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.
Not Renewing USMCA Isn't the Deal’s Death Knell—But It Isn't Costless Either
English Summary
While threats of non-renewal are not an immediate 'death knell' for USMCA, the instability surrounding the agreement poses significant economic risks. The core argument is that the U.S. relies heavily on Canada and Mexico—now its largest trading partners—due to deeply integrated supply chains across sectors like automotive and energy. These cross-border production networks are vital to American manufacturing, supporting millions of jobs through intra-industry trade. Therefore, maintaining certainty in North America is paramount; policymakers must work with regional partners to expeditiously conclude renewal negotiations and prevent the imposition of new trade barriers.
中文摘要
儘管USMCA面臨的非續約威脅並非立即的「死刑判決」，但圍繞該協定的不穩定性仍構成重大的經濟風險。核心論點在於，由於汽車和能源等產業供應鏈的高度整合，美國極度依賴加拿大和墨西哥——現為其最大的貿易夥伴。這些跨境生產網絡對美國製造業至關重要，透過產業內部貿易支持了數百萬個工作崗位。因此，維持北美地區的確定性至關重要；政策制定者必須與區域夥伴合作，迅速完成續約談判，以防止新的貿易壁壘出現。
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