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Walter Reed problems no surprise to many »

Posted by: TomBiro 2 years, 10 months ago

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According to a new story from the WaPo, people up to the Army's surgeon general have known full well about problems at Walter Reed hospital for some time.

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TomBiro

Tom Biro has been blogging in various places since around 2000, including the soon-to-be-revamped tombiro.com, The Media Drop, and AdJab, a site he was ...

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Comments: 65

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Searunner52
March 1, 2007, 8:13 a.m.
Every fu*king one of these "officials" should be courtmartialed if they are in the military or brought up on criminal charges of neglect if they are not!
There is absolutely no excuse that can be tendered for this irresponsible conduct on their part! NOT A ONE!
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GODIMMAD
March 1, 2007, 9:39 a.m.
I agree completly that they should be kicked out and held responsible. This is what happens when the govt tries to do health care. They cant even take care of the ones they care about. hmmm Hilary Health care good, right
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evelyna
March 1, 2007, 9:43 a.m.
No it is a military base and they had no need to keep the facilities open after viet nam. They all are dumps except Bethusda.
The military outsources their care to other hospitals. They cannot outsource this kind of care.
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vor
March 1, 2007, 10:34 a.m.
This all falls squarely on Rummy's shoulders. It is beginning to look like the only real thought prior to the invasion went into purely offensive matters. Little regard for either the Iraqi people or the troops liberating them. That 9 billion USD missing in Iraq could have done alot of good at Walter Reed.
I think I will raise a toast to this great nation the day the neo-cons, especially Cheney and Rummy, are forced to walk out of the White House and Pentagon. Really Don, it is time to go home. I know I will then feel better about the future of the entire world. Surely the American people will not repeat this mistake again. Will they?
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Taganan
March 1, 2007, 11:32 a.m.
The building is 97 yrs old and outdated. It was listed to be closed in 2005, when a new hospital was to be built. It takes time to build a new hospital. Priority of repairs on a building scheduled to be torn down is very low. Congress knew it was in bad shape over a decade ago. Bush cannot close it or snap his fingers and have a new hospital built. Congress dropped the ball, the bureaucrats dropped the ball.
The other problem is that everyone working there is some kind of government employee, too many "by the book" goldbricks and bureaucrats marking time and protected by their union. No one takes responsibility, no one does more than the "job description" and very little is done right.
The "system" is broken, no one person is responsible, yet all are to blame. Ask though, "How did it get into such deplorable condition and how many administrations back did the decline begin?". Probably all the way back to the Vietnam era.
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cleare
March 1, 2007, 11:38 a.m.
the sad fact is that the government has never cared sufficiently for our veterans. but this administration is especially culpable because it CHOSE to go to war without adequete preparation in all areas.
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saneman
March 1, 2007, 12:01 p.m.
Apparently, the meaning of "support our troops" has different meanings for conservatives and liberals. It reminds me of the Jodie Foster movie when she was getting banged in a pool hall room by a bunch of guys and in the background, there were a number of other guys who were egging them on, something like what the conservatives are doing to support our troops.
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Consuelo
March 1, 2007, 12:26 p.m.
This is a National Disgrace and it deserves front page coverage everywhere in this country. The many people who are so vocal about supporting our troops should turn their attention to this problem. Unfortunately, this situation just echoes the deplorable lack of care in our mental health system, our foster care system, and among the elderly poor. At least our soldiers have many Americans willing to speak out on their behalf and the public will demand answers.
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joemont
March 1, 2007, 8:27 p.m.
KelLuv
I know you suffer from Bash Bushitis, but, you are way off base here.
The was the result of local incompetence and arrogance at Walter Reed. Not the entire VA system.
See MoneyBiz's and my previous post.
It was a local issue and NOT something to lay on Bush.
Go Jayhawks (3) !!!
(:>)
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joeblowe
March 1, 2007, 1:15 p.m.
