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.
Iran, Gaza, Trump and Netanyahu: Understanding the Middle East’s crises
English Summary
The Middle East is grappling with a confluence of severe crises driven by ongoing military conflicts and deep political instability. Key evidence points to the simultaneous fallout from US/Israeli actions against Iran, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and internal political deadlock within Israel, all disrupting regional trade, energy, and food security. This complex environment suggests that external security threats are compounding existing systemic fragilities among major powers. Policymakers must therefore adopt a multi-faceted strategy that addresses immediate military flashpoints while simultaneously managing underlying geopolitical tensions and domestic political instability to prevent further regional destabilization.
中文摘要
中東地區正應對由持續的軍事衝突和深層政治不穩定所驅動的危機匯集。關鍵證據指出，美國/以色列針對伊朗的行動、加薩的人道危機，以及以色列內部的政治僵局等因素正在同時造成連鎖影響，擾亂了區域貿易、能源和糧食安全。這種複雜環境顯示，外部安全威脅正在加劇主要大國之間既有的體系脆弱性。因此，政策制定者必須採取多面向策略，一方面處理眼前的軍事熱點，另一方面同步管理潛在的地緣政治緊張局勢和國內政治不穩定，以防止區域進一步失穩。
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