What Does the Hospitalization of SecDef Austin Mean

I wasn’t immediately disturbed by the news that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized for days and the media and public were unaware. I’m a strong believer in privacy and even though Austin is in a high-profile public office, he is still entitled to his privacy. As we learn more about this incident, however, and the fact that the National Security Advisor and White House we unaware of Austin’s absence, I have questions. There is now reporting the deputy secretary was on vacation in Puerto Rico and also may not have been aware of the situation.

The worries about nuclear command and control are a bit overstated but will likely be used as a line of attack by Republicans. The SecDef and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs have an advisory role for nuclear employment, but the system can work without them. My concerns are practical and conceptual. The …