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.
Can Space Be Disrupted Like the Strait of Hormuz?
English Summary
The article argues that outer space is vulnerable to disruption, mirroring how a limited force can destabilize a vital choke point like the Strait of Hormuz. This risk is amplified because most operational satellites are located in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a region susceptible to anti-satellite weapons and debris creation. To protect the burgeoning space economy and maintain freedom of passage, the U.S. must prioritize diplomatic engagement with China and Russia to establish modern space governance. Strategically, the U.S. should also invest in technologies for debris mitigation and reassess its military reliance on LEO, thereby avoiding a potential conflict requiring superior military force.
中文摘要
本文論述外太空易受干擾，其風險類比於有限武力如何能破壞像霍爾木茲海峽這樣重要的關鍵要衝。由於大多數運營衛星都位於低地球軌道（LEO），而此區域極易遭受反衛星武器攻擊和太空碎片產生，使得此風險更為加劇。為保護蓬勃發展的太空經濟並維護航行自由，美國必須將外交參與置於首位，與中國和俄羅斯建立現代太空治理體系。從戰略角度來看，美國也應投資於碎片緩解技術，並重新評估其對LEO的軍事依賴，從而避免陷入需要壓倒性軍事力量的潛在衝突。
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