Anyone else expects an Austin resignation?

[malaise]

This does not look good

[cilla4progress]

1. I can't imagine how this transpired, malaise!

Heartbreaking...

[malaise]

2. Same here

Bangs head

[calguy]

3. What happened?

I must be out of the loop.

[TSExile]

6. I don't know.

I haven't heard anything. Can anyone enlighten us?

[malaise]

8. Here-Pentagon reveals that defense secretary has been hospitalized since Monday

And he did not inform the WH or the Pentagon .
ComplicTions after elective surgery.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/06/pentagon-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-since-monday

[calguy]

25. Thank you, malaise

I'm too concentrated on football this time of year to keep up on every current event.
Without knowing any more about it, I don't see this as an event that would require his resignation. I can, however see the MAGAts making a big deal out of this to inflict political damage to Biden, in which case, I could see him resigning.

[Igel]

65. There was a gap in the chain of command.

If something happened during those days and Austin, DefSec, was out of commission, who makes the decision?

Who's authorized to make the decisions? Somebody else that wouldn't have authority if Austin was there?

The decisions made during the time he was "out of the office." Who made them? With what authority? And if they'd have gone wrong?

Austin may have trusted his reports, but it's good to get permission when you're going to be what amounts to civilian AWOL.

Or maybe he considers himself just that unimportant. So maybe Biden and the rest of us should consider him unimportant, too.

Or maybe he thinks he doesn't need permission because he's the Boss. But he's not the Boss. The CiC is the Boss.

[DemocraticPatriot]

82. Take a breath....

[SlimJimmy]

85. Patton has a famous quote about reports ...

He said "One look is worth a thousand reports."

[Irish_Dem]

4. He should resign immediately.

[brush]

24. For what reason? People get sick. See post 17.

[Irish_Dem]

29. People in the military have been court martialed for much less.

This man knows the drill, he is a member of the NSC and head of the Pentagon.

[brush]

31. Please. Someone in the DOD dropped the ball as it happened on New Years Day.

He has said he's looking forward to getting back to work so IMO you're exaggerating this whole thing a bit.

[agingdem]

56. agree..

he's sick, he's recovering, and it's none of our damn business...the MAGA assholes are bleating something about trust as though the Defense Department collapsed in Austin's absence..absolutely no reason for Austin to resign...

[senseandsensibility]

5. What I don't get is why hasn't he

disclosed what the surgery was, even now? I get that it was messed up at the beginning, but it doesn't seem like they're being transparent even now.

[LudwigPastorius]

9. Probably something not life threatening, but personal, like hemorrhoids.

[H2O Man]

10. I think that

his being in the ICU suggests it was not hemorrhoids.

[malaise]

16. No he went home and then there were complications

which led to the ICU stay.
The thing is that no matter how minor the procedure someone in the WH and Pentagon should have been informed.
This is going to create unnecessary problems now.

[calguy]

27. I hope not, but you're probably right.

[Donkees]

30. VIP treatment can get you an ICU stay and limiting access

[H2O Man]

59. Yes, I know.

I have been seeing the reports on the news. I wish him the best. He is a very good man.

[LudwigPastorius]

20. Well, "complications" can certainly put you in the ICU.

[H2O Man]

63. Of course.

And yet complications -- though sometimes the result of an even minor surgery -- are distinct from that minor surgery.

[LudwigPastorius]

70. No kidding?

[H2O Man]

72. I wanted to

make sure you knew the distinction. Your first response suggested otherwise.

[LudwigPastorius]

77. OK

But, my reply was in the context of what surgery he originally had.

It was a reply to:

What I don't get is why he hasn't disclosed what the surgery was, even now?

If you couldn't understand that "hemorrhoids" was referring to hemorrhoid surgery...I don't know what to tell you.

Have a good evening.

[H2O Man]

81. Oh, I understood it.

I knew what it was a response to. I just thought it was odd response on your part. Those that followed have convinced me that I was correct.

[Lunabell]

37. You can have complications from anesthesia.

Or a bad drug reaction used during a routine surgery. Even minor surgeries have their risks.

[H2O Man]

62. Yes, of course.

My comment was merely pointng out that it is more serious than hemorrhoids. Anesthesia killed one of my siste's friend's mother. A bad drug reaction killed a girl in my school . Although no one could possibly mistake me for intelligent, I've been alive a very long time, and have seen many things that made quite an impression on me.

