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 Ambiguity Spiral in Iran
English Summary
The article argues that the United States' inconsistent messaging—or 'ambiguity spiral'—regarding the war in Iran has been highly destabilizing, prompting Tehran to view threats as existential and escalate conflict. Key evidence includes U.S. vacillation on goals (e.g., regime change vs. limited degradation) and the unclear wording of agreements like the Strait of Hormuz MOU, which undermined cease-fire efforts. For stability, Washington must abandon vague signals, defining clear objectives and consistent redlines to build credibility and facilitate a durable diplomatic agreement.
中文摘要
本文論述美國在伊拉克戰爭中發出的訊息不一致——或稱「模糊螺旋」——極具破壞性，促使德黑蘭將威脅視為生存危機並升級衝突。關鍵證據包括美國在目標上的搖擺不定（例如政權更迭與有限降級之間的選擇），以及像霍爾木茲海峽諒解備忘錄（MOU）等協議措辭不明確之處，這些都削弱了停火努力的成效。為實現穩定，華盛頓必須放棄含糊不清的訊號，明確定義目標和一致的紅線底線，以建立信譽並促成持久的外交協定。
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