Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Dec. 10, 2024
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The U.S. Isn’t Ready for the Axis of Adversaries
Military ties between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are deepening. According to RAND's Raphael Cohen, this should change how the United States and its allies approach national security.
As U.S. adversaries grow closer, the likelihood increases that any conflict in one region could spread to others. Cohen argues that this may render some bedrock assumptions in recent national defense strategies "outdated, if not outright wrong." A key first step to addressing this challenge is to acknowledge the possibility that the United States may need to fight more than one adversary in more than one theater simultaneously.
However, the United States won't be able to confront the axis of adversaries alone, Cohen says. "Providing for U.S. security and prosperity will be far cheaper and more effective if Washington can draw on the combined strength of its global network of allies and partners."
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Evaluating Great Lakes Oil Spill Response Capabilities
The Great Lakes, which cover more than 95,000 square miles across the United States and Canada, are a hub of commercial and recreational activity and a major source of fresh water for both countries. Although oil spills are less frequent in this region than in other U.S. coastal locations, planning for spills is essential. A new RAND study looks at the risk of oil spills in the Great Lakes region and assesses current U.S. response capabilities. The findings suggest that the Coast Guard and private organizations are very well positioned to respond to spills in most Great Lakes locations. However, better communication, information-sharing, and public education can improve oil spill response procedures.
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Countering China's Maritime Gray Zone Operations
In an effort to take control of large portions of the South China Sea, China uses "gray zone" tactics such as maritime aggression, cyber operations, economic coercion, and online propaganda. (Beijing views these actions as a continuation of politics and purposefully designs them to remain below the threshold of war.) A new RAND report identifies ways the United States can counter and deter such operations. These include proactively releasing intelligence to publicize China's aggressive behavior, building the capacity of U.S. military partners in Southeast Asia, and potentially employing non-lethal weapons.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Following the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the weekend, Russia's military presence in Syria is in question. RAND's Ann Marie Dailey discusses in Business Insider.
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- How was telehealth used before, during, and after the pandemic? What are the effects of telehealth use on care quality, access, and equity? Recent RAND research explores these questions and more.
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- A team of RAND experts created AI tools that can help the U.S. Space Force identify and track objects in orbit and warn about possible collisions.
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** Events
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Policy Lab: AI and the Future of Work
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 (Online)
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The RAND/USC OPTIC Method for Policy Expert Ratings
Friday, December 13, 2024 (Online)
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** The Rise of AI: Insights from RAND Experts
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AI tools are evolving quickly, and decisionmakers are grappling with how to maximize the potential benefits and minimize the risks. Insights from RAND can help. Our researchers have been studying how AI will affect national security, the economy, health care, and much more.
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