Washington announced on Sunday that more information trickled out that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been in a hospital intensive care unit for several days and had not disclosed it to the president, the national security adviser, lawmakers or the public. However, we were still in collective shock.
The revelations cast serious doubts not only on Austin and his judgment, but also on President Joe Biden, especially in the midst of a military conflict between the U.S. military and Iranian-backed proxies, in which the Secretary of Defense announced several days of They also questioned how he didn't know he was partially incapacitated. The situation in the Middle East is intensifying, and there is a risk of a bigger crisis.
The US warned the Houthis last Thursday to stop targeting US troops and commercial ships in the Red Sea, the same day the US military carried out drone strikes and directed Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. killed someone. Who ordered the strike?
Adding to the debacle, the Pentagon refused to say why Austin was hospitalized, citing “privacy.”
Austin himself issued a statement Saturday saying he understood the media's concerns about transparency and acknowledged that he “could have done a better job of ensuring the public was properly informed.”
“I am committed to doing better,” he said, adding, “But this is important. This is my medical practice and I take full responsibility for decisions regarding disclosure.” Ta.
However, the statement did not explain why President Joe Biden and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan were not informed. And over the weekend, a flurry of revelations emerged, each seemingly worse than the last.
On Saturday, CNN reported that Austin told his acting deputy, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, that he will remain hospitalized until Thursday, January 4, even though he transferred some of his duties to her on January 2. It was reported that he had not even informed them.
This information came to light after NBC News reported that Ms. Hicks was vacationing in Puerto Rico at the time, and revealed what duties Mr. Hicks had transferred to her, what she knew, and why she immediately Questions arose as to why he did not return to Washington. CNN reported that Ms. Hicks was informed of her hospitalization and that she chose to remain in Puerto Rico after Mr. Austin took full responsibility for her on Friday.
Some Pentagon officials have reportedly been told by Mr. Austin's aides that he is working from home.
The lack of transparency has drawn the ire of Republicans and Democrats.
“What were the medical procedures and associated complications? What is the Secretary's current health condition? When and how was the Secretary's responsibilities delegated? Why was there a delay in notifying the President and Congress? , several questions remain unanswered,” Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said in a joint statement.
“Transparency is extremely important. Austin must provide additional details regarding his health and the decision-making process that has occurred over the past week as soon as possible,” they added.
Several senators charged with overseeing the Pentagon called Austin's inaction “shocking.”
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, asked for an explanation from the Pentagon, saying in an unusual statement on Saturday: “We are aware of the Pentagon's shocking violation of the law, and that I'm learning more every time.” immediately. “
The senators also questioned who was in charge of directing the U.S. military during Mr. Austin's hospitalization, and whether the president and secretary of defense were given national command authority.
“If one of this country's two national command authorities is unable to accomplish its mission, military families, members of Congress, and the American people have a right to know the full extent of the situation,” Wicker added. “Members must be immediately briefed with a full explanation of the facts.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Austin is a “critical link” in the nuclear chain of command.
“The Secretary of Defense is a critical link in the chain of command between the president and the uniformed military, including the nuclear chain of command, when the most important decisions have to be made within minutes. …This shocking collapse… There is bound to be some impact,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.
Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), an Army veteran, called on the House to launch an investigation, calling this a “grave national security concern.” He posted on X:
Secretary of Defense Austin was incapacitated from New Year's Day until yesterday, and claims he has resumed full duty. He intentionally chose to keep this secret by not informing Biden and NSA Sullivan. Even Under Secretary of Defense Hicks was unaware that he had assumed the role. This is a major national security concern, given the growing military threat, attacks on foreign troops, and additional evidence supporting my articles of impeachment filed against him for his continued dereliction of duty.I will ask @HASCRepublicans and @SpeakerJohnson Support further investigation and investigate the reasons for such failure by the Ministry of Defense.
Other prominent Republican voices weighed in on this fiasco, including Donald Trump Jr.
The deep state won't bother to tell Biden that the Secretary of Defense has been hospitalized and off duty for four days. Because they know Biden won't understand what that means anyway, and they think they're in charge and don't need to be. Follow the legal chain of command! https://t.co/D2WENRchzf
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 7, 2024
Commander in Chief is the corpse of Weekend Bernie.
The defense secretary was in intensive care with an unexplained medical crisis but did not tell his superiors or anyone else for days.
The deputy secretary of defense was seen drinking an umbrella drink while vacationing in Puerto Rico.
Do whatever you want…
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) January 7, 2024
Another question: Hundreds of attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and the Red Sea, and wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, yet the president and his top advisers have gone three days without speaking to the secretary of defense. Why did it continue?
This is embarrassing… https://t.co/xG0ybQs8LT
— Marc Thiessen🇺🇸❤️🇺🇹🇼🇱 (@marcthiessen) January 7, 2024
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump, said that at the same time as Austin's hospitalization on January 2nd, Biden was also returning from vacation, leaving questions about who exactly would be in a position to order military action. He pointed out that it was unclear.
Last week, the Secretary of Defense was hospitalized under cover of darkness.
Around the same time last week, Joe Biden was tanning while vacationing in the Caribbean.
So who was in charge of nuclear codes on U.S. soil last week? https://t.co/IyIOD4yBNf
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) January 7, 2024
The public first learned about Austin's hospitalization when Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder released a statement to the press on Friday, January 5, at approximately 6:00 p.m. ET, stating that Austin had been hospitalized due to “comorbidities.”・It was announced that he had been admitted to Reed National Military Medical Center. The Pentagon said he “plans to resume full duty” that same day.
politiko It was then reported that Austin did not inform National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan that he was hospitalized until Thursday, January 4, and shortly after that he informed Biden that Austin was hospitalized. reported that it was Sullivan.
Hicks made “some day-to-day decisions” on Austin's behalf, a spokesperson told The Hill. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told CNN that it is “not unusual” for secretaries to transfer specific responsibilities without providing specific explanation.
While members of Congress are demanding results, NBC News reported that Biden had a “warm conversation” with Austin on Saturday and said he looked forward to Austin returning to the Pentagon.
Ryder also told CNN that Austin has no plans to resign.
On Sunday, Ryder released another update letting the public know that Austin is still hospitalized but is “recovering well and doing well.”
“Since resuming his duties on Friday night, the Secretary has received operational updates and provided necessary guidance to his team. “We continue to monitor the day-to-day operations of the Ministry,” Ryder said.
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