According to a briefing on national security, the quiet hospitalization of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for which even the White House had not been informed about it for days, was unprecedented. It left the U.S. with a weaker position in terms both political and militarily around the world.

“I cannot think of any precedent in history for this.” We’ve been in business for quite some time. In a telephone interview with Fox News Digital on Monday, Robert Greenway, Director of the Allison Center for National Security at Heritage Foundation, said that he was unaware this had ever happened. He said that the incident had further eroded the trust in the Biden Administration.

Austin has faced a fierce backlash from conservative politicians, leaders, and pundits for the quiet hospitalization that occurred this week. Former President Donald Trump called for Austin to be fired.

Trump said on Truth Social Sunday that Austin “should be terminated immediately for improper conduct and dereliction duty.”

RESPONDS THE WHITE HOUSES TO GOP CALL FOR SEC AUSTIN’S REMOVAL AFTER MYSTERY AILMENT AND HOSPITALIZATION

He continued, “He’s been missing for a week and nobody knew where he might be, not even his boss Crooked Joe Biden.”

Trump said that “he has performed poorly, and ‘General’ Mark Milley should have also been fired, for many different reasons. But in particular, his catastrophic surrender in Afghanistan is perhaps the most embarrassing event in the history our country.”

AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRETARY RETIRES DUTIES AFTER DAYS OF INTENSIVE CARE UNITED WORK AS PUBLIC IS KEEP IN THE DARK

Austin, 70, underwent an elective medical procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on December 22. Days later, he experienced “severe” pain at home, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said to Fox News on Sunday. On Jan. 1, he was transported back to the hospital to be in the intensive care unit.

There has been no clarification of the elective procedures that were performed. Austin has returned to his duties, and transferred from the ICU. He remains at Walter Reed.

Media reports soon claimed that the National Security Council, President Biden and top Pentagon officials – including Austin Hicks’ deputy – had been kept in the dark about the hospitalization. Ryder said to the media on Monday that the White House, National Security Council and Austin’s chief staff were not informed of the hospitalization until after the chief of staff was diagnosed with the flu.

Greenway said that, in the history of the United States, he couldn’t recall another instance in which a secretary was hospitalized without the commander-in-chief knowing about it. He also stated that the incident had left the U.S. with a weaker position on the international stage.

DOD’S SECOND-IN-COMMAND IS TOLD AUSTIN HOSPITALIZATION TWO DAYS AFTER TAKING OVER PART OF HIS DUTIES

“Putin and Xi are all looking at it with disbelief, just as we do. Hezbollah is also one of them. They’re already judging that, because the U.S. is perceived as weak, they can take advantage of this to strike back. Greenway stated that this increased the risk of mischief abroad, because they saw the United States as physically unprepared to take action and the administration was not ready to act when it couldn’t decide on who is in charge.

This was done at a time of threat across multiple theaters. You could also argue that… we are in this because we have bad personnel, policies and practices. This is not a reflection of the current world situation. “I think that’s probably why things are the way they are because it’s unclear who is in charge,” Greenway said.

PENTAGON STATES DEFENSE SECRESTARY AUSTIN DOES NOT HAVE PLANS TO REIMBURSE

The national security expert compared this situation to the criticisms leveled at Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) last year, when he blocked military nominations in February over what he called the Pentagon’s policy of providing reimbursements for travel to military personnel seeking abortions. Greenway believes those who attacked Tuberville will be the first ones to criticize Austin.

“Everyone gave Sen. Tuberville lots of grief over the holds he put on military promotions, and said that this had been greatly disruptive to military. I think those same voices should be coming out to castigate the administration, and the Department of Defense. He said that he didn’t think anything could harm military readiness more than removing the secretary of Defense for a full week.

An official at the White House told Fox News Digital that Biden continues to “have full confidence and trust in Secretary Austin.”

AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRESTARY, HOSPITALIZED AFTER SURGERY COMPLICATIONS

Austin’s resignation has not been requested for the first time since he became secretary of defense in January 2021. Austin and the Biden administration were criticized for the U.S. withdrawl from Afghanistan. Both lawmakers and retired military personnel called for Austin’s resignation.

As a result of the chaotic withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, 13 U.S. soldiers died defending the Kabul Airport during the operation. Meanwhile, hundreds of Americans as well as tens and thousands of Afghan allies remained in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Some critics such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that the withdrawal opened the door for Russia to invade Ukraine in a conflict that has lasted for almost two years.

Greenway, formerly the senior director of National Security Council’s Middle Eastern and North African Affairs Directorate told Fox News Digital the White House’s commitment to Austin was likely down to “a practical matter.”

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“As a matter of practicality, they are unlikely to be able to confirm anyone else… They don’t likely have a suitable replacement.” He said that they have not been able, and I don’t think it is likely, to get a policy director through the Senate’s confirmation process.