WASHINGTON
— On Tuesday, the White House revealed that
US President Joe Biden was only
informed of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s prostate cancer diagnosis just
moments before it became public knowledge. Austin, aged 70, was admitted to
Walter Reed Medical Center on January 1, a fact the Pentagon deliberately kept
from the American public, the White House, and Congress for the majority of the
past week. This caused widespread political criticism. Even Kathleen Hicks,
Austin's deputy, remained uninformed for several days, learning about it only
after being asked to assume some of his duties on January 2, while on vacation
in Puerto Rico.
اضافة اعلان
John
Kirby, the White House spokesperson, stated, "Biden was not informed until
last Thursday that Secretary Austin was in the hospital. He was not made aware
until this Tuesday morning that the primary reason for his hospitalization was
prostate cancer." He added, "No one at the
White House knew that
Secretary Austin had prostate cancer until this Tuesday morning, and the
president was informed immediately after that." Austin and Biden spoke on
Saturday, and as of yet, it remains unclear why Biden wasn't aware of Austin's
condition until this Tuesday, Al-Mamlaka TV reported.
The
Republicans considered the
incident evidence of Austin's negligence in
performing his duties. Austin, a retired general who led US forces in Iraq, and
the first Black defense secretary in the United States, faces an official
inquiry initiated by the House Armed Services Committee, led by Republican
Chairman Mike Rogers. In a letter to Austin on Tuesday, Rogers stated,
"Given the wars in Ukraine and Israel, the idea that the White House and
even your deputy did not understand the nature of your condition is entirely
unacceptable."
Austin
was transported by ambulance to Walter Reed after experiencing complications
from prostate cancer treatment on December 22, including severe abdominal,
thigh, and leg pain. After being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection,
Austin was transferred to the intensive care unit on January 2. Austin directly
follows Biden in the chain of command for the US military, and his duties
require him to be available at any moment to respond to any crisis related to
national security.
This
readiness includes always being prepared to engage in secure communications
with other officials in the event of an imminent nuclear attack, a task that
might be challenging in the intensive care unit. Some prominent Republicans,
including former President Donald Trump, have called for Austin's resignation.
However, the Pentagon stated it has no plans for resignation, and the White
House stated that Biden is not seeking his removal.
Read more Region and World
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
