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.
Trump’s Project Freedom Isn’t Going to Open the Strait of Hormuz
English Summary
This CFR analysis argues that Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ – primarily a naval escort operation and blockade – will fail to open the Strait of Hormuz and resolve the ongoing conflict with Iran. The strategy relies on overly optimistic assumptions about Iran’s economic vulnerability and the immediate impact of a blockade, while failing to account for Iran’s resilience and ability to adapt through alternative trade routes. Evidence suggests Iran’s continued capacity to attack commercial vessels and retaliate underscores the futility of force-based approaches. Ultimately, a diplomatic solution remains the only viable path forward, despite the current impasse.
中文摘要
本CFR分析認為，特朗普的‘自由項目’——主要是一項海上護衛行動和封鎖行動——將無法打開霍爾木茲海峽並解決與伊朗的持續衝突。該策略過於樂觀地假設伊朗的經濟脆弱性以及封鎖的即時影響，同時忽視了伊朗的韌性及其通過替代貿易路線進行適應的能力。證據表明，伊朗持續的能力來襲擊商船並報復，凸顯了以武力為基礎的方法的徒勞無功。最終，儘管目前僵局，通過外交解決方案仍然是唯一可行的解決方案。
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