The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Dispatch from Ukraine
English Summary
Ukraine demonstrates remarkable resilience and technological adaptability despite continuous Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and critical services. While Kyiv's military is adapting through innovative drone warfare and strikes, its long-term stability requires sustained international support to counter Russia’s escalating threats. Strategically, the U.S. must coordinate with key European powers (E3) due to shifting political attention, while immediately deploying negotiators to Ukraine to gain ground truth and plan for potential escalation scenarios.
中文摘要
儘管俄羅斯持續攻擊烏克蘭的民用基礎設施和關鍵服務，烏克蘭展現了卓越的韌性和技術適應性。雖然基輔軍方正透過創新的無人機作戰和打擊來進行適應，但其長期穩定性需要持續的國際支持來抵禦俄羅斯日益加劇的威脅。從戰略角度來看，由於政治關注點正在轉移，美國必須與主要的歐洲強國（E3）進行協調；同時應立即向烏克蘭部署談判代表，以掌握實地情況並為潛在的升級情景做好規劃。
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