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 Iran Sees the War
English Summary
Contrary to U.S. and Israeli predictions of collapse, Iran views the conflict as a strategic opportunity to consolidate its regime's power and restore regional deterrence. The regime is leveraging the war to bolster domestic legitimacy, transforming internal dissent into a 'rally-around-the-flag' martyrdom culture, mirroring historical precedents like the Iran-Iraq War. Strategically, Iran has shifted toward raw offense, evidenced by closing the Strait of Hormuz and threatening multiple choke points. Policymakers must recognize that Tehran perceives the conflict as having few rules, suggesting that continued military action risks rapid, unpredictable escalation and a severe global economic crisis.
中文摘要
與美國和以色列預測的政權崩潰相反，伊朗將此次衝突視為鞏固其政權權力和恢復區域威懾力的戰略機遇。該政權正利用戰爭來鞏固國內合法性，將內部異議轉化為一種「團結旗幟式」的殉道文化，這呼應了歷史上的先例，例如伊拉克-伊朗戰爭。從戰略角度來看，伊朗已轉向純粹的進攻姿態，證據包括封鎖霍爾木茲海峽並威脅多個關鍵瓶頸要道。政策制定者必須認識到，德黑蘭認為這場衝突缺乏規則，這暗示了持續的軍事行動將導致快速、不可預測的升級，並引發嚴重的全球經濟危機。
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