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.
Approving the US-Saudi nuclear deal while reducing proliferation risks
English Summary
The US-Saudi nuclear deal represents a significant departure from traditional non-proliferation policy by potentially allowing uranium enrichment and waiving the requirement for Saudi adherence to the IAEA Additional Protocol. Proponents argue that the agreement's substantial economic and geopolitical benefits, coupled with the US's near-exclusive control over the program, sufficiently mitigate proliferation risks. This control is maintained through a specialized bilateral safeguards agreement (BSA) that limits oversight to declared sites. If enacted, the deal will set a major precedent for global civil nuclear cooperation, profoundly impacting the future of the international non-proliferation regime and the strategic balance in the Middle East.
中文摘要
美沙核能協議代表著與傳統不擴散政策的重大偏離，因為它可能允許鈾濃縮，並豁免沙特阿拉伯遵守國際原子能機構（IAEA）額外議定書（Additional Protocol）的要求。支持者主張，該協議巨大的經濟和地緣政治效益，結合美國對該計畫近乎獨家的控制權，足以減輕擴散風險。這種控制透過一份專門的雙邊安全保障協議（BSA）來維持，該協議將監管範圍限制在已宣布的設施。如果實施，這項協議將為全球民用核能合作樹立一個重大先例，深刻影響國際不擴散體系和中東地區的戰略平衡。
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