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The president-elect of the United States, Joe bidenannounced the nomination of General Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense, an appointment he described as “necessary” and “historic.”
If the designation receives the green light from the Senate, Austin, 67, will be the first person of African descent to lead the Pentagon, an institution where minorities are strongly represented at the grassroots but not yet at the top.
This retired army general, who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan Before becoming the first man of color to lead the US Army Central Command (Centcom), “he is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and crises we currently face,” the Democratic president-elect wrote in a statement.
“General Austin shares my deep belief that our country is stronger when he leads not only by the example of our power, but also by the power of our example,” added Biden.
“A brilliant and respected personality, a pioneering figure in the history of the United States Army, Secretary-designate Austin retired from the Army in 2016 after more than 40 years of service in the defense of the United States,” the statement underlined.
A friendship of years
According to a source close to the transition team cited by CNN, the two men also forged personal ties through Biden’s son Beau, struck by cancer in 2015 after fighting in Iraq under General Austin.
Beau Biden and Lloyd Austin became friends, this source told CNN. “They went to mass together and sat next to each other almost every Sunday”, he counted.
Graduate of the prestigious West Point Military Academy, General Austin retired in 2016, before moving to the defense industry, like many of its predecessors. He is a member of the board of directors of Raytheon Technologies.
But his confirmation by the Senate is not certain: since the first press reports appeared about his possible appointment, voices were raised lamenting the choice of a former military man to oversee a US military sometimes accused of having too much influence.
The United States Congress, which maintains civilian control over the military, has adopted regulations stipulating that an ex-military must be retired for more than seven years to become Secretary of Defense.
Since this deadline would not be respected with Austin, the Senate should grant him a waiver. He did so in 2016 with former Marine General Jim Mattis, but under protest. And among those who voted against the waiver were several big names in the Democratic Party, including candidates in the Democratic primaries. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker.
Several Democratic senators have already announced Tuesday that they will oppose it, including influential Connecticut lawmaker Richard Blumenthal and Virginia Rep. Tim Kaine.
“History”
In a column published Tuesday by The Atlantic magazine titled “An Experienced, Necessary, and Historic Secretary of Defense,” Biden tried to defuse the controversy.
“I respect and believe in the importance of civil control over our Army”, said.
But “I hope Congress will grant a waiver to Clerk-designate Lloyd Austin, as it did with Jim Mattis.”
“Given the immense and urgent threats and challenges facing our nation, it must be confirmed quickly,” he added.
Biden, 78, and future Vice President Kamala Harris, 56, the first woman and the first person of African descent to hold office, have promised a government that “looks like America” in all its diversity.
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