It appears that there is universal outrage at this story, and towards the persons responsible for this reprehensible treatment of our veterans. As is correct. The thing that puzzles me is, if EVERYONE is outraged, and EVERYONE agrees that our injured vets should be much taken care of much better, WHY ISN'T IT HAPPENING? I have a hard time believing that our representatives in Washington don't ALSO feel this way. They certainly SAY they do whenever they are asked. Do they fail to allocate sufficient money? Or is the chain of command within the army that is responsible for this operation failing to do their jobs? Or diverting the funds somewhere else? I recommend that everyone write your elected representatives and INSIST that they FIX this horror. I've already done so -- about a year ago.
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fudgie
March 1, 2007, 2:14 p.m.
This is a straight up f*cking embarassment.
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Baynagirl
March 1, 2007, 2:15 p.m.
Let me all ask you this How many of you have been to Walter reed and Bethesda Navel? For a military wife like myself who frequents both places have seen the flaws in both places walter reed is an old outdated bulding and that is why they will be closing it in the next few years but it cant take one day to build a new hospital. Are you going to tell me that YOUR local hospital has no problems??? I can guarentee it does, its just not being put in the news because its NOT a military issue.
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Bobcat6
March 1, 2007, 4:25 p.m.
I'm sure it's the fault of the democrats. Blame them.
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time4change
March 1, 2007, 7:02 p.m.
"Support Our Troops" rings hollow from these administrative military....have any of them spent time in Iraq ?? Why not send them over with Bush, Cheney, Rove, Snow....all of them, commanded by McCain to fight until "mission is REALLY accomplished" !! If they are wounded...bring 'em back to suffer further harm in their own facilities !!!
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litnat02a
March 1, 2007, 8:18 p.m.
If I may beg to differ with some pionts here. The problems at WRAMC have been around for some time. I had open hart surgery there in the middle 1960's. Then when we returned in the middle 1970's there had been biult the current biulding.
So just for old times I decided to look around the old part of WRAMC. What I found then was shocking to me. Many of the wards had been closed off, floor looked like they hadn't been cared for in some time, the areas between the wards had been stripped of their table, benchs etc.
When I asked some of the staff, they answered that the older part of the WRAMC had been deemed as unneeded. An the Congress was no longer placing the needed money in the budget to maintain the Older parts of the facility.
When I returned in the early 1980's conditions had gotten worse. So if we are to be seeking those responable we needed to blaim both parties, an ourselves. WRAMC's older biuldings are victums of out of sight out of mind.
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Harbeas
March 1, 2007, 8:27 p.m.
I hope they fire more than the scapegoat General that had been in charge there only 6 months.
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Openeyes
March 1, 2007, 8:55 p.m.
This administration lied the nation into a war,shorted the troops on equipment and has replaced every high ranking military commander that disagreed with the program.Is it any real surprise that these chicken hawks,who also have no family members currently serving,would also short the wounded on care that was promised as part and parcel of their service?
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RedstateLib
March 1, 2007, 11:08 p.m.
Dear IRS,
I did not expect to incur such a large tax bill for 2006. Therefore I am not prepared to pay the taxes at this time. However I should make more money in 2 years and will be prepared to pay my taxes for last year at that time. I know you can understand that these things happen and my intentions are good. Thank you for allowing me to defer my responsibility to a future date when it is more convieniant for me.
U.S. Taxpayers
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Cyberfool
March 1, 2007, 11:23 p.m.
I see a lot of blame being thrown around. Was it the Military? The President? Congress?
The Patients probably know the names of the people responsible, because first and foremost it is the Nurses and the Doctors who are to blame for neglect of a patient.
TRUE, the oversight needs to be improved, complaints looked into, stupid people fired (and/or arrested), but blaming those far removed from the chain of information about a problem is ridiculous.
Bill for President! http://www.myspace.com/cyberfool1
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mom4rtroops
March 1, 2007, 11:27 p.m.
Sad to say this seems to be an attitude not only in the military but every where today. It's NOT my problem. It's not me. Only until it DOES happen to them something will get done.
If you love your freedom thank a veteran. Keep them all in your prayers!