He expressed “outrage and sorrow for the death of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan, and for the other troops who were wounded” and added that “we will take all necessary action to defend the U.S. and our troops.”Mr. Austin said he was “glad to be back at the Pentagon.
I feel good and am recovering well, but still recovering.”The House Armed Services Committee has asked Mr. Austin to testify next month about why he and his aides kept his illness secret.
Mr. Austin, 70, has long been known as an intensely private man who eschews the limelight and dislikes talking to the news media — qualities that Mr. Biden was fine with, his aides said, when he appointed the 40-year Army officer to be his defense secretary.
But in keeping secret his hospitalization, Mr. Austin attracted more attention to himself than at any point in his long career.
He also drew scrutiny and criticism of Mr. Biden’s national security team during a period when it was dealing with multiple crises around the world, including wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Persons:
”, Mr, Austin, Mike D, Rogers, ” Mr, Biden
Organizations:
U.S, Pentagon, House Armed, Republican, Army
Locations:
Jordan, Alabama, Gaza, Ukraine