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.
Europe Cannot Be a Military Power
English Summary
The article argues that Europe cannot achieve true military power due to its historical reliance on the United States for security, a structure that has allowed it to prioritize economic integration. This traditional division of labor is now destabilized by unpredictable external pressures, exemplified by the actions of figures like Donald Trump, which undermine NATO cohesion and European sovereignty. Consequently, Europe faces a critical strategic challenge: it must redefine its security posture and pursue greater strategic autonomy without attempting to achieve full military parity with global powers. Policy efforts must therefore focus on strengthening internal resilience and diplomatic coordination rather than solely on military buildup.
中文摘要
本文論述，由於歐洲歷史上過度依賴美國的安全保障，導致其難以實現真正的軍事強權，這種結構使其能將重點放在經濟整合上。然而，這種傳統的職能分工現正受到不可預測的外部壓力所動搖，例如以唐納德·川普等人物的行為為例，這些行為削弱了北約的凝聚力與歐洲主權。因此，歐洲面臨一個關鍵的戰略挑戰：它必須重新定義其安全態勢，並追求更高的戰略自主性，但同時不能試圖與全球大國達成完全的軍事均勢。政策努力因此必須著重於強化內部韌性與外交協調，而非單純地進行軍備擴張。
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