight terror with the billions the administration plans to spend in Iraq this year. [But w]e're involved too deeply in Iraq and Afghanistan to exit suddenly without fixing our mess, writes James Dobbins.

Regaining Information Superiority Against 21st-Century Insurgents — Sep. 27, 2007

Insurgent on cell phone

U.S. counterinsurgency efforts need to exploit information power by connecting with and learning from the population itself to increase the effectiveness of both the indigenous government and the U.S. military and civilian services that support it.

RAND Review, Summer 2007: Afghanistan on the Edge — Sep. 12, 2007

View of bombed Afghanistan city

The Summer 2007 issue of RAND Review discusses Afghanistan, a world at risk of winning the urban battle, losing the rural war, abandoning the regional solution.

U.S. Military Should Adopt Marketing Strategies to Reach Iraqi, Afghan Civilians — Jul. 17, 2007

Madison Avenue street sign

Adopting successful business marketing practices, such as branding and monitoring customer satisfaction, could help the U.S. military get more support from the local populations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Insights on Joint Urban Operations from Afghanistan and Iraq — May 25, 2007

U.S. soldier in Tal Afar, photo courtesy U.S. Army by Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Bailey

Today's strategic environment implies an obligation to preserve innocent life when possible and to rebuild that which war destroys. Various tools can help better enable military and civilian alike to meet these objectives by more effectively conducting urban combat and restoration.

Afghanistan: Why Canada Should Stay — May 7, 2007

Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of the DoD, by Staff Sgt. Robert Hyatt

There is a growing movement in Canada to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, illustrated by such newspaper headlines as: "Is it time to go?" and "Canada must leave Afghanistan." Such a move would be a tragic mistake, writes Seth G. Jones.

Stay Informed Subscribe to RSS Feeds Search RAND Publications View Cart