Biden to name retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as defense secretary

[Rogue Valley]

Biden to name retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as defense secretary

12/8/20
WILMINGTON, Del. —President-elect Joe Biden plans to tap retired Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III to be secretary of defense, according to three officials familiar with the decision. If confirmed, Austin would be the first Black Pentagon chief. Austin, 67, rose to become a four-star general in the Army and retired in 2016 as the chief of U.S. Central Command, a role from which he oversaw U.S. military operations across the Middle East for three years. His tenure there included the rise of the Islamic State, which began seizing cities in Iraq in 2014, and the U.S.-led military intervention to stop it. The early days of the campaign against the Islamic State were marked by airstrikes and the United States building a coalition to roll back the militant group’s gains. It also included embarrassments, including a failed $500 million effort to train Syrian rebels to fight against the Islamic State. The three officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose a decision that has not been made public. A spokesman for the transition declined to comment. Earlier Monday, as Biden left the Queen theater in Wilmington, where he had held meetings with transition advisers, he told reporters that he would unveil his secretary of defense on Friday.

I was hoping for a Michèle Flournoy nomination. As the NY Times reported, the Austin nomination may run into trouble because Austin has not been retired from the military for the required 7 years. James Mattis received a waiver regarding this, but that was another time. I think this nomination may experience some tough sledding in the Senate confirmation hearings. It was Biden's own Senate Democrats which strongly opposed the Mattis waiver and expressed that they would not do so again.

 

[Dayton3]

Biden to name retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as defense secretary

I was hoping for a Michèle Flournoy nomination. As the NY Times reported, the Austin nomination may run into trouble because Austin has not been retired from the military for the required 7 years. James Mattis received a waiver regarding this, but that was another time. I think this nomination may experience some tough sledding in the Senate confirmation hearings. It was Biden's own Senate Democrats which strongly opposed the Mattis waiver and expressed that they would not do so again.

Doesn't seem like much to object to just off hand.

 

[Cardinal]

Biden was all about a return to norms (or as many as were practical). Putting a military service-member in charge of the military is not that return to norms, nor is it easily explainable. Surely Biden is aware of a qualified civilian to fill that role?

 

[Rogue Valley]

The Biden nomination of Austin is running into significant pushback from both sides of the aisle.

Austin also sits on the board of Raytheon. Many in Congress want a Pentagon under real civilian control.

I think Biden could have made a better choice here (Flournoy) but is under political pressure to create a "diverse" Cabinet.

 

[Tangmo]

The country can bear it well and gain from it.

Half the voting population have gone over to the other side to screw us with a Potus from that other side for four years, to include all of his subversive gang that for four years have been openly and shamelessly disloyal in their rejection of the Constitution due to their loyalty to the malign foreign leader of the other side. Neither did the sedition end on November 3rd.

We need a SecDef leader respected by the troops for his military prowess and his sworn commitment to the Constitution and its values. Flournoy would have been an excellent choice under more normal domestic and geostrategic circumstances.

It was Gen. Milley and the JCS who kept the armed forces out of Trump's grabbing clutches the past year when the Raytheon man SecDef Esper the WP grad who had retired early could not. Biden has a keen awareness of the fascist and disloyal militias running around with their assault weapons and ordinance.

Lloyd Austin would address this decisively if it became necessary and he would have the strong and widespread support of the armed forces at home and abroad. Mattis was precluded in these respects because he was SecDef during the first two years which were before PutinTrump & Rowers could get fully cranked up and running domestically and into their destruction campaign against the 2020 election and its legitimate democratic result the Rowers reject completely and forever.

 

[Tangmo]

Biden was all about a return to norms (or as many as were practical). Putting a military service-member in charge of the military is not that return to norms, nor is it easily explainable. Surely Biden is aware of a qualified civilian to fill that role?

There's been a fundamental shift by half the electorate of the country to knowingly become domestic enemies colluding with the foreign ones. Knowingly, consciously, enthusiastically and irreversibly. Two consecutive elections of the Potus confirm this clearly and convincingly.

