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.
Thirty-First Term Member Conference
English Summary
The conference agenda reveals a consensus that the global order is at a critical inflection point, driven by rapid technological acceleration and geopolitical fragmentation. Key discussions center on managing the strategic competition with China, particularly regarding its financial systems and technological advancements, alongside the urgent need for robust AI governance. Policy implications require a multi-faceted approach, integrating modernized defense production, securing energy supply chains, and adapting diplomatic strategies across the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific. Ultimately, the findings suggest that national strategy must pivot to treating technology deployment and AI governance as core components of foreign policy and national security.
中文摘要
會議議程揭示了普遍共識：全球秩序正處於關鍵的轉折點（inflection point），其驅動力來自於快速的技術加速與地緣政治的碎片化。核心討論圍繞著如何管理與中國的戰略競爭，特別是其金融體系和技術進展，同時也強調了建立健全人工智慧（AI）治理的迫切需求。政策層面的啟示要求採取多層面方法，整合現代化的國防生產、確保能源供應鏈，並調整橫跨西半球和印太地區的外交策略。總體而言，研究結果指出，國家戰略必須轉向將技術部署和AI治理視為外交政策和國家安全的核心組成部分。
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