Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • Others
    • COVID-19
    • Today’s Pic
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • Others
    • COVID-19
    • Today’s Pic
No Result
View All Result
OrissaPOST - Odisha Latest news, English Daily -
No Result
View All Result

Meet the African-American ex-general set to lead the world’s most powerful US military

IANS
Updated: December 10th, 2020, 11:19 IST
in International, Top Stories
0
Retired Army General Lloyd J. Austin (Image courtesy-Twitter)

Retired Army General Lloyd J. Austin (Image courtesy-Twitter)

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on Linkedin

New York: Emphasising diplomacy as the bulwark of security in a changing world, US President-Elect Joe Biden has introduced retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin as his pick to lead the world’s most powerful military, as a man “feared by our adversaries” but who will “ensure that the use of force is our tool of last resort”.

The battle-hardened retired general, who will be the nominee for Defence Secretary, will bring his first-hand knowledge of the immeasurable cost of war and “help bring to an end forever wars”, Biden said  Wednesday about the new challenges they will face.

Austin, who will be the first African-American to lead the military, will be taking over at a time when the US is facing a fast-changing global situation.

The main theatre of contention has shifted to the Indo-Pacific region where China is the emerging threat to the world order while the US is having to wind down the “forever wars” in the the Middle East and a part of South Asia where Austin had overseen military operations as the head of the US military’s Central Command.

Biden indicated that their approach to defence would emphasise diplomacy.

He spoke of Austin’s diplomatic skills in dealing with contentious factions of Iraq as well as the coalition partners and said: “He is just as committed as I am to rebuilding and modernising those alliances — from the Asia Pacific to Europe and around the world.”

As with many of his picks for key posts, Austin had worked closely with Biden and was associated with the administration of former President Barack Obama.

When Biden was charged by Obama to wind down US operation in Iraq, Austin was the commander of the US troops there.

Biden’s late son, Beau, had served under Austin as a military lawyer.

A para-trooper, Austin has also done stint as the army vice chief of staff.

Austin, unlike many generals like Jim Mattis, a former Central Command chief who was President Donald Trump’s Defence Secretary, and David Petraeus has kept a low public profile and there is little in his speeches or writings about an overarching global strategy or military doctrine.

Austin will, therefore, come in without public postures and unhampered in drafting a new defence strategy with Biden.

US law bans former military officials from becoming Defence Secretaries for seven years from their date of retirement to ensure civilian control of the military is not eroded.

Therefore, Biden will have to seek a waiver from Congress for appointing Austin, who retired in 2016 and there is opposition from Democratic Party legislators.

When Trump appointed Mattis as his Defence Secretary in 2017, he had to get a Congressional waiver, which was opposed by 17 Democratic Party senators.

Citing that, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said, although she had great respect for him: “I opposed a waiver for General Mattis and I will oppose a waiver for General Austin.”

As the head of the Central Command, his last job in a 41-year military career, Austin had interacted with Pakistani generals and he told a Senate panel in 2014: “I am very encouraged by the new military leadership in Pakistan.”

He had been a believer in Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the US and fighting terrorism, telling the same hearing: “From the military side of the house, that’s what I get, I think they’re sincere about it. I’m very encouraged by what I’m listening to and some of what I’m seeing. The jury’s still out, we have a long way to go, but our relationship is trending positive in a number of directions.”

Austin has served in Europe, but not in Asia and since India comes under the Indo-Pacific Command, he does not appear to have been involved with New Delhi.

With the US focus having shifted to the Indo-Pacific region, his lack of experience in the area could be a handicap if Biden wants to continue building up strategies and alliances there to face up to China’s challenge.

If confirmed by the Senate, Austin will be the second African-American to head a department with an international focus.

The first was Colin Powell, who was former President George W. Bush’s Secretary of State.

Austin’s designation has political significance as, according to Biden, 40 per cent of the 1.3 million US troops are people of colour.

“It’s past time the Department had leadership that reflects that diversity,” Biden said.

He is under pressure from the influential African-American group in Congress to appoint members of the community to key posts in his cabinet.

But he also faced demands to appoint a woman as the defence secretary and there was heavy lobbying for Michelle Flournoy, who was Obama’s Under Secretary of Defence for Policy to get the job.

 

IANS

Tags: Army general Lloyd J. Austindefence headDefence SecretaryUS President-elect Joe Biden
ShareTweetSendShare
Suggest A Correction

Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox.

