National Security: Documents Available Online
For more information on current research projects, please visit the National Security Research Area. The documents below are alphabetized by title.
2008
Afghanistan: State and Society, Great Power Politics, and the Way Ahead: Findings from an International Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2007
Compiles papers presented at an international conference on the problems that Afghanistan faces in the wake of the U.S.-led attack on al Qaeda and the Taliban; the obstacles to nation-building in the country; and possible solutions to these issues.
After Saddam: Prewar Planning and the Occupation of Iraq
Examines prewar planning efforts for postwar Iraq, the role of U.S. military forces after the end of major combat, and civilian efforts at reconstruction.
After the Taliban: Nation-Building in Afghanistan
As the Bush administration's first special envoy to Afghanistan, Ambassador Dobbins helped the Afghans assemble a successor government to the Taliban. His memoir explains why the United States has failed to stabilize either Afghanistan or Iraq.
After the War: Nation-Building from FDR to George W. Bush
This volume assesses the impact of U.S. presidential decisionmaking style and administrative structure on nation-building, from the post--World War II era through the Cold War, post--Cold War era, and current war on terrorism.
Aircraft Carrier Maintenance Cycles and Their Effects
This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of the feasibility of different cycle lengths and their effect on the operational availability of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. The authors also examine cycle length impact on shipyard workloads.
Allocation of Forces, Fires, and Effects Using Genetic Algorithms
Using information about friendly and enemy forces and the terrain, a RAND-developed model that incorporates a genetic algorithm (1) determines preferred Blue routes around Red forces and (2) allocates forces to these routes.
Analysis of Strategy and Strategies of Analysis
In a fluid global security environment such as ours, assessing the costs, risks, and likely consequences of alternative national defense strategies is as hard as it is essential.
Analytic Support to Intelligence in Counterinsurgencies
Examines the nature of the contemporary insurgent threat and provides insights on using operational analysis techniques to support intelligence operations in counterinsurgencies.
Analyzing Contingency Contracting Purchases for Operation Iraqi Freedom (Unrestricted Version)
This study examines U.S. Air Force in-theater contingency purchases made in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during fiscal years 2003 and 2004 and develops a custom database to assist in analysis of demand and future decisionmaking.
An Argument for Documenting Casualties: Violence Against Iraqi Civilians 2006
The authors examine available open-source data on Iraqi civilian fatalities and assess problems associated with previous collection efforts. They present a more robust dataset and propose a framework for future data gathering in Iraq and beyond.
The Army's Green Warriors: Environmental Considerations in Contingency Operations
This research brief describes the growing importance of environmental considerations for the Army in contingency operations and suggests ways to better address environmental issues in Army planning, training, policy, guidance, and operations.
Asia, America, and the Transformation of Geopolitics
Post-Cold War Asia is increasingly unstable due to changes in relationships among the major countries, risks to the globalization process that underlay U.S. Cold War successes, and failure so far of U.S. strategies to adapt to the new environment.
Assessing Compensation Reform: Research in Support of the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation
To inform the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, this monograph presents the results of estimation and simulations of a model designed to assess the U.S. military's current retirement-benefit system and several policy alternatives.
Assessing the Tradecraft of Intelligence Analysis
This report assesses the tradecraft of intelligence analysis across the main U.S. intelligence agencies and makes recommendations for getting and keeping the people intelligence needs and giving analysts the tools to do better work.
Breaking the Failed-State Cycle
This paper aims to improve the understanding and treatment of failed states by focusing on critical challenges at the intersections between security, economics, and politics and on the guiding goal of empowering local populations.
Caution Nation-Builders: Gender Assumptions Ahead
Drawing the female population into the nation-building process will be good for a country's post-conflict progress and stability.
The Challenge of Nuclear-Armed Regional Adversaries
Deterring nuclear use by regional adversaries such as North Korea could be problematic in some situations. This book examines the strategic and force planning implications of this shift in the international security environment.
The Challenges of Trying Terrorists as Criminals: Proceedings of a RAND/SAIS Colloquium
When charges of terrorism are made against an individual, courts must strive to balance the rights of the accused, on the one hand, and national security, on the other, while avoiding any appearance of departure from open justice.
A Common Operating Picture for Air Force Materiel Sustainment
Describes a common operating picture for the Air Force materiel sustainment system that, if implemented, would make the system more efficient and more responsive to changing operational needs.
Conducting Counterinsurgency Operations: Lessons from Iraq (2003-2006)
This research brief examines U.S. counterinsurgency operations in Iraq from 2003 to 2006, including U.S. failure to protect Iraqi civilians; implications for future conflicts; and recommends steps to improve U.S. counterinsurgency capabilities.
Considering a Cadre Augmented Army
Analyzes the attractiveness and feasibility of integrating a new type of unit into the Army from three perspectives: budgetary, operational, and historical.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of the 2006 Air Force Materiel Command Test and Evaluation Proposal
The Air Force proposal to consolidate and divest a portion of Eglin Air Force Base's test and evaluation capabilities has both financial merits and risks that the Air Force should address.
Countering Insurgency in the Muslim World: Rethinking U.S. Priorities and Capabilities
This research brief summarizes a RAND report that analyzes insurgencies such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq and calls for a major shift in investment priorities to give the United States the capabilities it needs for effective counterinsurgency.
Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan: RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Volume 4
An examination of the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan illustrates that successful counterinsurgency requires effective indigenous security forces, especially police; a viable local government; and the suppression of external support for insurgents.
Counterinsurgency in Iraq (2003-2006): RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Volume 2
Implications of failure to protect local populations in counterinsurgency (COIN) operations, overreliance on technology, and lack of a coherent COIN approach, along with strategic considerations in and recommendations to improve U.S. COIN capability.
