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 Backdoor to American Innovation
English Summary
The expansion of the U.S. defense industrial base and deep military partnerships, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, creates significant vulnerabilities due to complex, global supply chains. The article highlights that even seemingly minor logistical failures, coupled with active espionage, allow rivals like China and Russia to steal critical military technologies and intelligence from allies (e.g., Japan, Australia). Consequently, the U.S. must urgently address this increased exposure by implementing robust security standards, fortifying monitoring programs, and enhancing intelligence sharing among allies. Failure to secure these deepening partnerships risks allowing adversaries to undermine American military advantages and improve their own capabilities.
中文摘要
美國國防工業基礎和深度軍事夥伴關係，特別是在印度-太平洋地區，由於複雜的全球供應鏈而產生了重大的脆弱性。本文指出，即使是表面上微小的後勤故障，若結合主動的間諜活動，都允許中國和俄羅斯等競爭對手從盟國（例如日本、澳洲）處竊取關鍵軍事技術和情報。因此，美國必須迫切應對這種增加的暴露風險，方法是實施健全的安全標準、加強監控計畫，並提升盟國間的情報共享。若未能鞏固這些日益深化的夥伴關係，將可能讓敵對勢力削弱美國的軍事優勢，並提升自身的戰力。
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