Don't know how you missed it.

Biden can and will restore norms of professionalism to the executive branch, and to the judiciary to the extent he can, which may be limited pending the GA senate runoff outcome. Biden will reconnect with allies and strategic partner nations globally.

Biden cannot however bring back the half of the electorate that has irreversibly gone over to the other side and that colludes with it domestically, ie, within the laws if not the norms. This huge mass needs to be policed and contained until we figure out what to do with 'em under the Constitution. This nomination says Biden and his team know this completely and that they are acting accordingly. Appropriately.

Hope for the best, expect the worst and work like hell for success.

 

[Tangmo]

The election defeat of Trump has morphed the crushed mass of PutinTrumpRowers across the land. The Rowers have gone from being enemies of the Democrats and the Democratic Party to being enemies of the incoming Biden government and of the United States. Enemies, not a loyal opposition.

We need to prepare to shut down the most vehement and violent of these enemies. Decisively.

That is, to make clear the consequences of any armed action these domestic enemies of the United States may undertake against anyone in whichever of their violently oriented ways, whether the domestic armed enemies act violently against our fight to arrest Covid or against our determination to preserve, protect, defend and reform our Constitutional democracy and our Constitutional democratic republic.

Take it from there.

 

[Tangmo]

There is a tight timeline besides on the nomination of Lloyd Austin as SecDef due to the Jan. 6th runoff senate election in GA of both the state's senators.

Whichever party comes out of the runoff election in charge on Jan. 7th the party will need to organize itself and the senate as well to include committee assignments and chairpersons etc.

The senate is looking at a possibility of two hearings on the Austin nomination, one on the question of the waiver and one the on the nomination itself. Marine Maj.Gen Ret. Arnold Punaro a former staff director of the Senate ASC says "the clock is ticking" on getting Austin in office by Jan. 20th, presuming Austin is recommended by the committee and, if recommended, confirmed by the full Senate.

Punaro says the soonest the SASC could rush a hearing on the waiver would be Jan. 11. Then they'd need to have the hearing on the nomination itself as Jan 20th gets both bigger as it gets closer.

Arnold Punaro, a former Senate Armed Services Committee staff director and retired Marine Corps general officer noted that the choice of Lloyd Austin, a retired Army general and U.S. Central Command head who will require a congressional waiver to take office, combined with a runoff election in Georgia that will determine control of the Senate, means the clock is ticking to get Austin in place for the Jan. 20 inauguration. “The House Armed Services Committee will be involved, and the earliest the Senate Armed Services Committee could probably get a hearing cranked up in the week of Jan 11th, due to the need to organize the Senate after the runoff, so you have 10 days before Jan. 20th and they might have a hearing on the waiver and then for sure on the nomination,” he said.



Moreover on December 11th Trump issued an Executive Order changing the line of succession at the Pentagon to move up two of his hack appointments Anthony Tata and Ezra Cohen-Watnick should the SecDef position become vacant for any reason, to include a declared national emergency.

So Punaro also notes that, “If Gen. Austin is not confirmed with a waiver by Jan. 20th, then this is the document that will determine who is the acting Secretary of Defense — unless President Biden decides to supersede it under the vacancy act,” Punaro added.

As term winds down, Trump shifts Pentagon line of succession

Shuffling the line of succession at the Defense Department is not a new move for presidents.

www.defensenews.com

One factor in Austin's favor is that he's been confirmed twice by the Senate for military commands and positions, once as vice chief of staff of the Army and once as commander of Central Command. Still however the Senate ASC would want and need to hear Austin speak of his prospective position and role as SecDef and of his own justification for accepting Biden's offer that is dependent entirely on a waiver by Congress.

 

[Tangmo]

Gen. Ret. Lloyd Austin isn't the only seniormost military officer Biden has brought into his transition team.

Potus Elect Biden has several retired general officers and admirals working on his transition team and on the "agency landing teams" that prepare Biden's choices for a given agency to move more smoothly into the agency. As would be expected, Biden knows each of 'em well and is comfortable with 'em to include trust and confidence.

