Episode 284: Need to Know? Or Need to Share? Secretary of Defense Austin’s Hospitalization.

Today, Jamil, Jess, and Les discuss U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s recent hospitalization and the breakdown of communication that had President Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and Secretary Austin’s own Deputy Kathleen Hicks, who was on vacation, out of the loop. Sec. Austin’s absence occurred as the U.S. and its allies gave an ultimatum to Houthi rebels, as well as conducted a successful airstrike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad.Is the Secretary of Defense out of the Biden Administration’s decision-making loop? Why were key administration and Pentagon officials left in the dark over the Secretary’s hospitalization? Who ultimately should be held responsible for this breakdown?  Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/07/politics/austin-hospitalization-leaders-not-informed/index.html https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-biden-859cc79631d6c96dbdff161faf8e4f96 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/top-military-officials-were-initially-unaware-austins-hospitalization-media-2024-01-07/ https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/pentagon-took-3-days-to-inform-white-houses-nsc-of-austins-hospitalization-00134176https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3633506/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-medical-care/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.