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.
Instability in Venezuela
English Summary
Venezuela is experiencing a profound multi-faceted crisis, stemming from decades of authoritarian mismanagement, culminating in a 2026 military intervention and a devastating earthquake. The instability has crippled basic services and created a massive humanitarian emergency, while the U.S. has seized control of the nation's oil exports to stabilize the economy and facilitate a transition. Policy efforts must balance providing critical aid and supporting the interim government with managing geopolitical friction from external actors, particularly Russia and China. The primary strategic focus must therefore be on securing the energy sector and navigating the complex path toward democratic stabilization.
中文摘要
委內瑞拉正經歷一場深刻且多層面的危機，其根源可追溯至數十年來威權式管理不善，最終導致了2026年的軍事干預和一場毀滅性地震。這場不穩定局勢已使基本服務癱瘓，並造成了大規模的人道危機。同時，美國已接管該國的石油出口，旨在穩定經濟並促進過渡。政策制定必須在提供關鍵援助、支持臨時政府，與管理來自外部行為者（特別是俄羅斯和中國）的地緣政治摩擦之間取得平衡。因此，主要的戰略重點必須放在確保能源部門，並應循序漸進地應對邁向民主穩定的複雜路徑。
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