Plus after four consecutive years of Trump ravaging the executive branch to deplete it of expert and career professionals, Biden and his inner circle know the US needs people in government who know what an agency does and how. The need is immediate and great to appoint people at the top echelons who can attract and bring in qualified professionals who are dedicated to public service and democracy.

This is from Politico where someone thinks it isn't such a great idea however....


One of the most prominent on the Pentagon transition team is retired Navy Adm. Michelle Howard, a former vice chief of naval operations who is listed only as a professor at George Washington University. She has also been mentioned as a possible candidate to serve as Navy secretary, the service’s top civilian.

The Pentagon transition team also includes John Estrada, a former ambassador who previously served as sergeant major of the Marine Corps, the branch's top noncommissioned officer. He is listed on Biden's website only as a retired State Department official. Another member of the transition team is Karen Gibson. Gibson retired this year from the Army as a three-star general who last served as deputy director of national intelligence. Gibson is also pulling double duty as a member of the agency review team for the intelligence community, which is overseeing the Biden transition for the nation's spy agencies. And that team is co-chaired by Vincent Stewart, a retired Marine Corps three-star who ran the Defense Intelligence Agency and is also reportedly on the short list to be Biden's CIA director.

Biden’s reliance on retired military brass sets off alarm bells

“I winced a little,” said a former GOP national security official on the number of retired senior officers already working on Biden’s transition.

www.politico.com

USN needs expert stability in the office of the secretary given Trump's ravaging of it after he pardoned war criminals, fired Capt. Crozier and had three different secretaries to include a couple of whackjob acting ones.

The intelligence community needs to be rebuilt to include identifying and assessing classified information Trump and his people handed over to the Russians free of reciprocity and at the cost of intelligence operatives abroad.

The presence of John Estrada a former command sergeant major of USMC also reminds us Biden has his feet on the ground in military matters.


Politico also noted disapprovingly that Biden gets regular advice from the respected and retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal who Biden knows well from Obama firing him as commander in Afghanistan and from before then. Another current advisor is retired Adm. Wm. McRaven who as we know did and oversaw the operational plan and raid that killed bin Laden. Each of 'em have criticized Trump -- McRaven severely and more than once. Austin has also been a Biden adviser prior to his nomination to be SecDef.

Word around the Pentagon is that Biden is likely to retain Army Sec. Ryan McCarthy for continuity and stability, for a year at least which is a common practice of an incoming Potus/CinC for Pentagon. Mattis kept DepSec Robert Work on for a year before having to let him go.

Good on Biden for bringing people close to him who are loyal, professional, experts who have the country's interests first and foremost. While Biden's commitment is strong in these respects, these guys and gals would only reinforce it all the more. The country needs this very much right now.

 

[RetiredUSN]

The military is supposed to be under control of appointed civilians.

Austin never spoke up when Obama prematurely pulled out the troops and let the ISIS "JV Team" rebuild. How many US lives were lost recapturing the lost ground when he did his about face?

Austin was also against loosening the rules of engagement which later actually helped the ground troops.

Opinion: Iraq troop withdrawal was Gen. Austin’s failure -- and Biden’s

"One would hope Biden learned from this experience. His defense of Lloyd Austin suggests he has not," Eli Lake writes.

bangordailynews.com

 

[Tangmo]

The withdrawal from Iraq transmogrified temporarily into a major drawdown that would have left 4000 troops that Austin advocated and that would have addressed ISIS from the outset of their resurgence. Obama bought into Austin's position and Biden went along with it.

The 4000 troop maintenance force could not be implemented however because Iraq would not accept the standard Status of Forces agreement USA insists on in countries where it has forces. Both Pentagon and Congress consider the SoF as a sacred document that precludes service personnel being tried in the courts of the foreign nation with only a rare exception to it. Neither Congress nor the Pentagon were going to subject US forces remaining in Iraq to Islamic justice in Iraq. So the 4000 residual US force that was proposed did not happen.

