Washington: Newly elected US President Joe Biden is being pressured by two different factions of his own party over the selection of the next Secretary of Defense. One faction says an African-American should be elected to the post, while another wants a woman to be selected for the post of defense minister for the first time.
Meanwhile, some progressive groups are opposing leading female contender Michelle Flournoy because of her old record. In a letter to Biden, at least seven progressive groups have appealed to Florini not to run for office. “Flourney’s continued support for military intervention has contributed to a catastrophic crisis around the world, including in Yemen,” said Jehan Hakeem, chairman of the Yemeni Alliance Committee.
In addition to Florini, Lloyd Austin, a former army general, and Jay Johnson, a former home minister under former President Barack Obama, are also contenders for the post. About 100 members of the Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives belong to the Progressive Caucus, so their support and trust is vital for Biden. James Cleiburn, a leading supporter of blacks in Congress, has appealed to Biden to include more black women and men in the cabinet. So far no woman or black person has taken over the post of Defense Minister.
