SECDEF Austin: Tuberville's ‘Unprecedented’ Hold on Pentagon Nominees Creates ‘Perilous Precedent...

1) This is hardly unprecedented. It happened many times while Austin was still in service. So either he is lying or oblivious to anything that does not directly impact him. Either is a bad look.
2) This is a direct result of blatantly illegal policy.
3) Tuberville told him exactly what would happen, and he went ahead anyway. Actions have consequences, Austin. Take some responsibility.
4) There is no peril involved. Failure to promote these folks does not mean these billets go empty. It means that the current person stays longer. Or the Deputy fills the gap for a while. Or someone else gets shuffled in. But there is no peril involved - unless Austin screws the pooch even worse than he already had.

IMHO both Austin AND Tuberville are wrong here. But Austin is more wrong.