Related Posts

Zelensky asks EU for 7th sanctions package against Russia

‘Intensify sanctions on Russia’: Zelensky at G7 Summit

June 27, 2022
Kulbhushan Jadhav

Kulbhushan Jadhav engaged with some missing persons: Pak Minister

June 27, 2022
Rath Yatra chariots in Puri (OP Pic)

Puri prepares for Ratha Jatra amid fresh Covid alarm

June 27, 2022

6 Mexican police officers killed in shootout

June 27, 2022

Ghost beneficiaries plague MGNREGS

June 27, 2022

Amrut Sarovar creates jobs in Jagatsinghpur

June 27, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

OrissaPOST epaper Sunday POST OrissaPOST epaper

Click Here: Plastic Free Odisha

Plastic Free Odisha

Actress Bhoomika Dash

Actress Bhoomika Dash calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Bargarh Ranapratap High School students

Bargarh Ranapratap High School students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Darsheel Safary, Actor

Darsheel Safary calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Gandhi College Plus III science students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar

Gandhi Plus III science students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar support a plastic free Odisha. Do you?   *Visit our website orissapost.com. ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

National School Kujang

National School students Kujang Jagatsinghpur district support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Bhubaneswar Bar Association Lawyer Liberty Trust

Bhubaneswar Bar Association Lawyer Liberty Trust supports plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Angul Govt. College Students

Angul Govt. College Students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Padmashree Aruna Mohanty-Odissi Dancer

Padmashree Odissi Dancer Aruna Mohanty calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. ...

August 30, 2018
Covaxin
Christmas

Bharat Biotech rubbishes criticism, says its vaccine is safe    

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech rejected Monday criticism over the grant of emergency use authorisation by India’s drug regulator to ...

January 5, 2021
Plastic Free Odisha

Members of All Ride Bicycle

Members of All Ride Bicycle supports a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sabyasachi Mishra, Actor

Sabyasachi Mishra calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Korei college students

Korei college students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Scoutmaster, Guide Captains, Rovers, and Rangers of Keonjhar

Scoutmaster, Guide Captains, Rovers, and Rangers of Keonjhar support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sundargarh Public School teachers

Sundargarh Public School teachers support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Actor Sritam Das

Actor Sritam Das supports a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Nayagarh Girls’ High School

Nayagarh Girls’ High School students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Hockey Player Dilip Tirkey

Hockey Player Dilip Tirkey supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Srikumar Misra-Entrepreneur

Srikumar Misra supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sudarsan Pattnaik,Sand Artist

Sudarsan Pattnaik support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you?  *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Olympian Dutee Chand

Olympian Dutee Chand calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Arindam Roy, Actor

Arindam Roy supports call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Odisha Rajya Rogi Adhikar Mancha & Mangalabagh International Club workers

Odisha Rajya Rogi Adhikar Mancha & Mangalabagh International Club Workers support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Balibil Nodal School students

Balibil Nodal School students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Utkal University Journalism Department Students

Utkal University Journalism Department students call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

IMT Pharmacy College-Puri

IMT Pharmacy College students call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Debashish Mohanty-Former Indian Cricketer

Cricketer Debashish Mohanty supports  a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Valena Valentina-Karate Player

Karate player Valena Valentina calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Gandhi Science Higher Secondary School in Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar

Gandhi Science Higher Secondary School students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar support a plastic free Odisha. Do you?   *Visit our website ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

BJB Autonomous College-Bhubaneswar

BJB Autonomous college students support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

August 30, 2018

Archives

Editorial

War On Women

Anti-abortion demonstrators outside the United States Supreme Court (PC: Reuters)
June 27, 2022

The US Supreme Court’s overturning of the landmark court ruling Roe vs Wade nearly half a century ago giving the...

Read more

Executive Overreach

June 26, 2022

One of our Supreme Court judges made an important if startling point when giving a lecture abroad. A legal website...

Read more

Shortage of Officers

June 25, 2022

The Uttarakhand government has been struggling to work with only 76 IAS officers in the state, even though it has...

Read more

Disarm All Nukes

June 23, 2022

Austria and New Zealand may be far apart geographically, but we are connected by shared values and principles. Particularly relevant...

Read more
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Career
Developed By Ratna Technology

© 2020 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

  • Home
  • Metro
  • State
  • National
  • International
  • IPL
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Feature
  • Opinion
  • Sci-Tech
  • COVID-19
  • Today’s Pic
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Career
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2020 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST