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 Americans View Foreign Policy Ahead of the Midterms
English Summary
Americans are increasingly skeptical of foreign policy commitments, viewing global interventions primarily through the lens of domestic economic cost and affordability. Key evidence cited includes the negative impact of tariffs, the strain of immigration shortages, and the high cost of foreign conflicts, leading to a widespread sentiment that the U.S. is 'taxed out and maxed out.' Policymakers must therefore prioritize addressing domestic economic stability and affordability before pursuing major global engagements. While support for alliances remains strong, the focus must shift to demonstrating a clear return on investment for American global leadership, particularly in managing economic rivalry with China.
中文摘要
美國人對外國政策承諾日益懷疑，傾向從國內經濟成本和負擔的角度審視全球干預。引用的關鍵證據包括關稅的負面影響、移民短缺帶來的壓力，以及外國衝突的高昂成本，導致普遍情緒認為美國已「財政承壓，資源耗盡」。因此，政策制定者必須將優先順序放在解決國內經濟穩定和可負擔性上，才能推動重大的全球參與。儘管對聯盟的支持依然強勁，但重點必須轉移到證明美國全球領導力具有明確的投資回報率，特別是在管理與中國的經濟競爭方面。
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