Crooked Bough News Round-up

— The Global Movement Against China's Economic Coercion Is Accelerating

 

at 6/9/23 7:31pm

There is much the West can do to push back against Chinese economic pressure, and many reasons to do so. Doing so is a core interest of the United States, which now places itself in competition with China over the shape of the international order.

[Author: Bryan Frederick; Howard J. Shatz]

— Your Health Insurance May Not Be As Good As Your State Requires—and It's Perfectly Legal

 

at 6/9/23 6:35pm

Massachusetts has a law to ensure ease of access to birth control pills, saying there should be no copays and women can fill a 12-month prescription at once. Infertility care has similar protections. But many health plans don't have to comply with state laws because they are “self-insured.”

[Author: Shira H. Fischer]

— Making the Most of JROTC

 

at 6/9/23 1:34pm

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units in U.S. schools have drawn intensive scrutiny of late, and some districts might consider dropping JROTC. But they should take stock of what they'll lose. Students who choose to enroll in JROTC and stick with it do better in school than their peers.

[Author: Melanie A. Zaber]

— The Case for a Governance-First U.S. Security Policy in the Sahel

 

at 6/9/23 12:48pm

Both terrorism and coups are on the rise in the Sahel. To reverse this troubling trend, the United States could ramp up support aimed at improving security governance, professionalizing militaries, and strongly sanctioning all forms of military takeovers in the region. This would require a real shift from the current U.S. security approach in the region.

[Author: Alexander Noyes]

— How Can Platforms Deal with Toxic Content? Look to Wall Street

 

at 6/9/23 11:31am

History proved time and time again that self-regulation was insufficient to mitigate financial risks. So why should it work for tech? In fact, history already shows that it doesn't. The Dodd-Frank framework may offer several benefits for tech regulation.

[Author: James V. Marrone]

— Military Assistance to Ukraine Is a Rare Success

 

at 6/9/23 10:29am

Recently, the United States reversed its long-standing opposition to sending Ukraine F-16 advanced aircraft to aid its fight against Russia. The policy reversal is a smart call. Once the aircraft are delivered and training is complete the jets will help Ukraine defend its territory more efficiently, and might even help end the war.

[Author: Alexander Noyes; Richard Bennet]

— Extremist Beliefs Among Veterans, Space Traffic, Teacher Well-Being: RAND Weekly Recap

 

at 6/9/23 9:54am

This weekly recap focuses on whether extremist beliefs are more prevalent among veterans, why it's time to manage traffic in outer space, crises facing the Russian military, and more.

[Author: RAND Corporation]

— Countries Buy Defective Chinese Military Equipment. Why?

 

at 6/8/23 7:40pm

China's defense industry has exported malfunctioning and defective military equipment in recent years—leaving countries short of what's needed for their security while also draining military budgets. So why do countries continue to order military equipment from China?

[Author: Cindy Zheng]

— The Case For A Governance-First U.S. Security Policy In The Sahel

 

at 6/8/23 4:15pm

Both terrorism and coups are on the rise in the Sahel. To reverse this troubling trend, the United states could ramp up support aimed at improving security governance, professionalizing militaries, and strongly sanctioning all forms of military takeovers in the region. This would require a real shift from the current U.S. security approach in the region.

[Author: Alexander Noyes]

— Is Ecuador in the Middle of a Self-Coup?

 

at 6/6/23 8:04pm

On May 17, the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, dissolved the country's legislature in the midst of impeachment proceedings against him. Did Ecuador just have a self-coup? The answer matters greatly for the country's democratic trajectory and for the international community's response.

[Author: Alexander Noyes]

— U.S.-China Rivalry in an Era of Weakening States

 

at 6/6/23 7:33pm

With their weakened state capacity, disengaged publics, and imbalanced economies, the United States and China break the pattern seen in other rivalries between great powers. New theories and ideas will be required to cope with problems largely unknown to the great-power rivals of the recent past.

[Author: Timothy R. Heath]

— What Is the Long-Term Strategy for Ukraine's Air Force?

 

at 6/6/23 7:33pm

It is encouraging that Ukraine might receive F-16s to improve its combat capabilities. Western policymakers might begin thinking now about what the Ukrainian Air Force may require in the future, especially if the Russian threat remains acute.

[Author: John Hoehn; William Courtney]

— Amid an Epidemic of Loneliness, Nonprofits Are Helping Keep Veterans Connected

 

at 6/5/23 7:06pm

Many nonprofit organizations in the United States seek to support veterans and foster social connection. The connections and sense of community these programs are building can help to combat the loneliness epidemic that is affecting veterans and non-veterans alike.

[Author: Laura Werber]

— America Is Winning Against China in Oceania

 

at 6/4/23 12:46pm

The United States retains enormous advantages in Oceania and should not be alarmed by China's security activities in the region. Washington should nevertheless keep a close eye on Beijing's moves, particularly against small and weak nations that will struggle to counter Chinese coercive activities on their own.

[Author: Derek Grossman]

— Arming Teachers, F-16s for Ukraine, Commercial Spaceflight: RAND Weekly Recap

 

at 6/2/23 7:54pm

This weekly recap focuses on how teachers feel about arming teachers, what F-16s will (and won't) do for Ukraine, the need to regulate commercial spaceflight, and more.

[Author: RAND Corporation]

— What F-16s Will (and Won't) Do for Ukraine

 

at 6/1/23 7:53pm

After months of publicly lobbying to acquire U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, it appears that Ukraine may receive them later this year. However, there remains a long road ahead before the F-16s would see service in Ukraine—and it is an open question how much they would affect the outcome of the war.

[Author: Brynn Tannehill]

— The Russian Military's Looming Personnel Crises of Retention and Veteran Mental Heath

 

at 6/1/23 7:18pm

Russia's looming troop-retention and veteran-treatment problems are already visible on the horizon, even though they have been delayed by policy. By invading Ukraine, Russia has created a wave of severe trauma that will soon crash over its own country.

[Author: Dara Massicot]

— An Autistic Soldier Wants You to Read This

 

at 6/1/23 3:59pm

Despite the recruitment challenges it is currently facing, the Army continues to make personnel decisions based on last century's understanding of neurodivergent diagnoses. The loosening of stigma associated with these diagnoses could improve recruitment, and the Army might reap the benefits of neurodiversity.

[Author: Cortney Weinbaum]

— Immigration Policy, the Black-White Wealth Gap, ChatGPT: RAND Weekly Recap

 

at 5/31/23 9:47pm

This weekly recap focuses on the challenges facing U.S. immigration policy, what it would take to close America's Black-white wealth gap, risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence, more.

[Author: RAND Corporation]

— Rising to the Challenge: A Methodological Approach to Prioritizing Defense Investments

 

at 5/31/23 8:38pm

Meeting the Pentagon's goals to invest efficiently in military capabilities calls for a methodological process hinging on five key elements: aligning strategies with tasks, understanding what drives military innovation, embracing specificity in problem-solving, preparing for an unknown future, and assessing technology investments for prioritization.

[Author: Christopher A. Mouton]

— Who Should We Honor on Memorial Day?

 

at 5/31/23 8:07pm

The cost of war is not borne solely by soldiers on the field of battle, and for too many, the field of battle is unavoidable. Widening notions of whom we honor, and how, are signs of progress—but they are just a start.

[Author: Kayla M. Williams]

As of 6/10/23 12:00pm. Last new 6/9/23 7:31pm.