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.
Spoil Of War How Conflict Shapes Myanmars Gold Supply Chain
English Summary
The IISS report argues that gold is a critical economic engine fueling Myanmar's internal conflict, providing revenue for armed opposition groups, business elites, and the military regime alike. The conflict has driven up demand for gold due to currency devaluation and foreign currency rationing, leading to an illicit supply chain controlled by multiple armed actors. This boom in small-scale mining causes severe environmental degradation, including mercury poisoning and river siltation, while simultaneously entrenching corruption and violence. Policymakers must recognize that addressing the conflict requires tackling the deeply intertwined nature of resource exploitation and the transnational flow of gold across South and Southeast Asia.
中文摘要
IISS報告指出，黃金是推動緬甸內部衝突的關鍵經濟引擎，為武裝反對派、商界精英和軍事政權等各方提供了收入來源。由於貨幣貶值和外匯配給，衝突加劇了對黃金的需求，從而形成了一個由多個武裝行為者控制的非法供應鏈。這種小型採礦的繁榮導致了嚴重的環境退化，包括汞中毒和河流淤積，同時也固化了腐敗和暴力。政策制定者必須認識到，解決衝突需要同時處理資源掠奪與黃金在南亞和東南亞跨國流動之間深刻交織的關係。
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