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.
The Time Is Ripe for Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks, But Putin Could Escalate Conflict
English Summary
The article argues that while Ukraine's deep strikes and Russia's mounting economic instability create a window for peace talks, President Putin remains committed to maximalist demands and may escalate conflict through increased air assaults. Key evidence supporting this tension includes the strain on Russian energy infrastructure versus Moscow's refusal to negotiate in good faith, preferring instead to expand its claims. Consequently, the immediate strategic implication is that Washington must lead intensive diplomacy—a 'shuttle diplomacy'—to establish a framework agreement centered on a ceasefire along current lines and defining long-term European security arrangements.
中文摘要
本文論述，儘管烏克蘭的深度打擊和俄羅斯日益惡化的經濟不穩定為和平談判創造了窗口期，但普丁總統仍堅持極端要求（maximalist demands），並可能透過增加空襲來升級衝突。支持這種緊張局勢的關鍵證據包括俄羅斯能源基礎設施所承受的壓力，與莫斯科拒絕本著誠意進行談判、反而偏好擴大自身主張之間的矛盾。因此，眼前的戰略啟示是華盛頓必須主導密集的外交行動——即「穿梭外交」（shuttle diplomacy）——以建立一個框架協議，該協議應圍繞沿現有戰線停火，並界定長期的歐洲安全安排。
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