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.
Israel’s general election will be like no other before
English Summary
The upcoming Israeli general election is viewed as historically consequential due to unprecedented internal and external pressures, including ongoing wars, international legal scrutiny (ICC/ICJ), and deep domestic divisions over democratic institutions. The political landscape is highly polarized and fragmented, with opposition parties struggling to present a clear alternative policy vision despite the crises. This instability suggests that even if an election occurs, it may lead to continued political paralysis or stalemate. Consequently, external actors should anticipate heightened volatility and the potential for renewed military escalation by the interim government in the absence of decisive national consensus.
中文摘要
即將到來的以色列大選被視為具有歷史重大意義，因為其面臨前所未有的內部和外部壓力。這些壓力包括持續的戰爭、國際法律層面的審查（如國際刑事法院/國際司法法院），以及關於民主制度的深刻國內分歧。政治格局高度兩極化且碎片化，儘管面臨危機，反對黨仍難以提出清晰的替代政策願景。這種不穩定性暗示，即使舉行選舉，也可能導致持續的政治癱瘓或僵局。因此，外部行為者應預期更高的波動性，並警惕在缺乏決定性的國家共識下，臨時政府可能再次升級軍事衝突。
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