Was in intensive care for days
After the Pentagon chief’s silence, there was a hail of criticism
January 7, 2024, 6:26 p.m
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The absence of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin between the years is hardly noticeable until there is talk of the 70-year-old’s hospitalization. The public is left in the dark about many things, even the president doesn’t know.
A secret hospitalization of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is causing a stir in the USA. The Pentagon chief had already been admitted to a clinic on New Year’s Day due to complications following a previous procedure – but the ministry only announced this publicly last Friday. Since then there has been a hail of criticism.
Austin, who was still in the hospital over the weekend, apologized for the information policy. A written statement from the minister said he understood concerns about transparency. “And I recognize that I could have done a better job of adequately informing the public.” He is committed to doing this better in the future. At the same time, Austin emphasized that it was his medical procedure, “and I take full responsibility for my decisions regarding disclosure.”
The Pentagon had not only provided very late information about Austin’s hospital stay, but also very sparsely. The ministry did not provide any information about what type of procedure had caused complications or what treatment was necessary. It also did not provide any details about who was in charge at the Pentagon at what time. Friday’s statement simply said that the deputy defense minister was available at all times to act on behalf of the department head and exercise his authority if necessary.
Several US media outlets, including NBC, reported, citing government circles, that Austin’s deputy Kathleen Hicks stepped in from vacation in Puerto Rico and took on some tasks from there. Austin spent several days in the intensive care unit. The White House and President Joe Biden were only informed that Austin was in the hospital after a delay of several days.
Former US Vice President Mike Pence criticized Austin’s actions as “unacceptable”. Pence told CNN that Americans have a right to be informed about the minister’s health – especially when the Pentagon chief will be out of action for several days “at a time when our allies in Eastern Europe and Israel are are at war”. The fact that he didn’t inform the president was a “breach of duty.”