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.
Will Iran Turn Into a Forever War?
English Summary
The article warns that attempts to coerce Iran through incremental military escalation risk triggering an uncontrollable 'forever war,' citing historical failures like Vietnam. It argues that current US actions, based on a misreading of Iranian resilience, will provoke retaliation and set off a cycle of strikes in the Persian Gulf, where Iran can exert significant economic leverage by disrupting global commerce. To mitigate this escalating conflict, the analysis advises against unilateral military action and instead recommends that the United States appeal to the UN for a multinational force dedicated to ensuring freedom of navigation through critical international waterways.
中文摘要
本文警告，試圖透過逐步軍事升級來脅迫伊朗的行為，有極高風險引發一場無法控制的「持久戰」，並援引越南等歷史失敗案例作為佐證。文章主張，當前美國的行動是基於對伊朗韌性（resilience）的誤判，這將必然激化反制報復，從而觸發波斯灣一系列的打擊循環。在這一過程中，伊朗可以透過擾亂全球商貿來行使巨大的經濟槓桿。為緩解這種不斷升級的衝突，本分析建議美國應避免採取單邊軍事行動，而是提請聯合國（UN）協助建立一支多國聯軍，專責確保關鍵國際水道的航行自由。
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