With all the discussion over SECDEF Austin in hospital, does anybody know

[niyad]

how he is doing today?

[SalamanderSleeps]

1. Point taken.

Just who exactly made this situation important?

[Attilatheblond]

3. The people who decided the line of succession and put DEFSC at #6?

And not alerting superiors and subordinates that he was going into hospital put Command in a bit of a bind. Not a good thing in today's volatile world.

[Donkees]

2. ''Austin, 70, remains hospitalized...is able to do his full duties, has secure communications at Walter Reed''

Updated 6:45 PM EST, January 7, 2024

Austin, 70, remains hospitalized and officials have been unable to say how long he will be at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he is on the mend and is looking forward to returning to the Pentagon soon, but he provided no other details about his ailment.

Austin is able to do his full duties, has secure communications at Walter Reed, and is in contact with his senior team, getting updates and providing guidance. He said he doesn’t know if Austin will do in-person briefings this coming week.

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

[niyad]

4. THANK YOU!!!

[Wingus Dingus]

5. He's going to recover, and then go to his office and clean out his desk.

I don't see how he keeps his position after this. His desire for privacy is not more important than his responsibility for US security and the military. If it is, then he should never have taken the position.

[niyad]

6. So, in other words, you cannot, or will not, answer my direct question, as the poster

above you so courteously, and helpfully, did.

[Wingus Dingus]

7. Ok, I see how it is.

Sorry to discuss things on your post. I won't make that mistake again.

[niyad]

8. Of course you can. But in this case, I asked a very specific question,

requesting very specific information.

[rubbersole]

9. It's just hard to discuss how he's doing...

..when you have no clue as to why he's there. All other things aside, the secrecy lends itself to negative interpretation. Something the Biden administration is excellent at avoiding.