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.
Throttling Starlink Is a Disaster for Ukraine and the United States
English Summary
The article argues that restricting Starlink access to Ukraine is a catastrophic strategic error that undermines Kyiv's defense and severely damages U.S. credibility as a global defense provider. This action is viewed by allies not merely as a pause in aid, but as a breach of contractual trust, which risks prompting European and global partners to aggressively 'de-risk' from U.S. technology and military systems. If the U.S. continues to use vital services as political leverage, the long-term consequence will be a significant geopolitical realignment, weakening NATO and causing profound, lasting economic and strategic losses for American companies and influence.
中文摘要
本文論述限制星鏈（Starlink）對烏克蘭的存取權是一項災難性的戰略失誤，不僅削弱了基輔的防禦能力，也嚴重損害了美國作為全球防禦提供者的信譽。盟國視此舉不單純為援助的暫停，更視為對合約信任的違背，這可能促使歐洲和全球夥伴積極地從美國的技術和軍事系統中「去風險化」（de-risk）。如果美國持續將關鍵服務作為政治籌碼，其長期後果將是重大的地緣政治重組，削弱北約（NATO）的整體力量，並為美國企業和影響力帶來深遠且持久的經濟和戰略損失。
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