In a surprising turn of events, the absence and lack of communication from the Secretary of Defense, Joseph Biden, has raised eyebrows and caused concerns regarding the management and coordination of the highest levels of power in the United States government.
Former Deputy National Security Advisor, Victoria Coates, expressed her astonishment at the situation, drawing parallels to former Secretary of State Al Haig's self-proclamation of control over the White House after President Reagan was shot. Coates emphasized that although Haig's actions were known to all and led to his subsequent resignation, the current scenario involving Secretary Biden presented an entirely different level of disregard for protocol and security.
Coates questioned how it was possible for a cabinet secretary to take matters into their own hands in such a rogue manner, without any means of communication with the White House. She dismissed the explanation that the secretary's absence was due to a chief of staff with the flu, claiming that a simple message to the security guards would have sufficed to inform the White House's situation room of the situation.
The lack of transparency and coordination from both the Pentagon and the White House raises serious concerns. Coates expressed her worries about the potential ramifications of such a security breach, particularly in moments of crisis. She stressed that any attack in the Red Sea, Syria, or Iraq could have had disastrous consequences, necessitating a National Security Council meeting led by the Secretary of Defense, who was nowhere to be found.
The perplexing situation extends beyond just security concerns. Coates pointed out that it also further portrays President Biden as out of touch and lacking firm control over his own cabinet. She criticized the president's response, or lack thereof, to the incident, denouncing the absence of any accountability or changes in response to the glaring mismanagement.
Turning to a different topic, President Biden's recent address at the AME church in South Carolina garnered attention due to his response to pro-Palestinian protestors calling for a ceasefire. The president stated that he has been quietly working with the Israeli government to convince them to reduce their presence in Gaza. Coates strongly objected to this approach, emphasizing that the president should be actively supporting Israel in bringing the ongoing conflict to a successful resolution, as it is in the best interests of both Israel and the United States.
The combination of the Secretary of Defense's inexplicable absence and the president's questionable response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has raised serious concerns about the leadership and decision-making within the current administration. As the situation continues to unfold, many are left wondering what it would take for accountability and change to come about.
