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 We Should Fight
English Summary
The Powell Doctrine establishes strict criteria for U.S. military intervention, asserting that force must be a last resort only when vital national interests are at stake and clear objectives are defined. This framework, developed after historical failures like Lebanon, mandates resources, international support, and a definitive exit strategy to prevent ambiguous or over-ambitious conflicts. The analysis warns that recent actions lacking these foundational tests—such as the proposed hostilities in Iran—are highly prone to failure. Therefore, adherence to this doctrine remains critical for policymakers seeking to avoid military disaster and ensure strategic coherence.
中文摘要
鮑威爾學說（Powell Doctrine）為美國軍事干預設立了嚴格的標準，主張武力只能作為最後手段，且僅在國家核心利益受到威脅、目標明確的情況下使用。此框架是在歷次歷史失敗（如黎巴嫩事件）後發展出來的，它要求必須具備充足的資源、國際支持以及確定的撤退策略，以避免產生模糊或過於雄心勃勃的衝突。本文分析警告指出，近期缺乏這些基礎檢驗的行動——例如擬議在伊朗發起的敵對行動——極易導致失敗。因此，對於尋求避免軍事災難並確保戰略連貫性的政策制定者而言，堅持遵循此學說至關重要。
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