The surprise recurrence of ISIS and its swift advances into major Iraqi cities was a failure of US intelligence while the military intelligence component of it was not present in Iraq due to the withdrawal of all US kinetic forces from the country. Complicating the situation was the DepState view that the role of the post war US Embassy in Baghdad was to sell arms to the Iraqi government same as the US embassy does in Saudi Arabia and to several other Arab states of the region. So DepState had no effective intelligence presence either. Iraqi intelligence was disheveled post Saddam, ridden with political factions as it still is.

While I haven't any concerns about Austin as SecDef in these respects, I do have concerns about it due to Austin having spent his distinguished career in counterinsurgency almost exclusively when Congress and Pentagon are oriented toward major power conflict, and also that Austin has zero background in cyberwarfare, new technologies, intelligence, satellite and space, and new concepts in high tech major weapons systems being researched and developed for the major powers battlespace.

Ashton Carter for instance who became SecDef in 2015 is a sorcerer of military science and technology as well as a global strategist and military savant after having been employed or as an adviser to 11 SecDef; it's widely agreed besides Carter should have become SecDef rather than Chuck Hagel who preceded him.

 

[Tangmo]

Thursday is expected to become the historic day Lloyd Austin the retired 4-star Army general becomes the first black SecDef.

By then Austin would have received a waiver of the 7 year retirement requirement from the House and the Senate and Senate confirmation to boot with only 4 or 5 senators expected to dissent, based mostly on the waiver prerequisite that would preclude their vote to confirm.

Austin has zero patience or tolerance of insurrectionists and said he will also focus on fascists within the armed forces to root 'em out.


Biden's defense secretary pick pledges to 'rid our ranks of racists and extremists'

Biden's defense secretary pick pledges to 'rid our ranks of racists and extremists'


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Retired Army General Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he would work to rid "racists and extremists" from the ranks of the U.S. military, mend alliances and focus strategically on China if confirmed as President-elect Joe Biden's defense secretary. Austin would become America's first Black defense secretary and has declared his intention to improve diversity within the U.S. military, which is diverse in the lower ranks but largely white and male at the top.


Pentagon data show a large number of minority servicemembers experience racial harassment and discrimination, and this month's siege of the Capitol by far-right extremists has thrown a spotlight on supporters of such ideologies within the U.S. armed forces. "If confirmed, I will fight hard to stamp out sexual assault, to rid our ranks of racists and extremists, and to create a climate where everyone fit and willing has the opportunity to serve this country with dignity," Austin, 67, said at his confirmation hearing. "The job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies. But we can’t do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks," Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Biden's defense secretary pick pledges to 'rid our ranks of racists and extremists'

Retired Army General Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he would work to rid "racists and extremists" from the ranks of the U.S. military, mend alliances and focus strategically on China if confirmed as President-elect Joe Biden's defense secretary. Austin would become America's first Black...

news.yahoo.com

The cleanup has begun of both the civilian society and the armed forces.

 

[RetiredUSN]

Thursday is expected to become the historic day Lloyd Austin the retired 4-star Army general becomes the first black SecDef.

By then Austin would have received a waiver of the 7 year retirement requirement from the House and the Senate and Senate confirmation to boot with only 4 or 5 senators expected to dissent, based mostly on the waiver prerequisite that would preclude their vote to confirm.

Austin has zero patience or tolerance of insurrectionists and said he will also focus on fascists within the armed forces to root 'em out.


Biden's defense secretary pick pledges to 'rid our ranks of racists and extremists'

Biden's defense secretary pick pledges to 'rid our ranks of racists and extremists'


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Retired Army General Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he would work to rid "racists and extremists" from the ranks of the U.S. military, mend alliances and focus strategically on China if confirmed as President-elect Joe Biden's defense secretary. Austin would become America's first Black defense secretary and has declared his intention to improve diversity within the U.S. military, which is diverse in the lower ranks but largely white and male at the top.


