January 8, 2024 – 07:22
Contrary to previous news, it did not happen at the beginning of January this year, but on December 22, Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense of the United States, entered the hospital for the first time, without the knowledge of any of his direct deputy. Or President Joe Biden. writes The Guardian.
The Pentagon announcement, on Sunday evening, revealed that although the 70-year-old Austin was released after a day of hospitalization at the end of December, he was not available on the day he was in the hospital, but he did not inform his colleagues about it. This is the same. The Minister himself first issued a statement about Austin's hospitalization, taking full responsibility for what happened, but at the same time, it was also revealed that the top circles of the Pentagon had already been informed on January 2 that the Defense Minister was in the hospital. Intensive care unit.
According to the article, the secrecy surrounding Austin's illness and medical treatments runs counter to past practice, where the president and Cabinet members are typically informed of things of this sort, because it increases national security risks. According to the Pentagon statement, the secretary's hospitalization was not disclosed in time, in part because Austin's chief of staff was also ill.
