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.
The Two Shocks Upending Latin America
English Summary
Latin America is facing a confluence of external shocks—specifically the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a major El Niño—which are fueling inflation, disrupting supply chains, and undermining economic stability across the region. These twin crises are causing political volatility, diminishing the standing of security-focused leaders, and forcing indebted governments to confront deep structural economic flaws. To avoid deepening crises and further political polarization, the region must accelerate regional integration, strengthen the rule of law, and harness its critical mineral and energy resources. External partners, including the US and EU, are crucial to facilitating private investment and promoting intraregional trade to ensure sustainable growth.
中文摘要
拉丁美洲正面臨外部衝擊的匯集——特別是霍爾木茲海峽的長期封閉以及重大的拉尼娜現象（El Niño）——這些因素正在推高通貨膨脹、擾亂供應鏈，並削弱整個地區的經濟穩定性。這兩重危機引發了政治不穩定，降低了以安全為重點的領導人的地位，並迫使負債政府必須正視深層的結構性經濟缺陷。為避免危機加深和政治極化，該地區必須加速區域整合，強化法治，並充分利用其關鍵礦物和能源資源。包括美國和歐盟在內的外部夥伴，對於促進私人投資和推動區域內部貿易，以確保可持續增長至關重要。
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