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.
Germany rearms – but can it lead? Europe’s hesitant superpower in waiting
English Summary
Germany's 'Zeitenwende' signals a profound shift from economic influence to strategic military leadership, positioning it as an increasingly assertive and unavoidable power in Europe. While substantial funding and procurement (e.g., F-35s, special funds) demonstrate political intent, the article argues that this rearmament risks outpacing strategic coherence. Key challenges include persistent deficiencies in the Bundeswehr's readiness, the lack of a unified military doctrine, and deep institutional inertia. For Germany to successfully assume a leading role, it must overcome these internal structural hurdles—including its risk-averse economic model and political fragmentation—to translate resources into usable, deployable force.
中文摘要
德國的「時代轉變」（Zeitenwende）標誌著其角色正從經濟影響力轉向戰略軍事領導地位，使其成為歐洲一個日益積極且不可或缺的強權。儘管可觀的資金投入和採購（例如F-35戰機、特別基金）展現了政治意圖，但本文認為，這種重整軍備的舉動有過快超越戰略連貫性的風險。關鍵挑戰包括德國聯邦國防軍（Bundeswehr）持續存在的戰備不足、缺乏統一的軍事學說，以及深層的制度慣性。若想成功承擔領導角色，德國必須克服這些內在的結構性障礙——包括其風險規避的經濟模式和政治碎片化——才能將資源轉化為可用且可部署的實戰力量。
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