When Republicans tried their best to prepare to hit Biden's political reputation in the "first year", Biden's first Secretary of Defense Austin sent a "big gift" to his political opponents: At a time when the war in the Middle East continues, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is tense, and the U.S. military carries out "decapitation operations" against militia leaders in Iraq, Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1, 2024, due to illness, but did not explain the situation to Congress and the public five days later.
Austin and his aides can certainly use the defense secretary's "focus on privacy" to justify, but what is incomprehensible is that the objects they conceal include Biden, and the United States only got the news on January 4 local time. Three days earlier, White House affairs assistant Sullivan and other high-level affairs were also kept in the dark. Even when Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks, who was on vacation, was notified of the need for emergency management of the ministry, no one told her that Austin had been hospitalized.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Figure Visual China.
As the incident further fermented, the United States** found that 70-year-old Austin was admitted to the hospital for surgery on December 22, 2023, without notifying the White House and Hicks. On January 1, 2024, he was forced to be hospitalized due to unbearable pain due to complications from the "secret surgery".
Politicians from both parties and former senior U.S. military generals have expressed shock. "*Must know at all times that his cabinet members are there**. Hagel, former Obama's defense secretary, said. In terms of satisfying the public's and Congress's right to know, the matter is also inconsistent with the practice of the U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon issued a statement hours after a four-star General Eric Smith was hospitalized with a heart attack after becoming commander of the Marine Corps in October.
I could have done a better job of making sure the public gets the right information. Austin apologized on Jan. 6. Biden has shown tolerance. On January 6, he had a "cordial phone call" with Austin, who was recovering from a serious illness, and then said that he would not accept the resignation of the secretary of defense because of this.
The White House then said it would revise the process for reporting on the transfer of authority at the senior level to ensure that similar incidents do not happen againThe Pentagon said that Austin's chief of staff, Kelly McGsamen, was responsible for the accident: she had the flu a few days ago, so she failed to get the news to the White House. "Process problems" are superimposed on "subordinate problems", and Austin seems to be "exempt".
Apparently, Biden does not want to lose Austin at this time: this is the first African-American defense secretary in the history of the United States. Biden attaches great importance to the "groundbreaking" nomination, and "Politico" magazine reported that Biden is considering nominating the first female secretary of defense in U.S. history if he wins another ** term, and Hicks is at the top of the list.
On the other hand, with the election just around the corner, Biden also wants to show support for his loyal subordinates. Austin is the "old department" that Biden met when he was deputy **, and the two have "spent countless hours together" in the White House Situation Room. Austin and Biden's late son, Beau Biden, also had a close relationship, and they often sat side-by-side for Mass while serving in Iraq.
Republicans, however, are reluctant to let go of this "windfall" easily. Republican Leader Wick of the Senate Armed Services Committee called Austin's silence "unacceptable," which "further undermines trust in Biden";Another Republican Senator, Banks, said Austin was "a disaster from his first day in office."
Some Department of Defense **privately said** that if Austin really does not resign, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to avoid a bloody congressional hearing, and even be proposed by Congress to give disciplinary action or even dismissal. "Biden shields Austin for personal friendship" may become one of the Republican Party's "election cards" in the near future. The story of Austin's long-term low-key behavior and failure to hold a press conference will also be labeled as "Biden is not trustworthy". Trump, who is running for the Republican candidate, has publicly stated that Austin should be fired.
Election Day is still far away, and there is a high probability that the "Austin hospitalization" will not have far-reaching political implications. The most embarrassing thing for the Biden team is that they have been blaming and ridiculing the chaos of the US diplomatic and security leadership during the Trump administration for years, but it turns out that they will make similar mistakes. They have been criticizing Trump's appointments to the top foreign and security leaders, but now the Democratic Party is also reflecting on whether Biden's choice of Austin, who has little political experience and avoids press conferences and other "essential work for defense ministers", to preside over the Pentagon is really "a mistake from the beginning" in an era of intensifying global conflicts
However, people will probably never know what Austin's first day in the hospital was like. There is a former senior **von** disclosure of Austin who is overly cautious and introverted, "In everything, he doesn't say a word, he keeps his advice to himself, and you never know what he's thinking." ”
Reporter: Cao Ran.