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.
Ukraine and South Korea’s Diplomatic Dispute Deepens | State of Play
English Summary
The diplomatic dispute between South Korea and Ukraine, stemming from the public disclosure of North Korean POW transfers, highlights Ukraine's strategic use of information as leverage against Pyongyang. While South Korea is focused on reopening dialogue with North Korea, the incident complicates Seoul's strategy, as the North's lack of reaction suggests the dispute may be a calculated move by Kyiv. Policy-wise, South Korea must navigate this escalating tension by finding a diplomatic solution with Ukraine that does not jeopardize its own energy security needs or its broader regional stability goals.
中文摘要
韓國與烏克蘭之間的外交爭端，源於北韓公開披露戰俘轉移的事件，突顯了烏克蘭將資訊作為對平壤的籌碼進行戰略運用。雖然韓國正專注於與北韓恢復對話，但此事件使首爾的策略變得複雜，因為北韓缺乏反應暗示著這場爭端可能來自基輔的精心算計。從政策層面來看，韓國必須應對這種升級的緊張局勢，尋求一個與烏克蘭的外交解決方案，同時不能危及自身的能源安全需求或更廣泛的區域穩定目標。
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