Study: Thousands of veterans return with mental illness

Another cost of war no one thinks about...the mental health of our troops. Mental illness is real. They've seen things most of us will never imagine...of couse they are haunted.

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.

`Cost of war' too much for Walter Reed, vet says

Double leg amputee MAJ Tammy Duckworth speaks about the war and the commission to discover everything the government should already know.

"I am exactly the kind of patient that is taxing the military medical system and will drain the VA resources," she said. "If that is the cost of the war, then the American people should be told that is the cost of the war."

No one wants to do anything but say "support the troops" and believe in this global war on terror. Which I hope evreyone knows isn't about this one country. It is an ongoing thing that will never end so I dont get this 'stay until we win' thing.

Once you're not 100%, the military doesnt spend too much time worrying about you.

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.

NEWSFLASH: FOX is biased and Sen. Murray has a clue

Interesting tidbits from an article at seattlepi.com.

A guy from Editor & Publisher magazine was on TV this week having looked at treatment of two events by news organization Web sites: He reported that Fox News offered more than 40 videos on the death of Anna Nicole Smith, and one on the Walter Reed Medical Center scandal.

I know thats not shocking to anyone...not anyone with half a brain cell. And here is one Democrat who I will let have her rant against the Bush administration since she did vote against the war in 2002.

"They have lowballed the cost of this war, and the cost of caring for our soldiers. ... It goes to the top, to the highest level. The Bush administration wants this country to feel there is no cost to war," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said this week after a testy exchange with Army brass.

She is a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, tapped by Majority Leader Harry Reid to take the lead on veterans care.

She has training for the role. As the Iraq war escalated in 2004, the Bush administration said it would shut down the Department of Veterans Affairs' John C. Wainwright Medical Center in Walla Walla.

Murray blocked the closure by exposing VA officials to angry citizens. She called a field hearing for which more than 400 people turned out, and at which major veterans organizations defended the hospital.

The senator was back at it a year later, helping reveal a $1.5 billion shortfall in veterans health programs. She stood back as Republican congressional leaders professed shock and surprise, and passed an emergency spending bill.

Veterans Face Vast Inequities Over Disability

The military likes to say whether someone is active duty, reserve or guard they are all servicemembers. But apparently after getting wounded in war, when its time for the government to pay up, it does matter whether you are active duty or not. Slimeballs. Yes, let's all keep supporting this war so more people can fall victim to the goverment's treatment of wounded servicemembers.

For Mr. Curry, the reservist from Chicago who has fallen behind on his mortgage payments, his previous life as a $60,000-a-year postal worker is a fading memory. “It’s just disheartening,” he said. “You feel like giving up sometimes.”

Nobody cares. He'll lose his house and no one will think twice. Chicago...thats in Illinois. Might want to get on that Mr. Obama.

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.

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.

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?

Thousands of Vets with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

How could you watch ABC's special on Bob Woodruff and veterans of the Iraq war with traumatic brain injuries and not cry? If you could do it you're stronger than I will ever be. And of course VA finds a way, with even these most serious of injuries, to fall short.

Veterans seeking treatment face red tape, weeks of waiting, and often to have to pay for outside experts in order to have their disability claims processed. Behee's wife, Marissa, was so frustrated with the care that her husband had received at the VA in Palo Alto, Calif., that she pulled her husband out and put him in a private facility. "For the first month, I thought this isn't he way he should be treated," she told "Good Morning America."

The VA in Palo Alto said that Behee's injury was complex, and that the Behees needed to be more patient. Jim Nicholson, a spokesman for the Department of Veterans Affairs, acknowledges that there are delays in the system, but says the department is struggling to overcome a lack of knowledge about TBIs.

Mental care called sorely lacking for Iraq vets, families

Another miscue regarding planning for this war. No one thought there should be enough mental health professionals for servicemembers who killed and saw death and their families? A panel's 67 page report cites a 40% vacancy rate in active duty psychologists in the Army and Navy. Therapy is nothing more than talking. When is it going to stop being considered a weakness?

Newsweek Does It Again

Could it be the country that loves to wear yellow ribbons and American flag pins is failing its veterans? Could it be that the country who denounces anyone who doesn't support the war could support its troops even less? Of course it is. Yes America, we are failing our troops.