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.
How the U.S. Can Alter Putin’s Calculus on Ukraine
English Summary
The article argues that simple economic sanctions are insufficient to alter Putin's maximalist goals in Ukraine, necessitating a comprehensive, Cold War-inspired strategy. This strategy requires a three-pronged approach: sustained military support for Ukraine (resistance); reinforcing NATO's collective defense posture (deterrence); and engaging in dialogue. Policy implications suggest the U.S. must use dialogue to offer geopolitical normalization and validation to Russia, making it appear that ending the war short of maximalist goals is Moscow's best geopolitical option.
中文摘要
本文論點指出，單純的經濟制裁不足以改變普丁在烏克蘭的極端目標，因此需要一套全面性的、具有冷戰思維的戰略。該戰略要求採取三管齊下的方法：持續向烏克蘭提供軍事支援（抵抗）；強化北約的集體防禦態勢（威懾）；以及進行對話。政策意涵顯示，美國必須利用對話，向俄羅斯提供地緣政治上的常態化和認可，使其認為在未達成其極端目標的前提下結束戰爭，是莫斯科最佳的地緣政治選擇。
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