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.
The End of the Beginning in Venezuela
English Summary
The article argues that any potential military removal of Venezuelan President Maduro, while appearing to be a major tactical success for the U.S., does not represent the resolution of the country's crisis. It cautions that this event marks merely the 'end of the beginning,' signaling the start of a far more complex and perilous phase of intervention. The perceived finality of the situation is misleading, suggesting that U.S. policy must prepare for a prolonged and difficult struggle rather than celebrating a simple victory. Policymakers should anticipate sustained, high-difficulty engagement in the Western Hemisphere.
中文摘要
本文論述，即使美國對委內瑞拉總統馬杜羅進行的任何潛在軍事撤除，雖然看似是美國取得重大的戰術成功，但並不能代表該國危機的解決。文章警告，此事件僅標誌著「開始的結束」，預示著一個更為複雜且危險的介入階段的開始。目前認為的局勢終結性是具有誤導性的，暗示美國政策必須為一場長期且艱難的鬥爭做好準備，而非沉浸於簡單的勝利感。政策制定者應預期在西半球需要持續且高難度的投入。
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