The Secretary of Defense was offline...

[neverfstop]

TL:DR - SecDef had minor elective surgery for prostate cancer, returned to the ER and was hospitalized, told nobody for several days...

I'm not quite sure what to make of this story.  Obviously it's bad that he was incapacitated and hospitalized for some time, but apparently even then woman who took over his duties didn't know the extent or reason.  Clearly very bad judgement on his part, but I'm not sure it rises to the level of calling for him to resign (as per the GOP is demanding)

I'm curious to hear our  military people chime in with opinions or how this is being viewed inside the military. 

[SusanBAnthony]

That doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I mean not great but eh.... If the person in charge can't be reached then just go to the next person in line.

[waverly]

Jan 9, 2024 19:43:01 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

That doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I mean not great but eh.... If the person in charge can't be reached then just go to the next person in line.

This is where I landed. The only thing I wonder is if there were any military or other protocols that had to be formally transferred. But other than that I assume that person is trained to handle things when he is not available. Other than saying completely unavailable I don’t think he has to disclose the surgery and anyone can end up in the ER with a medical emergency. They need to have a plan for things to continue working in case if an emergency which they probably have.

[Velar Fricative]

I think this is pretty bad, actually. Nothing “happened” so I can see why people might think this is NBD, but he should have informed the appropriate people, even if he tried to keep as much medical information private.

[aprilsails]

I feel like if the right people had been notified then this would not have blown up into a big story. However, government officials are human too and there are most certainly backstops to cover for health related emergencies. Also, does the secretary of defence really have to be available 24/7/365? I'm certain he is a human and sleeps at night too.

[dcn]

My H hadn’t heard about it until I sent him a story. In general, if he is going to be on leave or otherwise unreachable (surgery, hospitalization) he puts someone on assumption of command orders. He said notification up the chain typically happens if someone is hospitalized for more than 24 hours.

It doesn’t sound like Sec. Austin was incapacitated or unable to communicate while in the hospital. His staff surely knew where he was and how to reach him if something happened. They did transfer some duties to the deputy. It’s not like he was missing for 4 days and no one could find him.

Should the notification policies be revised and updated? Absolutely. I don’t think anyone needs to get fired for this though.

[waverly]

Jan 9, 2024 20:43:41 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I think this is pretty bad, actually. Nothing “happened” so I can see why people might think this is NBD, but he should have informed the appropriate people, even if he tried to keep as much medical information private.

I read an article where he did transfer duties twice so that seemed to be handled as well as possible. I agree with you that it wasn’t really about that and more about informing the appropriate people (White House etc.)

[aurora]

Jan 9, 2024 21:12:07 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

I feel like if the right people had been notified then this would not have blown up into a big story. However, government officials are human too and there are most certainly backstops to cover for health related emergencies. Also, does the secretary of defence really have to be available 24/7/365? I'm certain he is a human and sleeps at night too.

I think the President, VP, and Cabinet basically are available 24/7/365. That doesn't mean they can't sleep, just that they'll get woken up in the case of a major event.

I haven't read enough of the details on this particular case to have an opinion.

[TR]

I heard a short story on this on NPR this morning. Yes, he transferred duties to his deputy, but she was on vacation in, I think, Puerto Rico. The White House didn’t even know he was out. I do think that if you’re out, you need to let your boss and the person handling things for you (someone who is actually there and not on vacation) know. They don’t need personal medical details, but just nothing is not acceptable.

[icedcoffee]

If I need to let my boss know when I'll take off a few hours early and I am a big nobody, then the Secretary of Defense should have to let someone know when he'll be under anesthesia. Come on guys. LOL

[VillainV]

I’m sure he’s not the first upper level DoD official to transfer duties because of a medical issue he didn’t immediately disclose.

I’m guessing a lot of people forgot that Trump was hospitalized for COVID and didn’t tell the American public….

[neverfstop]

I think I heard today it was a UTI? related to the previous surgery & maybe he thought he wasn't going to be admitted or stay long, but I do think he could have handled it better.

And I hope they don't force him to be impeached or make him have hearing on this when they can't do their basic job & were one of the least productive congress in history.

[sonrisa]

Jan 10, 2024 18:29:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I’m sure he’s not the first upper level DoD official to transfer duties because of a medical issue he didn’t immediately disclose.

