KILEY OUT!

Lt Gen Kiley is out as the surgeon general of the Army. And of course he's requesting retirement. He should be kicked out on his ass. I take issue with CNN saying he is the latest casualty. He's no such thing. Casualty makes one think of victim. He's no victim.

And let me say its not just the Iraq War veterans who are treated bad. Its military servicemembers period.

Walter Reed rebuked in death of Carson GI Army arrogance, bad equipment cited at hearing

Article about a Fort Carson, CO soldier who died at Walter Reed.

Failed equipment, staff negligence and command arrogance plagued a wounded Fort Carson soldier's unsuccessful fight for life at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a congressman said at a hearing this week.

Here is the DOD news release of his death:

The Department of Defense announced today that Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, 29, of Kingman, Ariz., died of wounds on June 18, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. Latham was participating in a raid at a suspected arms market in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on May 19 when he was hit with shrapnel. Latham was evacuated back to the United States where he died of his wounds.

Latham was assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

GOP REP., VA KNEW OF REED PROBLEMS

From the Free Market News Network

Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.), who previously chaired the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, was aware of many problems at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and chose not to pursue more aggressive oversight, according to Raw Story.Young alleges that he knew of the accidental death of Army Staff Sgt. William T. Latham at Walter Reed in 2003 and his statement contradicts the cause of death reported by the Pentagon. Young chose not to pursue more oversight because he did not want to "give the Army a black eye" and did not want to embarrass soldiers and their families. Paul Sullivan, a former VA project manager, told the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee that Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson shelved a program to fix bureaucratic problems between the VA and Defense Department soon after Nicholson took office, according to The Associated Press. Sullivan's testimony opens a window into the neglect, delays and poor coordination that went unnoticed.

Bush calls Walter Reed conditions 'unacceptable'

This is an article just full of people spouting bull. It makes me angry. The President says the treatment of our veterans is unacceptable. Schumner of NY says it is a disgrace (he's never been to Walter Reed in the four years the war has happened).

"We have let some soldiers down," said Peter Geren, the undersecretary of the Army.

No, you let them all down because those who haven't had to experience Walter Reed have had their faith in the hospital destroyed. And those who work, and work their asses off, have to endure this.

And this commission? What are they going to discover that they haven't already? Give me a break.

The silence that fueled Walter Reed and Abu Ghraib

Gregg Bloche, a law professor at Georgetown, hit the nail right on the head. Its the military culture that allows horrible things to occur. Be quiet, don't rock the boat, act like everything is ok. To complain is weakness and treacherous. Its why so many great people leave the military; they hate this culture and can't thrive or even survive in it.

Everyone is always surprised when something happens. You're not surprised, you're just a flunky with no spine.

House Panel Says VA has same problems as Walter Reed

It seems the problems at Walter Reed extend to the military's VA system. I've said it once and regarding the military I'll say it again: Ya think? I'm am so over these politicians acting as if they didn't know the bureaucratic crap going on. First of all, a lot of them (especially the Dems) served in the military. So, I know they know the crap servicemembers have to go through. And if they didn't, its even more reason why everyone should be required to serve in the US military. Maybe if everyone knew from personal experience things would be better....there would be no excuse for the ignorance.

Can't Take Care of Our Troops But We're Going to Change a Nation?

We never fail to fail those who most need us. The U.S fails the troops---how many ways can you say it? Did this administration take into consideration the extra resources that would be needed to provide care for the wounded? I'm sure they didn't and if they did they seriously undreestimated. Kinda of how they thought the Iraqis would be throwing flowers at the troops after we captured their hearts and minds.

WA State Military Hospital Has Walter Reed Issues

So there is another hospital with the mission of taking care of soldiers that isn't up to par. So put it simply, ya think? Come on. If the number one Army hospital fails as it sits in Washington, D.C. and a prime location for those who want to support our troops, what do you think is going on outside of the beltway?

Kiley: 'I Did Fail; I Should Have Been More Engaged'

Kiley does the honorable thing and admits he failed our troops. All this talk but when is Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley going to get his? There is no reason for him to remain when people who had less tenure have been let go.

Dems Call Walter Reed Scandal the "Katrina of 2007"

So the Democrats have it in their little minds that they had nothing to do with how our troops were failed. I have news for you Schumer, you're as much to blame as the Bush administration. Not only because you're in Congress, but some of your constituents were in this war and died in this war. That meant you should have been looking out for them.

When Does Lt Gen Kiley Get His?

