Here’s the thing about Joe Biden’s Secretary of Defense pick Lloyd Austin
President-elect Joe Biden has announced retired General Lloyd Austin as his nominee for Secretary of Defense, stating “In the many hours we’ve spent together in the Situation Room and with our troops—I’ve witnessed General Austin’s character. He shares my belief that we are strongest when we lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.”
Republicans will attack Austin because he’s not a warmonger. “Progressives” will attack Austin because they’re trying to look cool. But I think he’s a good solid pick. Skeptics will point to Austin’s connection to Raytheon. But that connection will now end, obviously. And pretty much anyone you’re going to pick for Secretary of Defense is going to have some kind of connection to the defense industry. Otherwise you’re picking someone who has never dealt with the defense industry and therefore has no idea how to deal with it. The question is whether they’ve had a corrupt relationship with the industry, and by all accounts, Austin doesn’t.
Biden picked Austin despite media leaks about Michéle Flournoy having been in consideration for the job. This is the latest reminder that these “in consideration” leaks are never coming from inside Biden’s team, which is why they always turn out to be wrong.
