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Original caption: Foreign media: Austin’s Biden nomination as defense chief cited as controversial “civilian” identity was questioned Source: Reference News Network
Reference News Network reported on December 10 Foreign media said US President-elect Biden intends to appoint a retired army general as Secretary of Defense, a plan that met with resistance from both parties on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers are increasingly concerned that in the United States, where there is a long tradition of civilian control of the military, another former general will head the Pentagon.
According to a report published on the New York Times website on Dec. 8, four-star Army General Lloyd Austin, who retired in 2016, was nominated by Biden as Secretary of Defense on Tuesday. He may become the first secretary. black defense in the United States. But Austin needs a waiver from Congress to take office, and any soldier who retired within 7 years of serving as secretary of defense requires a waiver.
Refusing to grant waivers to such a historic nominee can be tricky for lawmakers, especially since some lawmakers passed similar measures four years ago to allow retired four-star Marine Corps Admiral James Mattis to serve as Tron. Pu’s first chief of defense. But many lawmakers said Tuesday that they don’t want the practice promoted in American political life.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: “I believe that the seven-year waiver will violate the basic principle that civilians should control the non-political military.”
Many lawmakers said they reluctantly voted to grant Mattis the waiver to counter Trump’s lack of experience and rhetoric, but now question whether it is necessary to once again undermine US national security policy so quickly. cornerstone. If Congress approves Austin as defense secretary, it will highlight how much Trump has changed the routine of civilian oversight of the military.
Republican Senator Susan Collins said: “I once supported granting an exemption to Matisse because I thought the circumstances allowed for rare exceptions, but this is not setting a new precedent.”
Republican Senator James Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday that he sees no problem with this exemption. Austin has a few weeks to explain his reasons for the job to members of Congress, and many in Congress and military policy circles believe he may be successful in taking office. Inhoff’s consent will be very important. And, like Mattis at the time, Republicans may support Austin more than Democrats.
The report noted that Congress and the American public have always resolutely opposed actions by the military outside the control of the civilian government. If successful, Austin would be only the third Secretary of Defense in US history to obtain such a permit, the first being George Marshall in 1950. Both houses of the Senate must approve the exemption, but only the Senate voted to approve the nomination.
According to people familiar with Biden’s thinking, Biden worked with Austin in the White House Situation Room during his tenure as vice president and felt comfortable getting along with him personally. Biden believes this is essential for the position.
According to a report published on the website of the German “Süddeutsche Zeitung” on December 8, the Senate may not approve Austin’s nomination for various reasons. First, you need a franchise. Congress also doubted that it could vigorously push through US military reforms that cross-party consensus deemed necessary. Austin’s experience of joining the Raytheon arms company after his retirement was particularly questioned by the left wing of the Democratic Party. The close ties between the defense industry and the Pentagon bureaucracy are believed to increase costs and prevent the US military from making firm strategic adjustments.
Austin’s advantage is reportedly representing blacks and other minorities whose proportions in the military are much higher than the national average. His career as an officer is also considered an inspiration and a role model. Blacks in Congress also support Austin.
Data Map: Austin (Visual China)
