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.
Twenty-Five Years After 9/11, the United States Is Unprepared for Terrorism’s Next Wave
English Summary
The article argues that the United States is critically unprepared for the next wave of terrorism, which is characterized by advanced technology and complex geopolitical instability. Key threats include the proliferation of drones (UAS), the weaponization of social media and AI for radicalization, and heightened extremist activity fueled by conflicts in the Middle East and with Iran. Policy implications demand urgent legislative reform to enhance homeland defense capabilities, particularly regarding drone detection and counter-measures, while also requiring a unified national strategy that addresses the diverse array of domestic and foreign extremist threats. Failure to prioritize and invest in these areas risks a significant decline in national security preparedness.
中文摘要
本文論述美國對於下一波恐怖主義浪潮準備不足，而這波浪潮的特點是結合了高科技與複雜的地緣政治不穩定性。主要威脅包括無人機（UAS）的泛濫、利用社群媒體和人工智慧進行激進化（radicalization）的武器化，以及受中東和伊朗衝突激化的極端主義活動。政策意涵要求緊急的立法改革，以提升本土防禦能力，特別是在無人機偵測和反制措施方面；同時也需要制定一套統一的國家戰略，來應對國內外多樣化的極端主義威脅。若未能優先投入和投資於這些領域，將會導致國家安全準備度顯著下降。
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