{"id":2147420,"date":"2024-01-12T11:32:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T16:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lloyd-austin-is-the-latest-example-of-the-biden-administrations-dangerous-awol-problem\/"},"modified":"2024-01-12T11:35:14","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T16:35:14","slug":"lloyd-austin-is-the-latest-example-of-the-biden-administrations-dangerous-awol-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lloyd-austin-is-the-latest-example-of-the-biden-administrations-dangerous-awol-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Lloyd Austin: Another Biden AWOL Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flloyd-austin-is-the-latest-example-of-the-biden-administrations-dangerous-awol-problem%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2147420&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div>\n<div>\n<figure>\n    <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>President Unaware \u200dof Defense Secretary&#8217;s Hospitalization<\/h2>\n<p>Surprisingly, the 81-year-old president had no clue that the nation was left without\u2062 a defense chief for three whole days. This isn&#8217;t the first time a cabinet official has gone missing\u2062 during a crisis.<\/p>\n<p>According to a report by \u2064the Guardian, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin \u200dwas\u200c suddenly admitted \u2063to the Walter Reed \u2062intensive care unit after experiencing severe \u200cpain on January 1. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was \u200bon \u200dvacation when\u2063 Austin became incapacitated.<\/p>\n<p>Reuters reported that Hicks took\u200d on some of Austin&#8217;s duties on January 2, but she wasn&#8217;t informed about his unavailability until\u2063 January 4.\u200c It was\u2062 on the same day that President Biden \u2062and other senior White House officials were finally \u2062informed about \u2062Austin&#8217;s hospitalization.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s \u200bworth noting that Hicks was notified about Austin&#8217;s hospitalization on the same day that the \u200bU.S. military carried out drone \u200dstrikes in Baghdad, resulting in the\u2064 death of an Iranian-backed militia leader. These strikes were in response to\u2063 attacks on U.S. \u2064troops \u200cby Iranian-backed groups following Hamas&#8217; \u2063attack on Israel.<\/p>\n<h3>Former\u200d Defense\u200c Secretary Speaks Out<\/h3>\n<p>In an interview with Politico Playbook, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta openly discussed Austin&#8217;s sudden incapacitation. He stated that the \u200bsituation was a close call \u200band could have had serious \u200bconsequences if an event occurred during that gap.<\/p>\n<p>The Wall Street\u200d Journal reported\u200d that\u2064 many questions remain about the events surrounding \u2064Austin&#8217;s hospital stay, including who was \u2062in charge and why there wasn&#8217;t better disclosure.<\/p>\n<h2>White House Officials Going Missing<\/h2>\n<p>It has \u200cbecome \u200croutine for White House officials to go missing, reflecting the disarray within the administration under the leadership of an octogenarian commander-in-chief who is \u200bseeking a second term. This\u2063 is \u2064reminiscent of President Biden \u200dand then-White House\u200d press secretary Jen\u200c Psaki being on vacation while the American withdrawal from Afghanistan turned into a global humiliation.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, records \u2063obtained \u2064by the \u200cnonprofit government \u200dwatchdog Protect\u200d the Public&#8217;s Trust revealed that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was completely absent during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-62-percent-of-registered-voters-blame-biden-for-inflation\/\" title=\"Poll: 62 Percent of Registered Voters Blame Biden for Inflation\">supply-chain crisis<\/a> of\u200d 2021. While Congress worked on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/swing-district-dem-says-partys-stimulus-spending-drove-inflation\/\" title=\"Swing-District Dem Says Party\u2019s Stimulus Spending Drove Inflation\">trillion-dollar infrastructure package<\/a>,\u200b a supply-chain\u200d crisis on the \u200dWest Coast threatened to ruin the holiday season. Buttigieg,\u200b however, took an eight-week parental leave, which is significantly \u200blonger than what most new fathers take.<\/p>\n<p>Records \u2064obtained through\u2063 the Freedom of Information\u2063 Act (FOIA) showed that Buttigieg\u2064 used his paternity leave to \u2063avoid public appearances and meetings \u2062with congressional lawmakers. While the nation struggled with supply chains, bipartisan infrastructure talks resulted in over $100 billion in funding for Buttigieg&#8217;s department. Emails revealed that\u200d Buttigieg&#8217;s\u2063 aides cited his \u2064paternity leave to skip a meeting with\u200b Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley\u200b to discuss a bridge project.<\/p>\n<p>Even worse, Buttigieg showed a dismissive attitude towards \u2062traumatized residents in East Palestine, Ohio after a train \u2064derailment contaminated the town with \u2064toxic chemicals.<\/p>\n<p>The whereabouts of Homeland \u2064Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have \u2064also been a mystery for the past\u2064 three years amidst the situation along the southern border. In\u2062 December,\u200c a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">record-breaking number<\/a> of over 300,000 illegal immigrants were encountered\u200d along the border. According to the House Homeland Security Committee, at least 1.7 million &#8220;known\u200d gotaways&#8221; have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-congressman-files-bill-to-give-states-ability-to-enforce-immigration-laws-when-federal-government-wont\/\" title=\"Florida Congressman Files Bill to Give States Ability to Enforce Immigration Laws When Federal Government Won\u2019t\">evaded law enforcement<\/a> since\u200c fiscal year 2021. \u200dMayorkas is \u200dnow\u200b facing congressional impeachment proceedings for leaving the border open for three years.