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 U.S.-Iran Ceasefire May Be Over, But It Is Clear What the Regime Wants
English Summary
The collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire confirms that Iran's core strategic priority is maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, rather than focusing solely on its nuclear program or engaging in full-scale conflict. Despite military escalation, both sides share a critical economic interest in stabilizing Gulf traffic, suggesting that third-party mediation remains viable for resuming limited agreements on transit and tolls. For U.S. policy, this necessitates shifting away from broad rhetoric toward practical diplomacy, requiring greater Congressional oversight to develop a credible exit strategy that balances security objectives with global economic stability.
中文摘要
美伊停火協議的破裂證實，伊朗的核心戰略優先事項是維持對霍爾木茲海峽的控制權，而非單純著重其核計畫或捲入全面衝突。儘管軍事局勢升級，雙方仍共享穩定波斯灣交通的關鍵經濟利益，這表明第三方調解對於恢復有限度的航運和過路費協議仍然是可行的。對於美國政策而言，這要求轉變策略，從籠統的言辭外交轉向實務外交，並需要更嚴格的國會監督，以制定出一個能夠平衡安全目標與全球經濟穩定的可靠退出戰略。
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