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.
Israel’s Election: Understanding Who’s Who and What’s at Stake
English Summary
The upcoming Israeli election is predicted to be highly volatile, with neither the Netanyahu bloc nor the opposition having a clear path to a governing majority due to deep internal fractures. Coalition formation is complicated by unresolved issues, such as ultra-Orthodox conscription and the political inclusion of Arab parties. While core foreign policy stances—including a tough stance toward Iran and rejection of Palestinian statehood—are unlikely to change, a shift in government could improve the regional diplomatic tone and mandate a stricter crackdown on settler violence in the West Bank. International actors should monitor the protracted negotiations, as the primary potential policy shift lies in managing internal tensions and regional relations.
中文摘要
以色列即將舉行的選舉預計將極度動盪，由於內部深層裂痕，無論是納坦雅胡陣營還是反對派都難以形成執政多數。聯盟的組建受到多個未決問題的複雜影響，例如超正統派的徵兵問題以及阿拉伯政黨的政治納入。儘管核心外交政策立場——包括對伊朗的強硬態度和拒絕巴勒斯坦建國——不太可能改變，但政府的更迭可能會改善區域外交氣氛，並要求對西岸的定居者暴力實施更嚴密的遏制。國際參與者應密切關注這場曠日持久的談判，因為主要的潛在政策轉變點在於如何管理內部張力與區域關係。
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