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.
Sustaining Agile Operations: Volume 2, Energy and Water Technology Survey
English Summary
This RAND report assesses how energy and water technologies can sustain rapid, agile U.S. Air Force operations in contested environments. The analysis finds that near-term operational resilience is achievable through advancements in existing systems, such as improved batteries, vehicle-to-grid integration, and atmospheric water harvesting. While transformational solutions like fusion power or microreactors are progressing, they remain early stage and face significant regulatory challenges. Strategically, the findings imply a dual focus: immediate investment in maturing current technologies for deployability, alongside sustained R&D into advanced systems to ensure long-term military energy and resource independence.
中文摘要
這份RAND報告評估了能源和水技術如何在充滿挑戰的作戰環境中，支持美國空軍進行快速、敏捷的運作。分析指出，短期內的作戰韌性可以透過提升現有系統來達成，例如改進電池、車輛到電網整合（V2G）以及大氣水收集等技術。雖然如核融合或微型反應爐等變革性解決方案正在發展中，但它們仍處於早期階段，並面臨重大的監管挑戰。從戰略角度來看，研究結果暗示需要採取雙軌重點：一方面是立即投資成熟的現有技術以確保部署能力；另一方面則是持續投入研發先進系統，以保障長期軍事能源和資源的獨立性。
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