Washington Post editorial basically raises the issue that even though MG Weightman probably was incompetent, he was only on the job for six months. Isn't that always the case. Before you can put up the family pictures in your fancy schmancy new office some scandal errupts. But check out Kevin Kiley's time as a leader. Here's a bit of an excerpt to get you going:

Much of The Post's article detailed the abuse by omission that Gen. Kiley, not Gen. Weightman, committed, first as head of Walter Reed, then in his current post as Army surgeon general. Gen. Weightman, who very well might deserve his disgrace, has commanded Walter Reed for only half a year, while Gen. Kiley, now back in charge of Walter Reed, headed the hospital and its outpatient facilities for two years and has led the Army's medical command since. Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and his wife say they repeatedly told Gen. Kiley about unhealthful conditions in outpatient facilities.

This pretty much sums it up:

But the evidence compiled so far suggests that Gen. Kiley has been more complicit in the scandalous neglect of Walter Reed's outpatient facilities for longer than Gen. Weightman has been.

New Walter Reed commander, Bush wakes up

And it goes on and on.

The President is always a day late.

President Bush vowed to investigate allegations of substandard treatment of wounded soldiers as the administration scrambled to contain fallout from the scandal over squalid housing and bureaucratic delays in outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Wow, Harvey is a real dumbass. Balance? Thats the problem, balance. The conservative media is too busy trying to show stories about schools being built in Iraq. I couldn't care less about a school being built in Iraq. Look at the schools in this country. And more importantly, we should be thinking about our troops, their health, their well-being, quality of life, their families...

But he [Harvey] also said the Post stories lacked balance. "Where's the other side of the story?" he asked, his voice rising. "Two articles in your paper have ruined the career of General Weightman, who is a very decent man, and then a captain . . . and the secretary of the Army. If that satisfies the populace, maybe this will stop further dismissals."

Army secretary gets the boot amid Walter Reed scandal

The second hit belongs to the Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey. Well now I'm surprised all these high level Army personnel are the casualties of this Walter Reed mess. Ordinarily, its some lowly schmuck who has to take one for the team. But even the Army isn't dumb enough to think they can't punish people at the lowest level for this mess. Oh wait, for the sake of being accurate he wasn't punished or fired....he resigned. Uh huh, yeah.

Army fires commander of Walter Reed

Well, it didn't take long for someone to get fired due to the Walter Reed debacle. I'm surprised it was a two-star general. I guess the Army is tired of getting all the bad press for the way it treats its soldiers. Someone has to bite the bullet and I'm sure Maj Gen Weightman is glad he's the one. He will be replaced by Lt Gen Kiley. Yes, that Kiley. The one who lived across the street from Building 18 and didn't know what was going on.

Uncle Sam has to keep up appearances

The Army loves to pretend like things are going well even in the midst of horrific chaos. Thats why the ailing soldiers of Walter Reed's Building 18 have to make sure the place is spic and span for the upcoming inspections and Congressional traffic that will be roaming the halls to see what exactly our bravest are living in.

And of course the soldiers need to follow the chain of command even when that is the one thing that is failing them the most.

Well of course the Army knew

Was there ever any doubt top Army officials knew of the poor conditions at Walter Reed. In fact, a three-star general (commanding general of US Army Medical Command) lives across the street from Building 18, the ward that has been getting the most attention. Family members, veterans organizations and even members of Congress have complained over the past three years, state the article in the Washington Post.

In 2004, Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and his wife stopped visiting the wounded at Walter Reed out of frustration. Young said he voiced concerns to commanders over troubling incidents he witnessed but was rebuffed or ignored. "When Bev or I would bring problems to the attention of authorities of Walter Reed, we were made to feel very uncomfortable," said Young, who began visiting the wounded recuperating at other facilities.

Beverly Young said she complained to Kiley several times. She once visited a soldier who was lying in urine on his mattress pad in the hospital. When a nurse ignored her, Young said, "I went flying down to Kevin Kiley's office again, and got nowhere. He has skirted this stuff for five years and blamed everyone else."

Where are all the "gung-ho we love our troops, we support this war" fanatics now? They raise more hell about people who disagree with this war than they do over the treatment our soldiers receive. What's less supportive of the troops? Not agreeing with this war or treating them this way when they return?

Running Like Ambulance Chasers

The Republicans don't have to do anything to make the Democrats look bad. They do it all on their own. They are shocked by the state of affairs at Walter Reed. These yahoos are going to act as if they are not accountable for the treatment of the soldiers? Please, let's not act as if because you didn't own the White House or the Congress, our servicemembers weren't your responsibility. The most horrendous things always happen right in the capital of our nation, the backyard of our public servants.

Skeletons in the Closet at Walter Reed

When someone puts their best foot forward, people forget that means something is wrong who the one left in the background. And boy is that ever the case with Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Their treatment of wounded soliders is a disgrace. But thats the Army way, pretend like everything is okay because heaven forbid a junior officer has to tell his superior he (read: his soldiers) need more help, more resources. That would be a reflection on his (or her) leadership abilities. And we wouldn't want that.