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.
Why a Weaker Russia Keeps Fighting
English Summary
Despite facing significant military setbacks, economic strain from deep-strike campaigns, and the failure of its diplomatic plans, Russia remains determined to continue the conflict. The analysis argues that while Moscow's war effort is faltering—evidenced by high casualties and damaged infrastructure—the regime possesses sufficient resilience to sustain fighting. This persistence is maintained through sophisticated internal repression, which allows the Kremlin to force businesses and households to absorb mounting war costs. Therefore, Western policymakers should anticipate a prolonged conflict, as Putin has signaled no intention of pursuing a meaningful settlement.
中文摘要
儘管面臨重大的軍事挫敗、深度打擊戰帶來的經濟壓力，以及外交計劃的失敗，俄羅斯仍決心繼續衝突。本分析指出，雖然莫斯科的戰爭努力正在動搖——證據包括高傷亡人數和受損基礎設施——但該政權具備足夠的韌性來維持戰鬥。這種持續性是透過複雜的內部鎮壓機制維繫的，這使得克里姆林宮能夠迫使企業和家庭吸收不斷累積的戰爭成本。因此，西方政策制定者應預期衝突將會長期化，因為普丁已表明沒有尋求有意義解決方案的意圖。
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