The story of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recovering in the hospital broke Friday afternoon when the Pentagon first released a statement {SEE HERE}.   It was a bizarre first notification considering that Secretary Austin had been hospitalized since January 1st, and no official notification came until yesterday.   However, the story has grown even more bizarre.

Secretary Austin was in intensive care for four days following complications that stemmed from an elective procedure.

Today, it is discovered that the Pentagon never informed the White House that the Defense Secretary was not in command.  The National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the National Security Council were unaware of Austin’s incapacity until January 4th.  This is very strange.  Politico has the update:

WASHINGTON DC – The Pentagon did not tell President Joe Biden and other top officials about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization for three days, three U.S. officials said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House aides didn’t know of Austin’s Jan. 1 hospitalization until the Defense Department sent over word Jan. 4, two other U.S. officials said. Sullivan informed Biden shortly after DOD’s Thursday notification.

The officials said it was highly unlikely that Austin conveyed word to Biden privately before Sullivan’s briefing. “If Jake didn’t know, no way the president knew,” one of them said. “Who would have told him of Austin’s condition if not Jake? And if someone did tell the president, Jake would’ve been his first call.”

All officials and other people who spoke for this story were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

The news of Austin’s situation came as a shock to all White House staff as they were unaware the Pentagon boss was dealing with complications following an elective medical procedure, the officials said. National Security Council staffers were surprised it took the Pentagon so long to let them know of Austin’s status. The Pentagon didn’t make the information public until Friday evening, notifying Congress about 15 minutes before releasing a public statement.

“This should not have happened this way,” said one of the U.S. officials. The NSC and Pentagon declined comment. (read more)

Considering the U.S military is actively engaged in two regions of conflict, Red Sea (Israel-Hamas war) and Ukraine (Russia-Ukraine conflict) it seems stunning the Defense Secretary was out of commission and the White House was never aware.

Then again, considering the oft spoken arguments about the Joe Biden administration essentially operating without any command-and-control authority, meaning each institution is operating on their own priority system and Joe Biden is not a participant in government, perhaps this is just another affirmational data point.

Lastly, perhaps this level of detachment reconciles THIS STORY.