Dangerous Thresholds: Managing Escalation in the 21st Century
This analysis of escalation dynamics and approaches to escalation management draws on a range of historical examples from World War I through Somalia in the early 1990s to inform escalation-related decisionmaking.
The Defense Acquisition Workforce: An Analysis of Personnel Trends Relevant to Policy, 1993-2006
Summarizes defense acquisition workforce analyses that RAND has undertaken in support of human capital strategic planning.
Department of Defense Training for Operations with Interagency, Multinational, and Coalition Partners
"Integrated operations" require the U.S. military to work with other government agencies, organizations, and foreign militaries. Current headquarter-staff training needs to be revamped to focus on high-priority tasks.
Deterrence -- From Cold War to Long War: Lessons from Six Decades of RAND Research
This book examines six decades of RAND Corporation research on deterrence for lessons relevant to the current and future strategic environments.
Developing Resource-Informed Strategic Assessments and Recommendations
A portfolio-analysis approach that deals explicitly with both uncertainty and differences of strategic perspective allows an integrated comparison of alternative strategies' effectiveness, risks, and resource implications.
Developing Senior Navy Leaders: Requirements for Flag Officer Expertise Today and in the Future
Identifies the expertise requirements of senior Navy leadership positions, as well as the types of experience likely to become more important in the future, to better understand how the Navy should develop its officers.
Doctrine of Eternal Recurrence -- The U.S. Military and Counterinsurgency Doctrine, 1960-1970 and 2003-2006: RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Paper 6
This paper tests and ultimately disproves the assumption that doctrine as written and operations as conducted are tightly linked. Ingrained organizational concepts and beliefs have a much greater influence on operations than written doctrine.
Does America Need A New Grand Strategy?
Testimony presented before the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on July 15, 2008.
Does the Military Child Care System Serve Its Purpose?
This research brief summarizes research suggesting that the U.S. Department of Defense may wish to consider expanding its child care benefits to cover more military families and a broader set of child care needs.
The Effect of Personnel Stability on Organizational Performance: Do Battalions with Stable Command Groups Achieve Higher Training Proficiency at the National Training Center?
Tests the assumptions behind the U.S. Army's personnel management system that personnel stability leads to higher unit cohesion, which leads in turn to increased unit effectiveness.
Effectively Sustaining Forces Overseas While Minimizing Supply Chain Costs: Targeted Theater Inventory
Discusses how to design a distribution network that takes advantage of the respective strengths of different modes of transportation to meet combatant command needs while minimizing total supply chain costs.
Effects of Deployments on Spouses of Military Personnel
Examines the effect of military deployment on spousal labor force participation and household well-being.
Enhancing Small-Business Opportunities in the DoD
Examines how federal programs and direct purchase goals affect small business contracting opportunities within the Department of Defense.
Enhancing the Performance of Senior Department of Defense Civilian Executives, Reserve Component General/Flag Officers, and Senior Noncommissioned Officers in Joint Matters
Examines the preparation of reserve component general and flag officers, senior civilians, and senior noncommissioned officers for participation in joint military activities.
Ensuring That Army Infrastructure Meets Strategic Needs
Discusses how changes in U.S. national security strategy are affecting Army infrastructure needs, how well Army installations are adapting to changing strategic requirements, and issues that should be addressed in future infrastructure planning.
Estimating the Benefits of the Air Force Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Initiative
To help the Air Force assess the effectiveness of its purchasing and supply-chain management initiative, the authors have developed an econometric model to help isolate the effects of this initiative from those of other possible influences.
Europe's Role in Nation-Building: From the Balkans to the Congo
This volume compares and contrasts European experiences in nation-building with those of the U.S. and the UN based on six case studies of European-led nation-building missions in Albania, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Côte d'Ivoire, the Congo, and Bosnia.
Evaluating Novel Threats to the Homeland: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Cruise Missiles
For several types of attacks, examines cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles from an adversary's perspective and assesses defensive options to address this and other asymmetric threats.
An Examination of Options to Reduce Underway Training Days Through the Use of Simulation
The U.S. Navy is looking for ways to reduce the annual operating costs of the fleet. RAND examines whether and how an increased use of simulators could reduce costly underway training days for DDG-51-class ships while sustaining readiness.
An Examination of the Relationship Between Usage and Operating and Support Costs for Air Force Aircraft
Examines the relationship between operating and support costs and usage of Air Force aircraft, in order to improve resource allocation.
Explaining the Increase in Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers During the Global War on Terror
Examines the causes of the increase in the number of veterans claiming Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers since 2002.
Feasibility of an Air Liaison Officer Career Field: Improving the Theater Air-Ground System
Air liaison officers (ALOs) are U.S. Air Force officers who provide close air support to U.S. Army units. This investigation of the feasibility of an ALO career field relies on historical sources, interviews, and a personnel flow analysis.
Final Report of the Panel on the Department of Defense Human Capital Strategy
An expert panel's review of the DoD's 2006 human capital strategy, with recommendations for future iterations.
Finding Candidate Options for Investment: From Building Blocks to Composite Options and Preliminary Screening
A methodology and prototype tool, the Building Blocks To Composite Options Tool (BCOT), that identifies investment options for defense capability areas, then uses a screening technique to identify those meriting more-extensive assessment in a fuller portfolio-analysis framework.
Fiscally Informed Total Force Manpower
Presents the results of a short-term review of 27 manpower studies to discover methods that other organizations could use to make ''fiscally informed'' manpower decisions.
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