Biden picks ret. Gen. Lloyd Austin for secretary of defense

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Washington (CNN) - President-elect Joe Biden has selected retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, the former commander of US Central Command, to be his secretary of defense, two sources familiar with the decision told CNN on Monday. If confirmed by the Senate, Austin would be the first Black man to lead the Department of Defense.

Posted by fedupwithpols at 06:22 AM | 7 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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The selection would make Austin one of the most prominent members of Biden's Cabinet and incoming administration. The secretary of defense is in control of the nation's largest government agency, commanding troops around the world and the complicated internal workings of the Pentagon that make it one of the world's most formidable bureaucracies.

It also means Austin's political chops would be put to the test, juggling calls to cut defense spending, as some in Congress want, while still funding innovative future technology and prioritizing the challenges posed by Russia and China -- all while maintaining military deterrence against Iran, North Korea, and ISIS.

Biden picked Austin despite the fact that he was not the first choice among influential members of his own party on Capitol Hill.

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Biden picked Austin despite the fact that he was not the first choice among influential members of his own party on Capitol Hill.

Interesting.

This is probably a stretch, but this nomination suggests that the Biden admin will not be one to just tinker around the edges (as democrats generally do) when it comes to policies affecting black, brown and poor people.

#1 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2020-12-08 06:36 AM | Reply

Flournoy would have also been a solid pick.

#2 | Posted by GOnoles92 at 2020-12-08 09:13 AM | Reply

juggling calls to cut defense spending, as some in Congress want, while still funding innovative future technology and prioritizing the challenges posed by Russia and China -- all while maintaining military deterrence against Iran, North Korea, and ISIS.

Less tanks, more Navy and cyber.
The recent draft of the defense appropriations budget echoes that sentiment and reestablishes the importance and priority of seapower.

#3 | Posted by GOnoles92 at 2020-12-08 09:15 AM | Reply

Army: Africom, but we're not going to have a HQ In the AOR;
Navy: INDOPACOM is a top priority, so we're going to get agreements and build out regional OCONUS infrastructure to support that mission.

Which branch is taking their taskings more seriously?

#4 | Posted by GOnoles92 at 2020-12-08 09:18 AM | Reply

While Gen Mattis showed me to be wrong in his case, I still prefer to have a non-military person in this role.

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2020-12-08 10:27 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

- he was not the first choice among influential members of his own party on Capitol Hill.

Apparently Flournoy was preferred among moderate Dems, but not among progressives and libs. Austin is also someone Biden has worked closely with in the past.

drudge.com

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2020-12-08 04:15 PM | Reply

Biden picks ret. Gen. Lloyd Austin for secretary of defense

Some dems stood on "principle" and didn't vote for Mattis to receive a waiver to be Trumps SOD; that principle being a civilian should be SOD, not a recently retired general. It is that "principle" that they are citing as their reason not to support Austin's nomination.

Because of the way bills are constructed, EVERY politician has abandoned their principles at some time or another and held their noses and voted for a bill that had some of what they wanted and some of what they didn't want. The same should apply here. If it doesn't, the question has to be asked WHY? Why would dems abandon their principles in some areas and not other areas?

Dems that vote against a waiver for Austin will anger a large part of their base. While it unlikely that the dem base will vote for a republican, I can easily see them staying at home on election day and not voting. Their feelings of being ignored/taken for granted is what led to 4 years of Trump.

The other test for dems will be to institute policies that strengthens and supports their base. It is not enough just to have black faces in high places (e.g. Clarence Thomas and Ben Carson come to mind).

#7 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2020-12-09 10:21 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1