This is slightly disturbing...... http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/TNSreedinspect070227/ This kind of stuff makes me sick.
I've been reading about this and the treatment of wounded vets is disgusting. It appears to primarily be a beurocratic problem not one that necessarily goes to the administration.....though there could be inactivity there too, (previously). From newspaper reports a woman brought Rumsfeld's wife there...who saw some of the bad conditions. The woman who brought Rummy's wife was subsequently dressed down or banned...so the hospital administration was working to keep word of conditions from spreading. A republican congressman also visited, complained, and got no results. At least the newspaper article grabbed Gates's attention and he seems to be addressing it now. Maybe before Gates' the administration was not acting on this...as both the Congressman and Rumsfeld's wife should/could have grabbed more attention on this issue. It appears though, that significant effort internally was being made to keep these horrid conditions from the public. Its no way to treat wounded vets/heros. Correcting these conditions should be a highest priority and all should be aware of progress.
It is an indication that we are not properly prepared or funded to deal with the amount of injured soldiers that are returning from this war.
While this has caused a lot of talk and resulted in a change of personnel at the top of the hospital and a change of the secretary of the army--the key will be to see if soldier treatment improves dramatically here and at other vet hospitals. The whole thing is a disgrace.
An understatement. The whole ordeal was a stain. Anyone actually see Robert Gates speak on this? He was pissed and should be. He seems genuinely concerned and outraged over the whole ordeal. Now let's fix it and make sure it *never* happens again.
Salon Magazine started reporting on this issue back in early 2005. The story was buried, government officials never reacted to the news, and the poor treatment of wounded vets from Iraq and Afghanistan was allowed to continue for several years. Here is one example of a series of stories that were started in 2004 and continued for a while: http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/02/18/walter_reed/index.html American soldiers in the field have been long trained to make gallant efforts to save the wounded. This treatment of vets has been hidden from the public for several years. It is a horrible indictment on an administration that only wants "good news" with regard to anything it does. Similarly it is an indictment against the army beaurocracy. One more miserable black mark against the incompetent, wrong headed Bush administration.
For some, what really happens to vets doesn't matter. They are only interested in "black marks" for short term political gain.
GTech: I live in the DC area. I see soldiers and vets all the time and interact with them all the time. I hear their comments about service and conditions all the time. I've visited Walter Reed (though not recently). I've seen recent young vets with injuries. I know vets from past wars and from serving between wars. I don't currently work for the military now or in a capacity that serves the military. In fact that is hard to do these days as the war in Iraq has increased soldiers stationed here and especially contractors/ (often vets) who support DOD (department of defense) I've heard all the perspectives of soldiers and vets. Their perspectives range all over the place from uber patriotic and total support of current policies to disagreement with what is going on now. You're a vet. Doesn't it piss you off? One of the implicit promises to vets is that for service they will get different benefits, including health care, educational benefits, etc. One of the worse things about Vietnam was how miserable those vets were treated. Much of the public spat on them. It was horrendous. One of the few plusses out of that experience was that the public realized how stupid that response was. Vets who serve--and those who serve in wars should be well treated. Now the public responds differently. But it can't be lip service. You have to follow through on it. Here's the current problem as I see it. This nation needs to expand the military for a long haul political battle against Islamic extremism and similar dangers. But this administration isn't following through. A bunch of old guys are running around preaching patriotism, wearing flags and medals, and end up screwing young people. They bury the problem for a couple of years. Their real agenda is to get into power and stay in power and to hell with everything else. How the H do you expand the military when the basic premises to the young are not being carried out? Do you want to enlist with the knowledge that you'll get shot up and treated like sh*t and lied to if and when you return. One of the ironies is that with each passing decade, American military medicine and care get better in the field. More soldiers are saved from dying in the field. They are carrying more body armour. Care in the field is quicker and better than it was. Soldiers are rushed to care both in the middle east and moved more quickly moved to Europe and the States. The after care should be better. It evidently hasn't been. With the wars starting in 2002 and running continuously there have been new big strains on medical care for active vets and on aftercare. Its sick if this administration isn't taking care of that...and moreover burying and denying the truth. The short term gain issue. That is the guys in power. That is all they are intersted in.
Very well said! The problem with the Vietnam soldiers was that the they were allowed to be the fall guy for everything that went wrong. The war was extremely unpopular and th government allowed the soldiers to be seen as baby killers. This took the heat of some of the anger off them and they damn well knew it. But people quickly realized they were being manipulated. It was not the soldiers fault, it was the governments responsibility because they where making the decisions. But we do not ever learn. Abu Ghraib once again let the soldiers take the fall for a rogue government making bad decisions. It is sad really because we will fall for it again in the future.
This is not a partisan issue, Earlpearl. I don't even know the party preference of the generals in charge. I suppose one could try, if they were *that* desperate, but this issue transcends political boundaries on every level. Fortunately, for those who really do care about their bests interests, and not just weak attempt at partisanship, the investigation got to the General's boss, Robert Gates. Gates took immediate action. He did the absolute right thing. I watched Cheney say yesterday "there are no excuses, this problem WILL BE FIXED. PERIOD." You ask: First two sentences, correct. Hell yeah it pisses me off. It pisses me off that some try to use it for short term political gain as well. As noted above, I'm very disappointed this was a problem within the military, yet I'm glad it's identified and immediate action is being taken place. Immediate action is what is required and "no excuse, it will be fixed" attitude is what it needs to be fixed. Robert Gates should be commended for taking quick and decisive action. As for implicit promises, that is subjective depending on circumstance. You are not guaranteed free medical care after leaving military service. If you retire, after 20 years or are medically discharged, you can/will receive medical benefits.
Everything is a partisan issue with you. You can't think unless you are told which side side of an issue to take. Just because Dick makes a bold statement means nothing if he was the rout couse to begin with. It must be nice when you can cause a problem then turn around and blame someone else. This problem is not a military problem, it a problem created by this administration through their privatization of the military. http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_Administration_push_for_privatization_may_0303.html http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/03/Weightmansubpoena/
Hmm, let's see...I'm arguing that this isn't a partisan issue, yet you are claiming that I'm not. How does that work? Were you trying to think, but nothing was happening? This one is really good! Did you mean "root cause?" You had to work hard to misspell that one! Here, you offer that I'm trying to blame someone else, yet you are attempting (that is what you are trying to do, correct?) to blame someone else yourself. Too funny! Were you trying to be dishonest by suggesting that the privatization of the military is the problem, when actually it was just the hospital that was privatized? And who were *you* trying to blame in partisan fashion? What a nut!
See there you go again trying to win at the Internet and failing. I thought spelling Nazis automatically lost at Internet arguing 101?? Lets see when you start off a counterpoint with trying to discern the partisanship of the sides, you are making it a partisan issue. Then when you attack a posts spelling issues, you prove yourself a tool. Yeah I tried real hard to spell that wrong, or my typing skills suck and I don't bother proof reading a forum post......
Did it hurt? Which is exactly what you did. Or you just don't know any better. Which one works best for you?
Again all you have is attacks and not substance. I say it is about time you declare victory here to save face. It is about that time in the thread is it not?
The substance is above, just before you came in with your partisan drivel and dishonesty. And to think, you could have participated.