“At a time when the United States is facing challenges from China, Russia and Iran, the man in charge of the world’s largest military and the sixth in line to the presidency has disappeared.”
The U.S. political world is in an uproar after it was revealed that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (70) hid it from President Joe Biden for three days even after being hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). At the time of Secretary Austin’s hospitalization, not only President Biden but also Deputy Secretary of Defense Catherine, who was supposed to be acting Secretary, was on vacation. In a situation where two wars continue in the Middle East and Europe, a dizzying vacuum has opened up with the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military and the first and second figures in the Department of Defense all absent. As the aftermath of the ‘Pentagon mystery’ surrounding Secretary Austin’s hospitalization grows, criticism is pouring in from the U.S. political world calling it an “unacceptable incident.”
The U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement by a spokesperson around 5 p.m. on the 5th, “Secretary Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications following an elective medical procedure on the 1st,” and “He is currently recovering and will resume all work today (the 5th).” “I expect to do it,” he said. The statement was released only four days after the minister was hospitalized.
Even the White House report was late. Politico, a U.S. political media outlet, reported, “The Department of Defense reported to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan late on the afternoon of the 4th, three days after Secretary Austin was hospitalized.” A Biden administration official told Politico, “This is something that should not have happened,” and “White House staff were shocked that the Department of Defense delayed reporting the secretary’s hospitalization.”
It is reported that the Department of Defense notified the U.S. Congress of Secretary Austin’s condition only 15 minutes before the public statement. While it has not yet been revealed what kind of illness he had or what kind of surgery he had, the fact that Secretary Austin was hospitalized in the intensive care unit was also revealed through NBC News.
The problem is that during Secretary Austin’s absence, Deputy Secretary Hicks, the second-in-command at the Department of Defense, was also vacationing in Puerto Rico for a week. President Biden was also staying in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean for vacation until the 2nd. There was a serious vacuum in the U.S. military command system for several days.
In particular, it is shocking that the president, the commander-in-chief of the military, was not informed of the hospitalization of the Minister of National Defense, who is sixth in line of succession to presidential power. At the time, the U.S. military carried out airstrikes against armed groups in Iraq and warned of military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Atlantic criticized, “When the President orders the use of nuclear weapons, the Secretary of Defense must determine the authenticity of the order and confirm it with the Strategic Command,” adding, “In a crisis situation, the White House may not be able to connect with the Secretary of Defense.” Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel also pointed out to Politico, “The president must always know where his cabinet members are.”
Some pointed out that the Department of Defense’s delay in disclosing Secretary Austin’s hospitalization was due to the Secretary’s tendencies. He is famous for his reclusive nature, enjoying eating alone and staying away from the media. Politico reported, “Secretary Austin values his private life and was not welcome even during his time as a four-star general.” After retiring as commander of Central Command in 2016, Secretary Austin was selected as the first black Secretary of Defense in the Biden administration.
There are voices both inside and outside the U.S. Congress calling for Secretary Austin to be held accountable. Republican Senator Tom Cotton criticized, “It is incomprehensible that a person who must work closely together and make important decisions in case of emergency does not disclose the reason for his absence due to privacy reasons.” The Ministry of National Defense Reporting Foundation also said in an open letter, “We are angry that the Ministry of National Defense belatedly disclosed the hospitalization.”
As criticism poured in, Minister Austin personally issued a statement on the 6th and said, “I take full responsibility for the decision (to not disclose the fact of hospitalization).” However, the White House said, “President Biden spoke on the phone with Secretary Austin on the 6th. “The president has complete trust in the minister,” he said, and began to extinguish the situation.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.