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social\u200c Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on\u200d culture, health, and \u200bwellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured \u200cin Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan\u2062 graduated \u2063from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. \u200bFollow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan\u2063 or contact him at Tristan@thefederalist.com. Sign up for Tristan&#8217;s email newsletter <a href=\"https:\/\/socialjusticeredux.substack.com\/about\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does the\u200b absence or incapacitation of key officials, as highlighted by former Defense Secretary Panetta, pose potential\u200b consequences and put the White House&#8217;s ability to handle emergencies\u200d into question<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Eason.\u200d Buttigieg&#8217;s absence was seen \u2062as \u2063a failure of leadership and sparked \u200ccriticism from \u200bboth Republicans and Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>The recent incident with\u2062 Defense Secretary Austin&#8217;s hospitalization further highlights the lack of \u2062coordination and communication within the White House. \u2063It is concerning that the president was unaware of the situation for \u200cthree \u200ddays, especially considering\u2064 the critical nature of the defense department&#8217;s responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p>Former Defense Secretary Panetta&#8217;s remarks emphasize the \u200cpotential consequences of such\u200b gaps\u2063 in leadership. In a world of constant threats and crises, the \u200dabsence \u200cor\u2064 incapacitation of key officials can \u2064have severe repercussions if immediate\u2062 action is required. The fact that \u200devents \u2064in Baghdad unfolded while the administration was uninformed\u2063 about Austin&#8217;s condition raises serious questions about the ability of the White \u2064House to effectively respond\u200c to emergencies.<\/p>\n<p>The Wall \u2063Street \u200cJournal&#8217;s investigation into the events surrounding Austin&#8217;s hospital stay further complicates the matter. It is essential to understand who was \u200din charge\u200d during \u200bhis absence and why better disclosure was not provided. Transparency and accountability are \u200dcrucial in ensuring the smooth\u200b functioning of government institutions, particularly in times\u2063 of crisis.<\/p>\n<p>This incident\u2064 also fits into a disturbing pattern \u200bof\u2063 White\u200b House officials going missing during \u2064critical moments. The \u200dexample of President Biden and former press secretary Jen Psaki being on vacation while the American withdrawal from Afghanistan\u2063 turned into a global humiliation is still fresh in people&#8217;s minds. Such instances not only erode public trust but also raise doubts\u200c about\u200c the administration&#8217;s \u200dability to effectively\u2064 handle challenging\u200b situations.<\/p>\n<p>The revelation that Transportation Secretary Buttigieg was \u2063absent during the supply-chain crisis of 2021 adds to the list of \u200cincompetence within the White House. With Congress working on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pa-rep-summer-lee-questions-dod-over-41m-per-year-viagra-spending\/\" title=\"PA Rep. Summer Lee queries DOD on M annual Viagra expenditure.\">vital infrastructure projects<\/a> and a supply-chain crisis threatening the holiday season, Buttigieg&#8217;s absence was a clear\u2063 failure of leadership.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the president&#8217;s unawareness of Defense Secretary Austin&#8217;s hospitalization\u200c is \u200da concerning\u2063 display of disarray within the White House. The lack \u2064of \u2063coordination, communication, and transparency raises legitimate\u2063 doubts\u2063 about the administration&#8217;s ability\u2062 to effectively govern \u2064and respond during crises. It \u200bis imperative that such \u2062incidents are \u2063thoroughly investigated and steps are taken to prevent their recurrence in the future. The American people deserve a well-functioning\u2062 government that can navigate through challenges and protect their interests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 81-year-old president seemed unaware of the nation&#8217;s defense chief vacancy for three days. This isn&#8217;t the first instance of a cabinet official disappearing during a crisis. The Guardian revealed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was urgently hospitalized at Walter Reed&#8217;s intensive care unit due to &#8220;severe pain&#8221; on Monday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":494,"featured_media":2147421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2147420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/494"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2147420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2147421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2147420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2147420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2147420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}