Pentagon keeps secret US Defense Secretary's hospitalization for several days

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (Photo: Reuters).

Reuters quoted two anonymous US officials on January 6 as saying that the Pentagon announced this four days after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications following a recent treatment.

This move by the Pentagon is considered a serious breach of protocol. The delay in reporting health information of the commander of a force of up to 1.4 million active duty troops at a time when the international situation greatly affects US security has confused the US officials.

The Pentagon did not inform the White House National Security Council or National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan until January 4. Sullivan then reported to President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, most congressional leaders and the Pentagon did not learn the news until the afternoon of January 5, thanks to a Department of Defense announcement.

Mr. Austin was absent from the office for several days, but his subordinates thought he was on vacation. During that time, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks took over the Pentagon.

Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said Mr. Austin is recovering well and has returned to work since the evening of January 5, but still needs to stay in the hospital for further monitoring.

In a statement on the evening of January 6, Secretary Austin took responsibility for the delay in reporting his health status.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/lau-nam-goc-giu-kin-chuyen-bo-truong-quoc-phong-my-nhap-vien-nhieu-ngay-20240107100140804.htm