I’m guessing a lot of people forgot that Trump was hospitalized for COVID and didn’t tell the American public….

I thought I remember it being public knowledge? I feel like I was sitting in the hospital during the fall of 2020 waiting form my mother to be discharged watching Trump go into the hospital for COVID (which he’d gotten from the Amy Coney Barrett garden party.)
Not that trump is my measure of appropriate behavior.

[nsl]

Jan 9, 2024 19:43:01 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

That doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I mean not great but eh.... If the person in charge can't be reached then just go to the next person in line.

That's really not how a job like the Secretary of Defense works, particularly not with what's going on in Israel and Gaza. How many times have people on these very boards posted about an elderly relative who experienced severe cognitive effects from a UTI? Now picture someone in that situation who the president is relying on for advice about using nuclear codes. Austin and his staff needed to inform the White House, period, that he was incapacitated and the #2 would need to step in if there was an emergency. The #2 needed to be fully available.

[Velar Fricative]

Jan 10, 2024 18:29:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I’m sure he’s not the first upper level DoD official to transfer duties because of a medical issue he didn’t immediately disclose.

I’m guessing a lot of people forgot that Trump was hospitalized for COVID and didn’t tell the American public….

Didn’t we watch him get taken to the hospital?

[babsbunny]

Jan 10, 2024 21:49:24 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jan 10, 2024 18:29:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I’m sure he’s not the first upper level DoD official to transfer duties because of a medical issue he didn’t immediately disclose.

I’m guessing a lot of people forgot that Trump was hospitalized for COVID and didn’t tell the American public….

Didn’t we watch him get taken to the hospital?

Yes, because we on this board hoped he had some medical devices (maybe hidden under his coat) and that he wouldn't be returning to the WH. I miss the hope I had those few days. Then the dipshit made his Secret Service drive him around the block while he was sick with covid and locked in an air tight car with them so he could waves to his fans. Dammit another 4 years of him is going to suck the life out of me. 

[heygrey]

Jan 10, 2024 21:49:24 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jan 10, 2024 18:29:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I’m sure he’s not the first upper level DoD official to transfer duties because of a medical issue he didn’t immediately disclose.

I’m guessing a lot of people forgot that Trump was hospitalized for COVID and didn’t tell the American public….

Didn’t we watch him get taken to the hospital?

We definitely did. He was wearing a mask on the walk across the lawn to the helicopter (??) and there was a lot of speculation on whether he had on oxygen via a nasal cannula.

[VillainV]

Jan 10, 2024 22:23:24 GMT -5 heygrey said:

Jan 10, 2024 21:49:24 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Didn’t we watch him get taken to the hospital?

We definitely did. He was wearing a mask on the walk across the lawn to the helicopter (??) and there was a lot of speculation on whether he had on oxygen via a nasal cannula.

I stand corrected! Hard to keep all of his lies straight. We definitely didn’t know how bad it was, or who was in charge while he was being treated.

[pixy0stix]

Jan 10, 2024 22:27:57 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Jan 10, 2024 22:23:24 GMT -5 heygrey said:

We definitely did. He was wearing a mask on the walk across the lawn to the helicopter (??) and there was a lot of speculation on whether he had on oxygen via a nasal cannula.

I stand corrected! Hard to keep all of his lies straight. We definitely didn’t know how bad it was, or who was in charge while he was being treated.

Whut? Pence would have been in charge.

[pixy0stix]

Vox has an explainer of why it was a big deal - www.vox.com/world-politics/24032216/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-disappearance-cancer-hospital-biden

Also, please always include links for news stories.

[VillainV]

Jan 10, 2024 23:40:16 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Jan 10, 2024 22:27:57 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I stand corrected! Hard to keep all of his lies straight. We definitely didn’t know how bad it was, or who was in charge while he was being treated.

Whut? Pence would have been in charge.

What I meant was we didn’t know if Trump remained in control or if he transferred it at any point.

[minzy]

Sort of a follow-up to this, Merrick Garland (the AG) will undergo back surgery this weekend, and there’s a clear DOJ backup plan in place… www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/attorney-general-merrick-garland-to-undergo-surgery-justice-department-says

[neverfstop]

He went back in the hospital for a bladder issue, but a press release was issued.