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.
Iraq Initiative Conference 2026
English Summary
Iraq faces an existential test of state sovereignty and reform as it navigates intense regional instability. Key pressures include armed attacks from Iran-aligned groups, renewed questions about the state's monopoly on force due to external strikes, and severe economic strain stemming from oil market disruptions. The core challenge is managing escalating geopolitical competition between Washington and Tehran while simultaneously advancing institutional reforms necessary for economic diversification. International support must therefore focus not only on security stabilization but also on supporting Baghdad’s efforts to build a resilient, independent course away from volatile energy dependence.
中文摘要
伊拉克在應對極度的區域不穩定性時，正面臨著國家主權和改革的存亡考驗。主要的壓力包括來自伊朗支持團體的武裝襲擊、由於外部打擊而重新質疑的國家武力壟斷地位，以及源於石油市場中斷帶來的嚴重經濟困境。其核心挑戰在於，如何在管理華盛頓與德黑蘭之間日益升級的地緣政治競爭的同時，推進必要的制度改革以實現經濟多元化。因此，國際支持不僅必須著重於安全穩定，更需支援巴格達擺脫易變能源依賴、建立具韌性且獨立發展軌道的努力。
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