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 American Military’s Coming Marathon
English Summary
The Foreign Affairs article argues that the U.S. military is entering an era of protracted, marathon-like conflicts, rather than quick, decisive victories. Recent events, particularly the ongoing war with Iran, demonstrate that modern warfare is characterized by extended engagements, resource depletion, and a shift in power dynamics favoring adversaries with access to cheaper, mass-produced weaponry like drones. The U.S. military’s reliance on fixed assets and failure to adequately invest in defenses has resulted in significant losses. To adapt, the U.S. must prioritize building stockpiles of munitions, leveraging advanced technologies, hardening bases, and fostering closer alliances – a shift from rapid, targeted operations to sustained, resilient engagement.
中文摘要
《外交事務》的文章認為，美國軍事正步入一場持久戰、類似馬拉松式的時代，而非快速、決定性的勝利。最近的事件，尤其是持續的與伊朗的戰爭，表明現代戰爭的特徵是戰事持續時間延長、資源耗盡以及敵對勢力憑藉更廉價、大量生產的武器（如無人機）而改變力量格局。美國軍事對固定資產的依賴以及未能充分投資於防禦，導致了重大損失。為了適應，美國必須優先建立彈藥庫存、利用先進技術、加固基地以及加強同盟關係——從快速、有針對性的作戰轉向持久、具有韌性的參與。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.