[ProfessorGAC]

49. As With Austin...

...my wife went home (coincidentally hemorrhoid surgery), got a septic infection and was back in the hospital 4 days later.
So, from personal experience, it is possible. How probable it is, I couldn't guess.

[H2O Man]

60. Right.

One of my uncles, a university professor who President Carter presented a "national teacher of the year " award in the 1970s, died after getting a septic infection after minor surgery. The infection that killed him -- a long and painful end of his life -- was distinct from the minor surgery, though it resulted from it. My response was to a reply I thought was cheeky. It is obviously something more serious than hemorrhoids.

[CincyDem]

79. Obviously, you've never had the wicked ones from hell.

[Ms. Toad]

42. It is none of our business.

Nor is it any of our business why the public wasn't informed. It is our business that he didn't bother to inform Biden, especially during this heightened intensity of military conflict.

[Ms. Toad]

43. It is none of our business.

Nor is it any of our business why the public wasn't informed. It is our business that he didn't bother to inform Biden, especially during this heightened intensity of military conflict.

[LudwigPastorius]

7. Yes.

You don't just forget to inform your boss that you are at the hospital and not at work. Even if you're incapacitated, you have someone call them up.

Multiply the importance of this by the importance of Austin's job, and it is simply unacceptable.

[getagrip_already]

14. You spoke to joe?

You know he wasn't informed?

You know the dod fell down in his absence? You don't think they have a bench?

Interesting.

I bow to your connections.

[LudwigPastorius]

22. "You know he wasn't informed?"

Yes, I read the news.

"You know the dod fell down in his absence?"

I didn't assert that, but SecDef is a Cabinet-level position and 6th in line to the Presidency. So yeah, keeping everyone in the loop is kind of important.

[former9thward]

26. "joe" was not informed.

It is in every news outlet. Austin went in on Monday and did not inform Biden or anyone else. Austin's Deputy was on vacation during this time. So yes, the DOD and the bench fell down.

[brush]

28. Seems the Deputy Sec'y dropped the ball. See post 17.

[getagrip_already]

11. Much ado about nothing....

There is zero evidence this was with held from the white house.

There is zero evidence this had any impact on the military or our allies.

There is zero evidence this had any impact on the public.

There is ample evidence that the outrage if faux political crap.

Don't participate without facts.

[malaise]

19. Hope you are correct

Maybe M$M is creating the mess.
I hope you are correct

[getagrip_already]

21. When do they not create messes?

For dems based on limited facts?

Without a source in the wh saying they were unaware and upset, this is a made up outrage.

[malaise]

23. Hope the Press Sec mashes down the misinformation

Urgently

[brush]

36. And him being a Black man...elements of racism?

Some of the posts here are a bit suspect on that IMO...demanding immediate resignation. WTH?

[Coventina]

80. Agree!! Very hasty and strident criticism.

When nothing happened.

[former9thward]

33. The facts are not on your side but you are participating.

Every media outlet out there must be making this story up to believe what you are posting. Even Austin has taken responsibility.

[getagrip_already]

45. All im saying is its a nothing burger......

Without facts. It's a tempest in a teapot.

And in the end, it's between him and his boss.

His position is 100% political. It is not a military position with control of forces. He has staff. His staff has staff.

Being out sick is not the end of the world. If he was unable to report in, then just chill. Some appointments don't warrant telling the wh about ahead of time.

[Ms. Toad]

44. Zero evidence, aside from all the published reports

Stating that Biden was not informed.

[getagrip_already]

46. Published reports are evidence?

Interesting...

But no matter.

There was no impact. He isn't a military officer with command of forces responsibility; he is a political cabinet member. He has staff. They have staff.

I'm sure his illness had little real impact.

Chill.

[Ms. Toad]

47. You're acting as if not informing Biden was just an assumption.

Is not.

https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-biden-859cc79631d6c96dbdff161faf8e4f96

https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/biden-exasperated-informed-lloyd-austins-hospitalization-source/story%3fid=106168484

Nor is it routine for someone that high up, especially given current military tensions.

[getagrip_already]

50. He is a civilian political appointee, not a military officer

Don't blow this out of proportion.

