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 Trouble With Regime Change
English Summary
The article argues that direct U.S. attempts at regime change have historically proven disastrous and unsustainable. Key evidence cited includes the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan and the disproportionate human and economic costs incurred by the U.S. in Iraq. These interventions often fail to produce stable or commensurate strategic outcomes, regardless of the initial humanitarian goals. Policymakers should therefore reassess the viability of grand, direct intervention strategies, suggesting a shift toward more limited or alternative forms of engagement.
中文摘要
本文論述，美國直接推動政權更迭的嘗試，從歷史經驗來看已被證明是災難性且不可持續的。文中引用的關鍵證據包括塔利班在阿富汗的復權，以及美國在伊拉克所承擔的不成比例的人道和經濟成本。這些干預行動往往無法產生穩定或相稱的戰略成果，無論其最初的人道主義目標為何。因此，政策制定者應重新評估大規模、直接介入戰略的可行性，建議轉向更有限或替代性的參與形式。
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