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.
Hormuz Is a Warning for the Indo-Pacific
English Summary
Iran's recent threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, utilizing drones and anti-ship missiles, underscore the continued strategic vulnerability of global maritime chokepoints. This action demonstrates how regional powers are weaponizing critical waterways to exert geopolitical pressure, immediately impacting global energy supplies and prices. For the Indo-Pacific and beyond, this signals that maritime control remains a primary tool of statecraft, necessitating enhanced international naval cooperation and contingency planning to mitigate the risk of energy supply disruptions.
中文摘要
伊朗近期威脅關閉霍爾木茲海峽，並利用無人機和反艦導彈，突顯了全球海運咽喉點持續存在的戰略脆弱性。此舉表明區域大國正將關鍵水道武器化，以施加地緣政治壓力，並立即影響全球能源供應和價格。對於印太地區乃至更廣泛的區域而言，這發出訊號：海上控制仍然是國家治理的主要工具，有必要加強國際海軍合作和應急規劃，以減輕能源供應中斷的風險。
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