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.
Bonus Podcast Episode: Is There an Endgame in Ukraine?
English Summary
The conflict in Ukraine has settled into a prolonged pattern of attrition and positional fighting, with neither side achieving a decisive breakthrough. While Russia retains tactical advantages, the analysis suggests that time is working against Moscow due to increasing manpower strain and operational failures, preventing the attainment of key objectives like fully securing Donetsk. Strategically, the fighting itself informs the relative leverage of both parties, meaning that external diplomatic pressure to impose a cease-fire is unlikely to succeed. Policymakers must recognize that the war is not nearing a quick end and that sustained, long-term support is required to manage a protracted conflict.
中文摘要
烏克蘭的衝突已進入長期消耗戰和陣地戰的模式，雙方均未能取得決定性突破。儘管俄羅斯仍保有戰術優勢，但分析指出，由於人力壓力增加和作戰失誤，時間正在對莫斯科構成不利因素，使其難以達成如完全控制頓涅茨克等關鍵目標。從戰略角度來看，戰鬥本身反映了雙方的相對影響力，這意味著外部外交壓力要求停火不太可能奏效。政策制定者必須認識到，這場戰爭並未接近快速終結，而管理一場曠日持久的衝突需要持續的長期支持。
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