If there was anything at fault, it was miscommunication between the pentagon and Whitehouse that amounted to exactly nothing.

It is all perl clutching and hand wringing.

The press Corp, that you are so keen on quoting, has their nose bent out of joint because they weren't told.

But guess what? They don't need to be told. They are just upset and taking it out on the pentagon.

It is nothing.

Pretending this is something is peddling right wing smears.

[Ms. Toad]

58. You are correct that the press doesn't need to be told,

Nor does the public. Biden does, and he was not - for several days.

[Ex Lurker]

74. Hypothetical: Something blows up in the Middle East

Biden: "Get me the SECDEF on the phone."

Aide: "Uhh, Sir..."

[brush]

64. Correct. "Don't participate without facts."

[Ocelot II]

12. Seems like the problem wasn't with Austin but whoever was below him

in the Pentgon's chain of command. He might not have been in any condition to contact the WH about his illness, but someone else should have. If he has a long-term, potentially incapacitating health problem he might have to step down, but it wasn't up to him to personally alert the WH. He might have been under anesthesia for all we know.

[former9thward]

38. His 2nd in command was on vacation in Puerto Rico.

She was not informed either.

When the deputy secretary of defense began assuming some of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s responsibilities on January 2, not even she knew that it was because Austin was hospitalized, two defense officials told CNN.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, the Pentagon’s number two leader, was among the senior leaders kept in the dark about Austin’s true whereabouts until Thursday, three days after the secretary checked into Walter Reed medical center following complications from an elective surgery. Not even the president was aware of Austin’s hospitalization until three days into his stay there, CNN previously reported.

The revelation that not even Hicks knew that Austin was hospitalized is sure to add to questions swirling within the administration about why his status was kept secret, not only from the public but from senior national security officials and the White House.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/deputy-defense-secretary-was-not-told-austin-had-been-hospitalized-when-she-assumed-his-duties/ar-AA1mABC8

When you go into the hospital for elective procedures you are in the condition to inform people.

[rogue emissary]

13. Nope.

A U.S. senator while running and as a seated member of Congress. Concealed health issues and many on DU didn't have a problem with him not disclosing his condition.

[Attilatheblond]

76. a US Senator is a lot further down the line of succession

compared to Sec Defense. That might explain the difference in how many on DU didn't have a problem with him not disclosing his condition.

[radius777]

84. +1. A senator is a legislator not an executive

and is thus relatively unimportant in the day to day decision making of the country.

[rogue emissary]

87. The Sec of Def had and enpowered his under Sec.

There was nothing that was compromised or delayed.

[Justice]

15. Nope.

[brush]

17. I don't think so. People get sick. If he was incapacitated it's a failure of the Deputy sec'y to alert the president.

T heard a report that Austin prefers to take meals in his hotel room when traveling. I imagine him being a rather large man, a Black man at that, who stands out in crowds even in the US, he feels safer in other countries to take his meals in his room. I mean the US and its representatives are not always welcome in some nations...targeted even.

He said in a statement he's feeling better and looks forward to getting back to work.

Some forces could be trying to force him out but IMO it's just a tempest in teapot.

[former9thward]

39. His 2nd in command was also in the dark.

She was not informed either. I see many are trying to shift the blame to her.

When the deputy secretary of defense began assuming some of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s responsibilities on January 2, not even she knew that it was because Austin was hospitalized, two defense officials told CNN.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, the Pentagon’s number two leader, was among the senior leaders kept in the dark about Austin’s true whereabouts until Thursday, three days after the secretary checked into Walter Reed medical center following complications from an elective surgery. Not even the president was aware of Austin’s hospitalization until three days into his stay there, CNN previously reported.

The revelation that not even Hicks knew that Austin was hospitalized is sure to add to questions swirling within the administration about why his status was kept secret, not only from the public but from senior national security officials and the White House.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/deputy-defense-secretary-was-not-told-austin-had-been-hospitalized-when-she-assumed-his-duties/ar-AA1mABC8

When you go into the hospital for elective procedures you are in the condition to inform people.

[dalton99a]

18. Could have been infection after an ortho procedure and somebody forgot to make a phone call

[Mosby]

32. One of the most common elective procedures for men

Is a gynecomastia procedure. Some kinds of hernia procedures are considered elective. What we can deduce is that he probably has a post op infection, which can be fatal. It can also reoccur.

