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.
Iran’s Theory of Victory
English Summary
Iran's core strategic theory posits that it can defeat U.S. containment by enduring economic hardship and inflicting sufficient regional pain. This confidence is fueled by significant internal nationalistic resilience, the successful management of shortages despite sanctions, and aggressive military retaliation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. Consequently, Iran is expected to maintain an unrestrained and disproportionate posture, viewing aggressive actions as necessary to force the U.S. to withdraw troops from the Persian Gulf and lift sanctions. This suggests that diplomatic efforts must account for Tehran's commitment to escalating regional tensions to advance its primary military and geopolitical goals.
中文摘要
伊朗的核心戰略理論主張，它能夠透過忍受經濟困境並造成足夠的區域痛苦，從而擊敗美國的遏制政策。這種信心源於其強大的內部民族主義韌性、在制裁下成功管理短缺的能力，以及激進的軍事報復，特別是在霍爾木茲海峽。因此，預計伊朗將維持一種不受限制且不成比例的姿態，視激進行動為迫使美國從波斯灣撤軍和解除制裁的必要手段。這表明，外交努力必須考慮到德黑蘭致力於升級區域緊張局勢，以推進其主要軍事和地緣政治目標的決心。
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