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."

$400 Billion Can't Buy Much

Apparently not equipment for the Army National Guard. Nearly 90% are rated "not ready" largely due to a lack of billiosn of dollars worth of equipment. With all this war talk the politicians and hawks forgot the role of the Army National Guard is not simply to replace troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their duty involves helping Americans in America. So what does this mean? Don't live anywhere near a natural disaster or emergency in the U.S. because our troops can't help you like they should be able to. Just as the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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?