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.
Assessing the Air Campaign After Three Weeks: Iran War By the Numbers
English Summary
After three weeks, the air campaign in the Iran War shows a sustained U.S. strike tempo, adapted to use less expensive munitions, while Iranian drone and missile launches have significantly declined but persist, notably targeting Gulf states' energy facilities. Gulf allies report high interception rates of 80-90%, but their interceptor inventories are reportedly dwindling. The ongoing conflict signals continued regional instability, raising critical questions about Iran's remaining military capabilities and the potential for a U.S. military operation to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
中文摘要
伊朗戰爭爆發三週後，空中行動顯示美軍維持了穩定的打擊節奏，並已調整策略以使用成本較低的彈藥。與此同時，伊朗的無人機與飛彈發射量雖顯著下降但仍持續進行，且主要針對海灣國家的能源設施。儘管海灣盟國報告攔截率高達 80% 至 90%，但據報其攔截彈庫存正趨於枯竭。此一持續衝突預示區域局勢將長期動盪，並引發各界對伊朗剩餘軍事能力，以及美軍是否會採取軍事行動以確保荷姆茲海峽安全等關鍵議題的關注。
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