The Wire - January 8, 2024

RR The Wire 2330Z January 08, 2024

PRECEDENCE: ROUTINE RR

DTG: 233008Z JAN 24

ICOD: 223008Z JAN 24

CONTROLS: Public Release

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BLUF: SECDEF AUSTIN CONTINUES HOSPITALIZATION FOR MYSTERY ILLNESS.

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-International Events-

Europe: Widespread protests begin in Germany in response to a variety of taxation and policy issues. So far, significant traffic disruptions have been reported in Berlin as the largely farmer-driven protest begins in earnest.

-HomeFront-

USA: Following the depressurization incident experienced by Alaskan Flight 1282, mass inspections of the Boeing 737 Max 9 platform have been underway for a few days. So far, United Airlines has reported finding loose bolts on several of their aircraft, in the same section of the aircraft that failed on Flight 1282.

TX: Developing reports indicate that a few minutes ago, an explosion occurred at the Sandman Hotel in Fort Worth. So far, many injuries have been reported. AC: Very early reports indicate this may have been the result of a gas leak, but as the situation is still developing, few details have been confirmed as of this report.

Washington D.C.: Further details regarding the hospitalization of SECDEF Lloyd Austin raise concerns within the National Command Authority. Details are also highly contradictory; originally Pentagon reports stated that Austin was hospitalized due to complications from a routine elective procedure. Now, details emerge that Austin was hospitalized in the ICU of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Years Day after suffering “severe pain”, strongly indicating the “elective procedure” detail was an outright lie. Additionally, Pentagon officials originally stated that the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Kathleen Hicks, was briefed on the situation and command was properly transferred to her during Austin’s hospitalization. Now, details emerge that Hicks had no idea of the severity of the hospitalization, and was actually on vacation at the time of the incident.

Analyst Comments: Though deception events surrounding powerful government officials are not new, the Office of the Secretary of Defense is not a random cabinet position. The SECDEF has a direct role to play in the use of strategic weapons. The POTUS, VPOTUS, and SECDEF must all unanimously concur on the release of nuclear weapons, for instance. Much political rhetoric surrounds the cognitive abilities of a Commander in Chief specifically with regards to the use of nuclear weapons, with good reason. However, one of the men who also has to concur with the POTUS’ orders went missing for four days, and the staff of his Deputy knew nothing about it. As such, this is no minor game of hooky. Even more concerning are the basic questions surrounding who was acting as SECDEF for several days, and what actions the staff officers of the SECDEF and acting-SECDEF undertook during this crisis-of-command.

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Analyst: S2A

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