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.
UPDATED: U.S. Strikes in Caribbean, Eastern Pacific Kill 5
English Summary
U.S. forces conducted multiple strikes against suspected narcotics trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in at least five deaths as part of Operation Southern Spear. These strikes were justified based on intelligence confirming the vessels' involvement in drug trafficking, though the GAO notes fentanyl primarily enters via land routes. The ongoing operation, which has seen 57 strikes since September 2025, highlights a continued U.S. military response to drug trafficking despite a reduced naval presence in the region. This strategy raises questions about the effectiveness of direct military action versus addressing upstream supply chains and land border security.
中文摘要
美國軍方在加勒比海和東太平洋地區發動多次針對疑似販毒船隻的行動，造成至少五人死亡，這是「南方長矛」行動的一部分。這些行動的依據是情報顯示這些船隻參與了毒品交易，儘管美國政府責任評估署（GAO）指出，芬太尼主要透過陸路進入。自2025年9月以來，該行動已執行57次，凸顯了美國軍方持續以軍事手段應對毒品交易問題，即使該地區的海軍力量有所縮減。此策略引發了對直接軍事行動有效性與解決上游供應鏈及加強陸地邊境安全之間的問題的質疑。
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