Trends in US Military Deaths, and More from CRS
Of the 17,645 deaths of U.S. military personnel in all countries since 2006, a full 24% of them were “self-inflicted,” according to updated data from the Department of Defense as reported by the Congressional Research Service.
“Self-inflicted” here means suicide as well as death due to alcohol or substance abuse. See Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006, CRS In Focus, updated July 1, 2020.
Other noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
DARPA’s Pandemic-Related Programs, CRS Insight, June 30, 2020
Confederate Names and Military Installations, CRS Insight, updated June 16, 2020
Israel’s Possible Annexation of West Bank Areas: Frequently Asked Questions, June 29, 2020
Women in the Middle East and North Africa: Issues for Congress, June 19, 2020
Russian Armed Forces: Capabilities, CRS In Focus, June 30, 2020
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Design for Great Power Competition, June 4, 2020
Development and Regulation of Medical Countermeasures for COVID-19 (Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Treatments): Frequently Asked Questions, June 25, 2020
While it seems that the current political climate may not incentivize the use of evidence-based data sources for decision making, those of us who are passionate about ensuring results for the American people will continue to firmly stand on the belief that learning agendas are a crucial component to successfully navigate a changing future.
In recent months, we’ve seen much of these decades’ worth of progress erased. Contracts for evaluations of government programs were canceled, FFRDCs have been forced to lay off staff, and federal advisory committees have been disbanded.
This report outlines a framework relying on “Cooperative Technical Means” for effective arms control verification based on remote sensing, avoiding on-site inspections but maintaining a level of transparency that allows for immediate detection of changes in nuclear posture or a significant build-up above agreed limits.
At a recent workshop, we explored the nature of trust in specific government functions, the risk and implications of breaking trust in those systems, and how we’d known we were getting close to specific trust breaking points.