Source: Niu Danqin
There is no doubt that this is a major scandal in American politics, and it can even be said that this is the first scandal of 2024.
But the details are incredible. I have seen that many American media dignitaries have used the word "shock".
People can't help but ask, how much is hidden in the US political arena? What do you really know about Biden? How exactly does the US military operate?
Because the core of this scandal is the powerful US Secretary of Defense Austin, who was quietly hospitalized for many days, of which 4 days were also admitted to the ICU, Biden knew nothing, Congress was kept in the dark, and the Pentagon looked at each other.
You know, Austin is not an ordinary official, but the Secretary of Defense who represents the US armed forces!
According to the information disclosed by the media, 70-year-old Austin was admitted to the hospital on the evening of January 1 due to surgical complications, and was admitted to the ICU for several days.
It can be seen that his condition was very serious at that time.
But it wasn't until January 4 that the Department of Defense (Pentagon) informed the White House that US presidential national security adviser Jake Sullivan was taken aback and hastened to report to Biden. At this time, Biden learned that Austin was hospitalized and admitted to the ICU.
On the evening of Jan. 5, the Pentagon released the information, notifying Congress 15 minutes before issuing a press release. The members of Congress were shocked and incredulous.
Wick, the chief Republican member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, accused the Pentagon of "deliberately concealing" Austin's health and "shockingly ignoring the law."
Until now, Austin has been discharged from the ICU, but is still hospitalized. In response to the strong criticism from the outside world, he declared that he "takes full responsibility" for it.
But the point is that it's not as simple as the defense minister getting sick.
In the words of the American media, Austin controls the most powerful military in the world, and now the United States is mired in a crisis in the Middle East.
Does the U.S. military know?
I don't know at all. Looking at the reports of the US media, until the Department of Defense issued a press release, many senior Pentagon officials thought that Austin had gone on vacation.
Hicks, the No. 2 person in the Department of Defense, was acting as Secretary of Defense, but she was not even in the country at the time, but was on vacation in Puerto Rico.
According to CNN, Hicks didn't know the truth until two days after Austin was admitted to the ICU. The heads of the US army, navy, air force and other branches of the military also learned at about the same time that Austin was hospitalized and was still in serious condition.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is visiting the Middle East, also said in Qatar that he did not know Austin was hospitalized, and he spoke with Austin over the weekend......
That is, Austin hid almost the entire American political community, the president, vice president, secretary of state, cabinet, Congress, and the entire military.
Why hide it?
We don't know.
This brings up a question, the United States always criticizes this country for its lack of transparency, criticizes that country for not disclosing information in a timely manner, but what about the transparency of the United States?
Moreover, there is another question that is very straightforward, US President Biden, what do you really know?
Such an important ministerial-level official has been sent to the ICU for many days, and you don't know anything. In whose hands is the US military? How many secrets does the Pentagon hide, even the president's secrets?
Let's not forget that it was while Austin was in the ICU that the U.S. military attacked Baghdad, killing the leader of a major militia and injuring many others. The attack angered the Iraqi government and demanded that U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq.
The attack may have been authorized in advance, but the battlefield information is changing rapidly, and the commander is not at his post, what if something unexpected happens?
Republican Cotton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed the "defense secretary as a key link in the chain of command between the president and the military, including nuclear weapons," but that the chain is "shockingly broken" and that those involved must "bear the consequences."
The scandal is still fermenting. Don't forget, this is an election year in the United States, and scandals are the best subject of elections.
I see that, under pressure, Austin has declared that he is fully responsible for the cover-up. It's just that when he was hospitalized, the outside world still doesn't know.
Biden announced that he still fully trusts Austin and looks forward to Austin's early discharge. This is also a scene, the raw rice has been cooked and cooked, and it is even more a slap in the face to say that you don't trust.
The Pentagon has hinted that Austin will not resign despite the outrage. But most likely, an official in charge of disseminating information will be fired.
You have to find a scapegoat!
That poor Pentagon officer.
Column Editor-in-Chief: Qin Hong Text Editor: Lu Xiaochuan Title Image Source: Xinhua News Agency Data Map Picture Editor: Zhu Xuan
Source: Author: Niu Danqin