VIP ward at Walter Reed gets scrutiny

[sabra]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-15-walter-reed-vip_N.htm

VIP ward at Walter Reed gets scrutiny

Disclosures of substandard housing for troops treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are prompting Congress to investigate whether the Army is running a plush ward at the complex for VIPs at the expense of ordinary war casualties.

House investigators are asking "if the allocations of resources is in any way adversely impacting the treatment of the troops," Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., told USA TODAY in response to inquiries about the six-suite ward. Tierney leads a House subcommittee investigating allegations of poor care at Walter Reed. "Our nation's military, our returning heroes, are the true VIPs," he said.

The large, comfortable suites on the hospital's top floor are reserved for the president, the vice president, federal judges, members of Congress and the Cabinet, high-ranking military officials and even foreign dignitaries and their spouses. The only enlisted members of the military who are eligible to stay there are recipients of the Medal of Honor.

The suites have carpeted floors, antique furniture and fine china in the dining rooms. That's a stark contrast to mold- and mice-ridden housing that some wounded troops had been found to be living in.

[hobbit709]

1. Let's put the dignitaries

in the moldy rat-infested quarters and the wounded in the VIP quarters. After all, who has a better EARNED right to these quarters-a bunch of chickenhawks or real soldiers.

[Little Wing]

2. No socialized medicine!!!

[gaspee]

3. Some are more equal than others...

Kind of makes me think of the high flying days of the Soviet Politburo. Ahhh, America, land of the free where all men are equal with, of course, some more equal than others.

[Frustratedlady]

4. And I imagine the fine china is used to serve gourmet meals, too.

[Missy M]

5. According to Ann Coulter the conditions at Walter Reed.....

are because the janitor's are not doing their jobs. I guess by the time they reach the top floor they become inspired and do the job right. I would love to hear her explanation regarding the top floor suites.

[underpants]

6. Thanks for the reminder-I need to check out what Ann Cucckoo has scribbled

on the back of bar napkins this week

ON EDIT here it is
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucac/20070314/cm_ucac/inwashingtonitsalwaystheyearoftherat

[yellowcanine]

7. Why don't they "outsource" medical care for national office holders to GW? And keep the military

hospitals for the military?