美防长患癌，拜登“刚知道”......

US President Joe Biden did not learn that his defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, had prostate cancer until Tuesday, the White House said, minutes after it was disclosed to the public along with an infection that was also kept under wraps.

图片来源：美联社

Austin was taken by ambulance on Jan 1 to Walter Reed after suffering complications from his Dec 22 prostate cancer treatment, including nausea with severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain. After he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, Austin was moved on Jan 2 to an intensive care unit.

nausea /ˈnɔːziə/ n. 恶心，呕吐感

abdominal /æbˈdɒmɪn(ə)l/ adj. 腹部的

Biden and national security adviser Jake Sullivan were notified on Jan 4, and the next day, the Pentagon told members of Congress and released a statement to the media.

图片来源：路透社

Austin said in a statement released Saturday evening said he knows he could "have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure."

“美国防长奥斯汀隐瞒住院”一事持续发酵多天。

据美国《华盛顿邮报》、美联社等多家媒体此前报道，白宫和五角大楼在当地时间8日均表示，将审查为何美国总统拜登和其他高级官员未被及时告知防长奥斯汀住院的消息。

报道说，据五角大楼一名发言人透露：一名关键工作人员因患流感耽误了通知工作。

The Biden administration, reeling from learning of Austin’s surprise, is mounting a policy review. And the Pentagon has also begun its own review.

A Pentagon spokesperson earlier blamed the mistake in not informing the White House or Congress about Austin’s situation on a key staffer being out sick with the flu.

在追责声音高涨的同时，美国总统拜登却依然力挺奥斯汀。

美国有线电视新闻网引述一名白宫官员的话称，拜登对他的五角大楼负责人仍然“充满信心”，并且不考虑解雇他。

Despite the obfuscation of his diagnosis to the president, Kirby said Biden has “complete confidence” in his defense secretary and plans to keep him in his position through his term, while simultaneously acknowledging the situation was not ideal.

编辑：孙誉荧

实习生：徐裕婷

综合来源：中国新闻社 环球网 路透社 政治报 美国有线电视新闻网 美联社 卫报