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.
Lebanon’s Imperiled Transition: The Need for an Urgent Reset
English Summary
The article argues that Lebanon's transition toward genuine state sovereignty and reform is dangerously stalled due to deep political misalignment and powerful entrenched interests. Progress is undermined by unresolved financial restructuring, limited state authority, and a lack of coordinated national strategy among key political leaders. To salvage the historic opportunity, the report advocates for an urgent, coordinated 'strategic reboot.' This reboot must establish measurable commitments across three pillars: completing necessary economic reforms for an IMF agreement, consolidating state security authority across the country, and revitalizing diplomacy to secure international support and stability.
中文摘要
本文指出，黎巴嫩邁向真正國家主權和改革的進程，因深層的政治分歧和強大的既得利益集團而陷入危險的停滯狀態。未解決的財政重組、有限的國家權威，以及主要政治領導層缺乏協調的國家戰略，正在削弱其進展。為挽救這場歷史機遇，報告倡議進行一場緊急、協調的「戰略重啟」。這次重啟必須在三個支柱上建立可衡量的承諾：完成必要的經濟改革以達成國際貨幣基金組織（IMF）協議；鞏固全國性的國家安全權威；以及振興外交，以確保國際支持和穩定。
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