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.
The Victory of Asymmetry in the Iran War
English Summary
The conflict with Iran demonstrates the 'victory of asymmetry,' where Tehran has successfully leveraged non-conventional assets, such as control over the Strait of Hormuz, to project significant economic power despite military degradation. While the U.S. has degraded Iran's military capabilities, the resulting strategic flux has depleted U.S. assets and accelerated the drawdown of American forces from regional bases. This withdrawal forces regional partners to seek alternative security umbrellas, potentially leading to the formation of localized alliances or increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation. Consequently, the U.S. regional dominance is waning, necessitating a fundamental reassessment of long-term policy and strategic commitments in the Middle East.
中文摘要
與伊朗的衝突展現了「非對稱的勝利」，即德黑蘭成功地利用了非傳統資產，例如對霍爾木茲海峽的控制權，從而展現出顯著的經濟實力，儘管其軍事能力已有所衰退。雖然美國削弱了伊朗的軍事能力，但由此產生的戰略動盪卻耗盡了美國的資產，並加速了美軍從區域基地撤軍。這種撤退迫使區域夥伴尋求替代的安全保障，這可能導致局部聯盟的形成，或增加核擴散的風險。因此，美國的區域主導地位正在衰退，有必要對中東地區的長期政策和戰略承諾進行根本性的重新評估。
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