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.
Blowback: How the Iran war may change the world
English Summary
Following US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, Iran's regime retaliated with missile and drone attacks while blockading the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting 20% of global oil and LNG supplies. The conflict has exposed critical US naval shortfalls, strained American alliances, enabled Chinese strategic expansion, and triggered months of energy market disruption and economic instability. The war exemplifies how US-led Middle Eastern military interventions produce widespread unintended consequences, from maritime chokepoint politicization to rebalancing of great power competition.
中文摘要
在美國與以色列聯合空襲致伊朗最高領袖哈梅內伊身亡後，伊朗政權以飛彈與無人機攻擊進行報復，並封鎖荷莫茲海峽，中斷了全球石油與液化天然氣供應的20%。該衝突暴露了美國海軍的重大缺口、惡化了美國同盟關係、促成了中國戰略擴張，並引發數月的能源市場擾亂與經濟不穩定。此戰爭典範化了美國主導的中東軍事干預如何產生廣泛意外後果，從海運樞紐的政治化到大國競爭的重新平衡。
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