Tag Archives: Lloyd Austin

Austin Transfers Duties, Cancels Meeting With NATO

Axios reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized again on Sunday — this time “to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” the Pentagon announced. The Defense Department said Monday Austin will not travel to Brussels later this week for meetings on NATO and Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. Officials with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said …

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Pentagon: Lloyd Austin Hospitalized With Bladder Issue

“Today, at approximately 2:20 pm, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin Ill was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified. Additionally, White House and Congressional notifications have occurred. …

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Austin Apologizes For Secret Hospitalization [VIDEO]

The Hill reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized Thursday for his secretive hospitalization in early January, admitting he “did not handle this right,” amid questions about his failure to notify administration officials of the hospital stay. Austin appeared in the Pentagon press briefing room for the first time since his hospitalization and answered questions from reporters about the scandal. “I …

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Austin’s Hospitalization Spurs New WH Guidelines

The Associated Press reports: The White House is laying out a new set of guidelines to ensure it will be informed any time a Cabinet head can’t carry out their job after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s secret hospitalization this month was kept for days from President Joe Biden and his top aides. The new guidelines include a half-dozen instructions for …

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Defense Sec Remains Hospitalized In “Good Condition”

Reuters reports: White House National Security spokesman John Kirby on Sunday said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s doctors think he may need additional care. “We’ll see, you know, when he can be released, but obviously they still feel like he may need some additional care. Part of that is just physical therapy,” Kirby said. Kirby said “there is routine regular …

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Biden: Austin Should Have Disclosed Hospitalization

CNN reports: President Joe Biden on Friday said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a lapse in judgement by not notifying him of his hospitalization, but White House officials made a point in emphasizing Austin remains heavily involved in military decision making. Touring an Allentown, Pennsylvania-area coffee shop, Biden was asked by reporters whether Austin’s delay in informing him about his …

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Pentagon: Defense Sec Was Treated For Prostate Cancer

The Associated Press reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has prostate cancer and his recent secretive hospitalization was for surgery and later to treat an urinary tract infection related to that operation, doctors said Tuesday. The 70-year-old Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Dec. 22 and underwent surgery to treat the cancer. Austin developed the infection …

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Pentagon Reveals Hospitalization Of Defense Secretary

The Washington Post reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized earlier this week for unspecified reasons but is recuperating, the Pentagon said late Friday, after withholding the information for days. Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said that Austin, who is 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington on Monday “for complications following …

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US Carries Out Fatal Strikes On Iran-Backed Militias

The Washington Post reports: American forces launched airstrikes against three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups linked to Iran, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement, in response to an attack on U.S. personnel stationed at Irbil air base that left one service member critically injured. The militant attack was launched by a one-way explosive drone, a …

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Pentagon And US Allies To Defend Shipping In Red Sea

The Associated Press reports: The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced early Tuesday in Bahrain. The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have damaged the …

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Graham: “I Just Lost All Confidence” In Lloyd Austin

“He’s so naïve. I mean, I just lost all confidence in this guy. How about focusing on protecting our soldiers, men and women in Syria and Iraq? Strategic defeat would be inflaming the Palestinians? They’re already inflamed. They’re taught from the time they’re born to hate the Jews and to kill them. They’re taught math: If you have 10 Jews …

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DoD Ends Support For Congressional Travel To Israel

CBS News reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has issued a memo that pauses Defense Department support for congressional travel to Israel right now and restricts visits by defense and military leaders. The memo, dated October 31, is meant to discourage “combat tourism,” according to defense officials. The military is already doing so much in the area that there’s no reason …

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US Readies Troops For Possible Deployment To Israel

The New York Times reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered about 2,000 more U.S. troops to prepare to deploy to the Middle East in support of Israel, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, as Israeli forces prepare to launch a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. The troops are currently stationed in the United States and other locations, …

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Pentagon To Move Carrier Strike Group Closer To Israel

Politico reports: The Pentagon will send ships and aircraft closer to Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday, demonstrating a major show of force a day after Hamas militants launched attacks across southern Israel. The closest U.S. Navy assets are the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and its carrier strike group, which is currently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. The …

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Pentagon Vows To Support Israel Against Hamas

The Hill reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. stands squarely by Israel and will ensure it “has what it needs to defend itself” after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against Palestinian militants that launched a surprise attack on his country. Austin said in a statement he was “closely monitoring developments in Israel” and extended his condolences …

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Zelensky: Blinken And Austin Will Visit Kyiv Tomorrow

Bloomberg News reports: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would visit Kyiv on Sunday, in what would be a risky show of support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. “Tomorrow people from the U.S. are coming, I will meet the defense minister and the secretary of state, Mr. Blinken,” …

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Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin Tests Positive For COVID

CNN reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for Covid-19 and is exhibiting “mild” symptoms, according to a statement from him released by the Defense Department on Sunday. “I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President. My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have …

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Pentagon Mandates Vax Now That It Has Full Approval

The Associated Press reports: The Pentagon says it will require service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is making good on his vow earlier this month to require the shots once the Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine. Kirby …

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Six US Airlines To Provide Planes For Afghan Evacuation

The Washington Post reports: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the activation of a program that will use 18 commercial airplanes to aid the U.S. military evacuation of American nationals and refugees in Afghanistan. The activation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet will provide the Defense Department with “access to commercial air mobility resources” in the evacuation efforts, Pentagon press …

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Pentagon: All Troops Must Get Vaxxed By Sept 15th

ABC News reports: The Pentagon will require members of the U.S. military to get the COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 15, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. That deadline could be pushed up if the vaccine receives final FDA approval or infection rates continue to rise. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says in his memo that he will seek …

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