Pentagon data show a large number of minority servicemembers experience racial harassment and discrimination, and this month's siege of the Capitol by far-right extremists has thrown a spotlight on supporters of such ideologies within the U.S. armed forces. "If confirmed, I will fight hard to stamp out sexual assault, to rid our ranks of racists and extremists, and to create a climate where everyone fit and willing has the opportunity to serve this country with dignity," Austin, 67, said at his confirmation hearing. "The job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies. But we can’t do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks," Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Biden's defense secretary pick pledges to 'rid our ranks of racists and extremists'

Retired Army General Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he would work to rid "racists and extremists" from the ranks of the U.S. military, mend alliances and focus strategically on China if confirmed as President-elect Joe Biden's defense secretary. Austin would become America's first Black...

news.yahoo.com

The cleanup has begun of both the civilian society and the armed forces.

LOL...

He's your kind of officer alright

All those pretty ribbons and ready to drill in step.

 

[OlNate]

LOL...

He's your kind of officer alright

All those pretty ribbons and ready to drill in step.

Got any specific reasons not to like him? Just curious, and you're a veteran, so might have some firsthand anecdotal reasoning.

Retracted, I see your previous response.

 

[RetiredUSN]

Got any specific reasons not to like him? Just curious, and you're a veteran, so might have some firsthand anecdotal reasoning.

Retracted, I see your previous response.

He's a POS who understands more about politics and kissing ass................. than actual warfare.

Iraq troop withdrawal was Lloyd Austin's failure — and Joe Biden's

It adds a layer to the president-elect's choice for defense secretary.

www.startribune.com

Iraq Troop Withdrawal Was Austin’s Failure — and Biden’s

Iraq Troop Withdrawal Was Austin’s Failure — and Biden’s

www.bloombergquint.com

 

[OlNate]

He's a POS who understands more about politics and kissing ass................. than actual warfare.

Iraq troop withdrawal was Lloyd Austin's failure — and Joe Biden's

It adds a layer to the president-elect's choice for defense secretary.

www.startribune.com

Iraq Troop Withdrawal Was Austin’s Failure — and Biden’s

Iraq Troop Withdrawal Was Austin’s Failure — and Biden’s

www.bloombergquint.com

Thanks for the perspective. Can't debate you, as I'm not a military expert, other than knowing the Navy boys wear skirts on Saturday nights (according my retired army buddy), but I appreciate the links.

 

[RetiredUSN]

Thanks for the perspective. Can't debate you, as I'm not a military expert, other than knowing the Navy boys wear skirts on Saturday nights (according my retired army buddy), but I appreciate the links.

Tangmo will be along shortly with his War & Peace version of why all those shiny ribbons mean something.

 

[OlNate]

Tangmo will be along shortly with his War & Peace version of why all those shiny ribbons mean something.

hehe...well, I'm not getting in the middle of that one... I see them and give respect by default - earned or not, I'd never want to make a mistake in the guessing.

 

[RetiredUSN]

hehe...well, I'm not getting in the middle of that one... I see them and give respect by default - earned or not, I'd never want to make a mistake in the guessing.

If you saw how ribbons and medals are handed out, you would puke.

The Navy was a joke.

Officers who were assigned to shore duty at a squadron office under the Commodore would be flown out to a ship during some action we were involved in ( Gulf War ) for a "so called" BS inspection.

He would be on record as being in theater for the required number of days and awarded a medal or ribbon. Ribbons are awards, and awards count towards promotions.

Pay no attention to those shiny little ribbons. I threw mine in the trash the day I retired.

 

[Tangmo]

LOL...

He's your kind of officer alright

All those pretty ribbons and ready to drill in step.

Marching and maneuvering, drill and ceremony are in the Manual and is a competency of each member of the armed forces. Some are better, some not, yet all must do it, or virtually all. The very best are invited by each service to their distinguished ceremonial unit in Washington DC.


Austin graduated from West Point in 1975 and began his military career as a platoon leader for the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany. As his career progressed, Austin returned to school, earning a master’s degree at Auburn University and earning another in business management at Webster University.


