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.
How to Win the Shadow War With Russia
English Summary
Russia's conflict is evolving beyond traditional hybrid operations, escalating into a comprehensive 'shadow war' aimed at destabilizing the entire continent. This campaign involves increasingly nakedly kinetic attacks targeting critical infrastructure and populations within NATO borders, indicating a shift from mere persuasion to outright destruction. Policymakers must recognize this strategic escalation, as Moscow's objective is no longer limited to Ukraine but is designed to dismantle the collective will and physical capacity of European adversaries. Counter-strategies must therefore address this direct, destructive warfare rather than solely focusing on diplomatic or informational countermeasures.
中文摘要
俄羅斯衝突已超越傳統的混合戰術，升級為一場旨在瓦解整個大陸的全面「影子戰爭」。此一戰役涉及日益赤裸的動能攻擊，目標是針對北約境內的關鍵基礎設施和人口，顯示其已從單純的說服轉向徹底的破壞。政策制定者必須認識到這一戰略升級，因為莫斯科的目標已不再局限於烏克蘭，而是旨在瓦解歐洲敵對方的集體意志和實體能力。因此，反制策略必須應對這種直接的、破壞性的戰爭，而非僅專注於外交或資訊層面的對策。
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