Pentagon chief Austin diagnosed with prostate cancer

Photo: Global Look Press/Chad Mcneeley/Dod

Last December, doctors diagnosed Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin with prostate cancer and in January he was hospitalized for complications from surgery. The New York Times reported on January 9, citing a statement from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was hospitalized last week due to complications from prostate cancer surgery," the publication quoted a source as saying.

It is reported that Austin was admitted to the hospital on January 1 with severe abdominal, hip and leg pain. The Secretary of Defense was placed in the intensive care unit where excess abdominal fluid was removed.

Since then, doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center said "his infection has disappeared." Doctors stressed that the prostate cancer was detected at an early stage and Austin has an excellent prognosis.

Earlier, on January 8, it was reported that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had been transferred from the intensive care unit, but he remains in the hospital because he is experiencing malaise. It is noted that the Secretary continues to remain in contact with the Pentagon and monitors the agency's activities around the world on a daily basis.

Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Jan. 1 with complications from a routine medical procedure, but the fact that he was in the hospital was kept secret from the public for five days.

On January 5, Todd Starnes, an American journalist and Newsmax host, wondered why this information was not immediately made public. Politico reported that the information about the Pentagon chief's hospitalisation "came as a shock to all White House staff", who were unaware of Austin's complications after the medical procedure. At the same time, the US Congress was informed of the US defence secretary's illness 15 minutes before the Pentagon's press release was published.

On 7 January, former US Vice President Mike Pence called the incident unacceptable because the citizens of the United States have a right to know what is going on. He accused the Pentagon chief of negligence and pointed out that even US President Joe Biden did not know about his hospitalisation. And a member of the House of Representatives of Congress, Republican from the state of Nebraska Don Bacon called the concealment of information about the health of the Pentagon chief a failure of leadership.

The Pentagon said on January 8 that Austin was not going to leave his post. According to US defence spokesman Patrick Ryder, the secretary is focused on continuing as head of the military department and "serving to protect the country". However, Austin may face an impeachment resolution.

Izvestia/GN.CZ/JaV_07