Biden Appoints Decorated Combat General, ex Board Member of Largest Missile Manufacturer As Secretary of Defense. The Bombings Have Started Again.

 The United States has renewed airstrikes in Syria, they have sent US troops into Mozambique and that US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 has been postponed indefinitely. All this (and more to come) at the behest of this man here :

4 Star General Lloyd James Austin III

In January 2021 General Lloyd James Austin III has been appointed the US Secretary of Defense (Department of Defense or DoD aka The Pentagon).

General Austin was 'boots on the ground' in the American invasion of Afghanistan. In 2003 he became the commanding general of US and allied forces in Afghanistan.

He was also 'boots on the ground' in the invasion of Iraq and in 2010, he became Commanding General (CG) of US Forces - Iraq. 

In 2013 Austin became commander of United States CENTCOM (Central Command). 

Upon retirement from the US Army in 2016, he joined the Board of Raytheon Technologies, one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the world and a major weapons supplier to the US Department of Defense. 

Among Raytheon's products include the Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot missiles, Sidewinder missiles, Joint Strike Missile, Joint Standoff Weapon, Paveway bomb, Stinger missile and many other toys. 

Under the new Biden administration the US has recently renewed its airstrikes in Syria, targeting Iranian assets. It has been reported that the new Secretary of Defense was personally involved in the Syria strike.

In his first overseas tour since becoming US Secretary of Defense, General Austin has visited Japan and South Korea and right now he is on a three day visit to India. 

• India received US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Friday 
• sign of strengthening defence ties
• India not forming coalition against China
• discussions in India on increasing military cooperation to next level 
• deep military cooperation between two countries
• US values security relationship with New Delhi in a big way

Oct 2020 Delhi / US signed Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)
BECA : India receives real-time US intel 
will increase accuracy of missiles and armed drones

• 2018 Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) 
• LEMOA allows both militaries access to supplies, spares, airbases,  ports

2016 Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) 
COMCASA : India receives encrypted comm equipment 
US / India military communicate through secure networks

The next few years will see the US ramping up its anti China posturing. I dont think the US will go to war with China. It will be suicidal and China is not a military threat to world trade. 

For example no one complaints (or even talks about) the first Chinese overseas military base in the entire history of China (in Djibouti) because China uses the base to play a frontline role in suppressing piracy in that area. 

The US weapons manufacturers need the China bogeyman to frighten the American people into spending taxpayers money to buy more rockets, missiles and bombs.

This is where I think Pakistan is going to get thrown under the bus. In India, General Austin wants to get Indian support to "contain" China. But India and China have already achieved a sort of "equilibrium" regarding the border disputes. Dont mess with me and I wont mess with you. Plus it is really insane for India and China to engage in rivalry when there is so much shared prosperity yet to be exploited between the two countries. 

The US is more worried about Afghanistan where Russia now plays a very big role - including successfully engaging with the Taliban. Hence the decision by General Austin that American forces remain in Afghanistan. Bad mistake. But they need to sell weapons. Plus India is still a close ally of Russia.

India does not like the Taliban because they are lackeys of Pakistan and the Taliban are "irrational" actors (Pakistan as well - to an extent). Indian intelligence and Indian spooks have built up a very significant "ground presence" in Afghanistan without appearing too ubiquitous. 

Right now the Indian presence in Afghanistan helps them contain Pakistan. (Helps keep Pakistan tied up, distracted inside Afghanistan thereby creating less trouble in Kashmir and elsewhere along the Indo-Pak border).

Over the years the US has become less committed to its long time 'two timing friend' Pakistan. Recently the US sold US3 billion worth of Predator drones to India - a  major slap in the face for Pakistan which not only cannot afford the Predators but the Americans selling the top secret drones to India reflects high levels of trust and military cooperation between the US and India. Hence the BECA, LEMOA and COMCASA agreements above. 

The ground is shifting but it is not unpredictable.  

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.