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.
Don't Be Swayed by Tactical Nuclear Weapons
English Summary
The article argues against the Department of Defense's push to increase and rely upon tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs), asserting that they are not a viable solution for geopolitical dilemmas. Despite being framed as less destructive than strategic weapons, the author provides evidence that even small TNWs are devastating, capable of causing mass casualties and widespread contamination. Furthermore, the use of TNWs carries extreme risks of uncontrollable escalation, making them inherently destabilizing. Instead of expanding the arsenal, the U.S. should accept the limitations of military power, becoming more selective about its security commitments in regions like Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
中文摘要
本文反對美國國防部推動增加和依賴戰術核武器（TNWs）的做法，主張這些武器無法為地緣政治困境提供可行的解決方案。儘管這些武器被描繪為比戰略武器的破壞力小，但作者提供了證據證明，即使是小型戰術核武器也具有毀滅性，能夠造成大規模傷亡和廣泛污染。此外，使用戰術核武器帶有失控升級的極端風險，使其本質上具有不穩定性。美國應當放棄擴充軍備庫的思路，轉而接受軍事力量的局限性，並在歐洲和亞太等地區更具選擇性地履行安全承諾。
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