US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was admitted to a military hospital in Washington on January 1. The Pentagon chief remains at Walter Reed Medical Center.
On January 1, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was admitted to a hospital in Washington DC due to complications from a recent elective medical procedure.
“On the evening of January 1, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications from a recent elective medical procedure. His recovery is progressing well and he expects to return to full duty today. “The Deputy Secretary of Defense is prepared at all times to act on behalf of the Secretary of Defense and to exercise his authority as necessary,” the Pentagon said in a statement Friday.
Austin: I’m committed to doing better
On Saturday, Lloyd Austin himself spoke out, admitting that he “understands the concerns of the American public” and declaring that he is “committed to doing better.” “I also understand the media’s concerns about transparency and realize that I could have done better to ensure the public was properly informed. I am committed to doing better,” he said in a statement.
“I am very happy to be recovering and I look forward to a speedy return to the Pentagon. (…) I take full responsibility for my decisions regarding the release of information,” he added.
UNITED STATES. Pentagon under fire
On Sunday, US members of Congress expressed concern about the Pentagon’s concealment of Lloyd Austin’s health condition. As the Reuters news agency reports, US President Joe Biden only found out on the evening of January 4, although the Defense Minister has been in intensive care since January 1.
“Containing this secret as the United States grapples with a host of national security crises is contrary to normal practice in dealing with the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members,” the Associated Press said.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
