On February 23 Russia launched a war on Ukraine. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and its parliament (Rada) might accelerate steps to ensure the continuity of government, a need made more urgent because of the risk that Kyiv could soon fall. Zelensky may still underestimate dangers. Despite reports that government relocation plans have been discussed with… Continue reading Continuity of Government in Ukraine
Category: Intel
The Digital Skills Gap: What Workers Need for the Jobs of the Future
The COVID-19 pandemic quickened the pace of digital development around the world, as everything from meetings to movie premiers went online. That may sound like a silver lining. For tens of millions of workers, it’s not. They don’t have the skills to compete. They’re the bookkeepers, the data-entry clerks, the executive secretaries, looking for work… Continue reading The Digital Skills Gap: What Workers Need for the Jobs of the Future
State of the Union 2022: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Domestic Policy
Last night, President Joe Biden delivered his first official State of the Union address, rebuking a revanchist Russia days after its invasion of Ukraine, aiming to turn a page on the COVID-19 pandemic, and covering a wide range of important domestic issues facing the United States. To develop effective, evidence-based solutions to these problems, policymakers… Continue reading State of the Union 2022: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Domestic Policy
Ensuring Russia’s War with Ukraine Doesn’t Morph into Direct Conflict with NATO
Russia has launched an unprecedented act of aggression against Ukraine. The United States and its allies must respond forcefully. But as they do, they should take into account the possibility of triggering a spiral of escalation that could lead to the only outcome worse than the invasion of Ukraine itself: a hot war between Russia… Continue reading Ensuring Russia’s War with Ukraine Doesn’t Morph into Direct Conflict with NATO
When the new doesn’t work – try the old – BBC Resurrects Shortwave Radio
It is clear that Russia is pulling out all the stops in their invasion of Ukraine. Traditional and Internet Information sources have been prime targets. In response to the damage done to these information vectors, the BBC is reviving its shortwave radio service in Ukraine and Russia. The March 3, 2022… Continue reading When the new doesn’t work – try the old – BBC Resurrects Shortwave Radio
Complex—but Promising—Prospects as Finland and Sweden Mull NATO Membership
With Russian President Vladimir Putin invading a neighboring non-NATO nation and engaging in nuclear saber rattling, the alliance’s Article 5 mutual-defense guarantee may have gained new appeal for NATO’s two Nordic partners, Finland and Sweden. Indeed, Finnish politicians began debating membership in Helsinki Tuesday, with a new poll showing support for joining the alliance. Both… Continue reading Complex—but Promising—Prospects as Finland and Sweden Mull NATO Membership
Biden’s Rhetoric on Ukraine Has Been Quite Moderate. Here’s What That Means
Russian and U.S. diplomats held multiple meetings last week to discuss the fate of Ukraine—talks that apparently failed to defuse the crisis. The U.S. government warned Friday of potential sabotage operations in Ukraine, a move that might give Moscow a pretext to mobilize some 100,000 Russian troops near the border to cross into Ukraine. Russian… Continue reading Biden’s Rhetoric on Ukraine Has Been Quite Moderate. Here’s What That Means
Ukraine Needs Help Surviving Airstrikes, Not Just Killing Tanks
Much of the Western discussion about helping Ukraine in the face of overwhelming Russian military advantage centers on relatively short-range weapons and tactics meant to enmesh an invasion force in the “next Afghanistan” or a “near certainty of hell”: for example, providing more Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and weaponized drones; or training Ukrainian… Continue reading Ukraine Needs Help Surviving Airstrikes, Not Just Killing Tanks
U.S.-Russia Diplomacy, Citizen Science, America’s Blood Supply: RAND Weekly Recap
This week, we discuss U.S.-Russia diplomacy in the context of the Ukraine crisis; how citizen science can help communities become safer and stronger; protecting the U.S. blood supply from future shocks; how the pandemic affected military recruitment and retention; U.S. capacity-building efforts in Africa; and new “visual essays” that show why people might join—and later… Continue reading U.S.-Russia Diplomacy, Citizen Science, America’s Blood Supply: RAND Weekly Recap
U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine: A Silver Bullet?
With Russian forces massed on Ukraine’s borders, the policy discussion in Washington increasingly has focused on what the United States can do to help its Ukrainian partners defend their country. Just this week, the Biden administration has approved deliveries of U.S.-made Stinger shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles to Kyiv, in addition to upping provision of other military… Continue reading U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine: A Silver Bullet?