In 2008 General Austin returned to Iraq as the commanding general of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq during the period when the surge forces were drawing down under Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009 he was assigned to the Pentagon as the director of the Joint Staff, followed by another tour in Iraq as the commanding general of United States Forces-Iraq, responsible for the transition of all U.S. and Coalition military forces and equipment out of the country by the December 2011 deadline.

In 2012 General Austin served as the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army, culminating his military career as the 12th commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from 2013 to 2016. As CENTCOM commander he was responsible for military strategy and joint operations throughout the Middle East and Central and South Asia. He was also the architect and oversaw the execution of the military campaign to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He retired from the military on May 1, 2016, and is now the founder and president of The Austin Strategy Group.

Who is Lloyd Austin - Secretary of Defense: Biography, Career and Personal Life

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to lead the Pentagon. In order to know more about this leader, Knowinsiders would introduce readers with Lloyd Austin's biography, education, career and private life.

knowinsiders.com

Your links refer to the failure of military intelligence not by Gen. Austin, in Iraq especially and in particular. During the withdrawal from Iraq and under the objection of Austin, the US transformed the US embassy into the model of the US embassy in Saudi Arabia, ie, to sell arms to the locals. Intelligence both civilian and military were not in the package.

 

[OlNate]

If you saw how ribbons and medals are handed out, you would puke.

The Navy was a joke.

Officers who were assigned to shore duty at a squadron office under the Commodore would be flown out to a ship during some action we were involved in ( Gulf War ) for a "so called" BS inspection.

He would be on record as being in theater for the required number of days and awarded a medal or ribbon. Ribbons are awards, and awards count towards promotions.

Pay no attention to those shiny little ribbons. I threw mine in the trash the day I retired.

Well, I defer to your more experienced judgment, but I see them and they tell me someone went where I could not, and generally leave it there.

Sorry, I'm a purist on this one, respect for military folks, serving or retired, was beaten into me at an early age. I'd rather look silly respecting something you guys maybe minimize than make the mistake of disrespecting someone or something that deserves it.

Except you, you're a manky bastard, I'll disrespect you all day long.... lol

Have a good one, bud, off to eat dinner.

 

[Tangmo]

Tangmo will be along shortly with his War & Peace version of why all those shiny ribbons mean something.

Very few members across the armed forces disrespect or dismiss the "fruit salad" of the other, ie, chest ribbons as they've been called for a long time.

It says a lot you threw your one apple and two oranges into the trash while John Kerry tossed his fruit salad medals onto the steps of the Capitol in opposition to the VN war he fought in. That is, you had no cause except for yourself.

So now tell me when was the last time you disrespected the "scrambled eggs" on the visor of an officer of each service. Officers get scrambled eggs on the visor at 0-4 major except for the Navy where one needs to wait till 0-5 commander to get 'em.

Indeed, and as I noticed long ago that for a guy retired from military service you seemed to have missed most or all of the service thingy about it. You never understood espirit de corps in English never mind Latin.

 

[Tangmo]

LOL...

He's your kind of officer alright

All those pretty ribbons and ready to drill in step.

Austin is against racism and extremism, yes.

Zero tolerance of it in the armed forces.

So it's a good thingy you're out then eh cause racists and political extremists in the armed forces will soon and swiftly be on the outside again where civil authorities can handle 'em as they will for sure.

This whole business of insurrection, sedition, treason has the high visibility it has drawn to itself in the Capitol riots and that will lead to the end of it and of the perps themselves.

Long overdue indeed.

 

[Roadvirus]

Well, Austin is our Sec Def. He got his waiver and was confirmed.

I don't see the big poo-pooing over his nomination. He's a military vet. He's seen combat. IMHO, he's qualified for the job.

 

[Callen]

I don't see the big poo-pooing over his nomination. He's a military vet. He's seen combat. IMHO, he's qualified for the job.

Apparently, the Senate agrees. The vote was 93 to 2. So nice to see competent, well credentialed persons being installed in these positions.