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.
Culture Under Fire: Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia’s Campaign of Erasure
English Summary
Russia's attacks on Ukrainian cultural sites are not incidental collateral damage but a systematic campaign of cultural erasure aimed at rewriting history and legitimizing annexation. Evidence includes the physical destruction of major museums, cathedrals, and libraries, alongside the systemic 'Russification' of occupied territories—including name changes, curricula alterations, and the suppression of Ukrainian narratives. This effort demonstrates that Russia's goal is not merely military conquest, but the destruction of Ukraine's national identity and social fabric. Policy implications suggest that support must address this cultural dimension, recognizing that preserving Ukrainian heritage is integral to its long-term resilience and post-conflict survival.
中文摘要
俄羅斯對烏克蘭文化遺址的攻擊並非偶然的附帶損害，而是一場旨在重寫歷史和合法化吞併的系統性文化抹除行動。證據包括對主要博物館、大教堂和圖書館的實體破壞，以及對佔領地區進行的系統性「俄化」——包括更名、更改課程內容和壓制烏克蘭敘事。這項努力表明，俄羅斯的目標不僅僅是軍事征服，更是摧毀烏克蘭的國家認同和社會結構。政策意涵指出，支持措施必須涵蓋這一文化維度，認識到保護烏克蘭的文化遺產對於其長期韌性和戰後生存至關重要。
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