[Ex Lurker]

73. Elective just means it wasn't an emergency

Some elective procedures can be quite serious.

[spooky3]

78. During pandemic, total knee replacement was considered

An elective procedure and some hospitals wouldn’t schedule them.

[elleng]

34. Mebbe, but hope not, if Potus likes him. Here's an awful thing:

medical negligence led to her death

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-eddie-bernice-johnsons-family-attorney-medical-negligence-led-death

[Hekate]

35. Somebody screwed up, but I'm betting it wasn't the sick man in the ICU

I wonder which leftover mole in the Pentagon wants him gone?

[former9thward]

40. He went in for an elective procedure.

He was not in the ICU then. His 2nd in command was not informed. She was on vacation. No "leftover mole" stopped him from communicating with the WH and his own Deputy.

[brush]

41. Yep, somebody could be trying to get him out.

[malaise]

53. Good question

Rec

[getagrip_already]

51. Beau of the fifth column addresses this as perl clutching

?feature=shared

An objective view.

[Ex Lurker]

75. In this instance, Beau is incorrect NT

[LiberalFighter]

52. I don't see enough to justify a resignation.

[spooky3]

54. Agree. Sounds as if they need to tighten up procedures to prevent recurrence.

But it was to me an unfortunate set of events with a safety net. The deputy could have been called back from vacation once she was informed, if necessary, and if not there surely are staff who were not vacationing who could handle most affairs.

[brush]

66. Of course. The Deputy has a deputy. The DOD kept going without the Deputy Sec'y being called back...

from vacation...which of course is how is should be.

I'm amazed that so many here on this Dem board are calling for a Dem appointee who got sick to resign immediately, as if no one ever got sick before and the many professionals in the DOD couldn't handle it.

[spooky3]

67. Really makes you wonder, doesn't it? Nt

[dsc]

55. I am not sure he needs to resign over this

but I am a bit amazed by the blithe dismissal of what happened here. He was basically inconmunicado for nearly a week with both those above him and those beneath him not knowing he was absent. That is a rather large problem given his job. I realize this was a bit of a perfect storm, in that, this happened over a holiday, but things can happen over a holiday, just ask Israel. I am assuming Biden was still away himself during this time, but he is available for communication no matter where he is. The 2nd in command should have been informed that the Secretary would be away for the day of the procedure and then again when the complications happened. Her leave should have either been revoked or at least she should have been required to be in communication as if she were the secretary, which she basically was at that point. Apparently none of that happened. That is a real problem. It could have lead to a real problem, thankfully it didn't, but it surely could have.

[Sneederbunk]

57. No, but this is strike one.

[ornotna]

61. No

We need to stop eating our own.

[haele]

68. No. There's going to be reprecussions, but this isn't dereliction of duty.

Someone in his staff needs to get re-assigned, but his position is a policy position, he could just as easily do his job from a hospital bed as he could in the Pentagon.
His staff messed up when he stayed in the hospital longer than expected. They informed the Joint Chiefs, but no one else.

Haele

[maxrandb]

69. No, I'll wait until MTG and Elise Stefanik begin demanding his resignation

then I will say; "Fuck No!"

This is a tempest in a teapot. I am sure that protocols will be reviewed and updated, but it really is a nothing-burger.

It's a mistake in search of a scandal. Let's not help the Reich Wing by claiming; "oh, this looks bad", without the foggiest notion that it is "bad".

He's been a great SECDEF.

[Kennah]

71. I'll wager AGAINST him resigning

[PufPuf23]

83. Hope Gaza doesn't have bearing on General Austin.

Quick search

Civilians are 'center of gravity' in Gaza war: US defense secretary

By Phil Stewart; Reuters; December 2, 2023; 11:36 PM PST

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/civilians-are-center-gravity-gaza-war-us-defense-secretary-2023-12-02/

Austin presses Israel on civilian deaths as more hospitals are attacked

By Miriam Berger and Louisa Loveluck;

Updated December 18, 2023 at 4:51 p.m. EST; WAPO; Published December 18, 2023 at 3:10 p.m. EST

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/18/israel-gaza-hamas-austin-civilians-hospitals/

[marble falls]

86. No. I don't believe the Administration was not aware of what was going on.