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.
As Washington Embraces Morocco, Regional Rivals Wake Up
English Summary
Washington's increasing diplomatic and economic support for Morocco's claims over Western Sahara is significantly undermining regional peace efforts and exacerbating existing tensions. This alignment, which sidelines the UN's mandate (MINURSO) and solidifies a pro-Moroccan bloc, is evidenced by U.S. funding and political efforts to undermine the Polisario movement. Critically, this perceived bias is prompting regional rivals, particularly Algeria, to increase their own military and diplomatic involvement to counter the growing influence of the Morocco-Israel axis. Ultimately, the article warns that Washington's zero-sum approach of choosing sides, while aiming for stability, is likely to worsen the conflict outlook across the fragile North African continent.
中文摘要
華盛頓對摩洛哥在西撒哈拉聲索日益增加的外交和經濟支持，正在嚴重破壞區域和平努力，並加劇現有的緊張局勢。這種傾向性支持，不僅規避了聯合國的授權（MINURSO），更鞏固了一個親摩洛哥的集團，其證據體現在美國用於削弱波利薩里奧運動的資金和政治行動上。關鍵的是，這種被視為的偏頗立場，正促使區域競爭對手，特別是阿爾及利亞，增加自身的軍事和外交介入，以應對摩洛哥-以色列軸心日益增長的影響力。文章最終警告，華盛頓這種選擇陣營的零和博弈方法，雖然旨在尋求穩定，但極有可能會惡化整個脆弱北非大陸的衝突前景。
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