Post-9/11, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) developed robust vetting procedures to vet refugee applicants, such as assessing applicants’ social media profiles and expanding the review of personal history. Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the DHS has flagged only 44 of over 60,000 Afghan evacuees as potential national security risks and has taken steps to prevent their entry into the United States or initiate removal—demonstrating that vetting protocols are being followed and taken seriously.

SOURCE: "What’s Next? Honoring the Promises to U.S. Allies in Afghanistan Post-withdrawal" by CSIS's Elizabeth Hoffman.

The reliable production and resupply of precision-guided weapons are critical aspects of the U.S. and Australian approaches to deterrence and warfighting. Australia has funded plans to purchase at least $75 billion ($A100 billion) in guided weapons for Australia’s military over the next 20 years. But without new means of production, Australian resupply in times of conflict is vulnerable.

SOURCE: "Five Opportunities for the U.S.-Australia Alliance to Lead" by CSIS's John Schaus and Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Michael Shoebridge.

Over two-thirds of all Cubans on the island receive and rely on remittances from families abroad. However, instead of hard cash, citizens are given electronic dollars, which can only be used at government-owned (GAESA) stores with exorbitant prices. As a result, research shows that for every $1 of remittances sent via Western Union and later spent in GAESA shops, the military gains 74 cents, 61 cents of which comes directly from store sales.

SOURCE: "U.S. Policy on Remittances to Cuba: What Are Some Viable Options?" by CSIS's Dan Runde and Hiromitsu Higashi.

COVAX’s efforts to supply and distribute vaccines to the developing world are essential, but they are insufficient and face various obstacles. Initially, COVAX planned to provide 2 billion doses by the end of 2021. As of September 8, it had only delivered 243 million doses, short of the expected 640 million target planned for this timeframe.

SOURCE: "Beyond COVAX: The Importance of Public-Private Partnerships for Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery to Developing Countries" by CSIS's Conor M. Savoy and Elena Méndez-Leal.