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.
Preventing Iran’s Military Reconstitution
English Summary
Despite significant damage to its naval fleet, shipyards, and production facilities from recent strikes, Iran is expected to quickly reconstitute its military industrial base. This reconstitution relies heavily on importing dual-use components, such as machine tools, drone parts, and marine engines, through alternative routes like Pakistan or China. To counter this threat, the report advises that policymakers must extend sanctions mechanisms—particularly 'no reexport' clauses—and proactively engage third countries with direct access to Iran. Furthermore, monitoring allied firms dealing with key suppliers in China and Turkey is crucial to slowing down and raising the cost of necessary procurements.
中文摘要
儘管伊朗的海軍艦隊、船廠和生產設施遭受了近期襲擊的重大損害，但預計其仍能迅速重建其軍工基礎。此類重建高度依賴透過巴基斯坦或中國等替代路線進口兩用組件，例如機床、無人機零件和海用引擎。為應對此威脅，本報告建議政策制定者必須擴大制裁機制——特別是實施「禁止轉讓」條款（no reexport clauses）——並主動與直接接觸伊朗的第三國進行協調。此外，監控在中國和土耳其等關鍵供應商處營運的盟友企業，對於減緩並提高必要採購成本至關重要。
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