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 Coup Turned Myanmar Into Asia’s Deadliest Conflict
English Summary
Myanmar has collapsed into Asia’s deadliest conflict, marked by massive economic collapse, widespread famine, and extreme brutality from the military junta. Despite this catastrophic humanitarian crisis, international actors—including major powers and regional blocs like ASEAN—are largely ignoring or withdrawing support for democratic forces. This neglect allows the junta to consolidate power, receiving critical military aid from authoritarian allies such as Russia and Belarus. Policy implications suggest that global indifference is enabling a failed state environment, making Myanmar a highly volatile flashpoint whose instability threatens broader Indo-Pacific security.
中文摘要
緬甸已崩潰成亞洲最致命的衝突區，其特徵是大規模經濟崩潰、普遍饑荒，以及軍事政權實施的極端殘酷行為。儘管面臨這場災難性的人道危機，包括主要大國和區域集團（如東盟）在內的國際參與者卻大多選擇忽視或撤回對民主勢力的支持。這種疏忽使得軍方政權得以鞏固權力，並從俄羅斯、白俄羅斯等威權盟友處獲得關鍵的軍事援助。政策意涵顯示，全球性的冷漠正在助長一個失敗國家環境，使緬甸成為一個高度不穩定的火藥桶，其動盪局勢威脅著更廣泛的印太地區安全。
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