Promotion of Top Austin Aide Blocked by Senator Tuberville

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s top aide was up for a promotion, but that is not going to happen just yet.

Lt. Gen. Ronald P. Clark was up for his fourth star, but Senator Tuberville (R-AL) blocked it, and rightfully so.

If you ask me, there is not a single member of Austin’s staff that should be promoted. I would even say quite a few of them should be fired.

Not Today, General

General Clark was scheduled to get his fourth star and be appointed the commander of all U.S. Army forces in the Pacific.

Clark is currently a senior aide to Secretary Austin, and he is smack dab in the middle of the controversy that surrounded Austin when he was out for his medical procedure.

General Clark is one of several high-ranking Defense Department officials who chose not to inform Congress or the White House when Austin was hospitalized.

Mallory Jaspers, Tuberville’s spokesperson, explained, “Sen. Tuberville has concerns about Lt. Gen. Clark’s actions during Secretary Austin’s hospitalization.

“Lt. Gen. Clark knew that Sec. Austin was incapacitated and did not tell the Commander in Chief.

“As a senior commissioned officer, Lt. Gen. Clark’s oath requires him to notify POTUS when the chain of command is compromised.”

A Pentagon spokesman, James Adams, responded, “Lt. Gen. Clark is highly qualified and was nominated for this critical position because of his experience and strategic expertise.

“We urge the Senate to confirm all of our qualified nominees. These holds undermine our military readiness.”

I have zero issue with this block due to the fact I still believe that Austin should have been relieved of duty after that incident and heads needed to roll in the Defense Department, but none of that happened.

We can also look at the lack of accountability over the Afghanistan withdrawal where, again, nobody was fired or held accountable.

If you ask me, there is not a single person on Austin’s staff or in Army command associated with Afghanistan that should be promoted right now.