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The president-elect of the United States, Biden, defended his selection of the retired Afro-descendant general, Lloyd Austin, to take over the Ministry of Defense, against opponents who considered that Lloyd’s retirement period is still less than 7 years.
In the past, Congress had adopted a rule that any former military candidate to take over the Department of Defense must have been retired for at least seven years.
Since Austin, 67, retired less than seven years ago, lawmakers will have to grant him an exemption. This is what they did in 2016 to hire Jim Mattis, but some of them protested at the time.
Biden said during his presentation to the press Wednesday, his candidate for the post of Secretary of Defense: “I would not have applied for a waiver today if I did not believe we need it at this point in our history, and if I did not have confidence in Lloyd Austin. .
“So as it has been for Jim Mattis, I ask Congress to grant an exception to Austin.”
For his part, Austin, who will become the first African American to assume the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that he will fulfill his duties “as a civilian, with military experience of course, but also with great appreciation and deep respect for the principle of civilian leadership.” of the Pentagon.
And several Democrats announced Tuesday that they would vote against granting the waiver, notably Richard Blumenthal, former servicemen Tami Duckworth and John Tester.
Democrat Elisa Slotkin said on Twitter that “electing another retired general to assume civil duties” is not a good thing.
The president-elect of the United States announced Tuesday that he had chosen Austin to take over the Defense Ministry, a choice he described as “necessary” and “historic.”
Biden added of the retired general: “Throughout his dedicated service, and in the many hours we spent together in the White House operations room and with our forces overseas, General Austin demonstrated exemplary leadership and character. “.
The retired general who fought the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming the first African-American to take over the United States Army Central Command (CENTCOM) is someone “uniquely qualified to meet the challenges and crises we face right now. “Biden said in a statement.
Source: AFP
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