Beyond Building 18: EXCLUSIVE: Major New Problems At Walter Reed

[maddezmom]

Beyond Building 18.Maryland TV station WUSA9 reports on “allegations from a former inspector at Walter Reed of widespread and dangerous problems in nearly all the buildings at the Army’s premier hospital. Burst steam pipes near electrical cables, rats, mold, and holes in floors and walls — all of that extends far beyond the well-publicized problems at the notorious Building 18.” A photo from Building 40:



Written by Bruce Leshan
9NEWS NOW
Created:3/16/2007 3:40:22 PM
Last Updated:3/16/2007 6:30:26 PM




Washington, DC (WUSA) -- A major 9NEWS NOW EXCLUSIVE -- allegations from a former inspector at Walter Reed of widespread and dangerous problems in nearly all the buildings at the Army's premier hospital.

Burst steam pipes near electrical cables, rats, mold, and holes in floors and walls -- all of that extends far beyond the well-publicized problems at the notorious Building 18.

~snip~

A worried quality control inspector, Mark Cordell, finally quit last week in frustration, and brought his fears to 9NEWS NOW.

"I won't sit back and watch someone get killed," he says while running through 81 pictures of the problems on a laptop computer.

Cordell says the worst of it may be Building 40. The old research institute has been condemned, but last week, the private contractor now responsible for maintaining Walter Reed sent workers in to fix a leak.

Cordell points to a picture showing the terrible decay inside the building and says, "The water is actually on the ground floor here. There is water halfway across the ground floor. And there's electricity too. There's high voltage that goes to this building. Two thirteen thousand volt transformers. Through the basement filled with water."


more:http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=56746

[TheBaldyMan]

1. DoD could move some of the wounded onto the VIP top floor facility,

according to the GOP 'nothing is too good for the troops'.

Now the decision to keep WR open the defence budget might streatch to a complete refurbishment and/or a brand new facility. Custom built for the returning wounded, rehabiitation and administration.

It would seem that if Bush has anything to do with it there will be a steady supply of wounded vets in the years to come.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Wow. I suspected as much.

It couldn't just have been Building 18 alone, because then the conditions there would be an anomaly. I was sure the problem was widespread.

It's my impression that the Misadministration treats members of the military as nothing more than cannon fodder.

Our brave men and women don't get adequate training, body armor, vehicle armor, or even decent food and water, as evidenced in the mess hall scandals resulting from Helliburton's greed. They get billed for lost weapons or uniforms, even though they may have lost these when injured in combat. They get billed for food while they recover from their wounds in military hospitals.

The treatment of members of the military by this Misadministration is nothing short of reprehensible.

I wish that everyone from B*sh on down who is responsible for this abominable mistreatment could be sentenced to live under similar moldy, roach-infested conditions, eating the same kind of spoiled food and contaminated water that Halliburton gave troops in Iraq. They should have to deal with endless, merciless red tape if they try to file legal appeals, and they should be billed for their food and prison uniforms. And they should consider themselves damned lucky that they aren't also dealing with PTSD, severe brain injuries, and multiple loss of limbs.

[maddezmom]

3. a new article: Walter Reed privatization delayed 3 yrs as staff shortages & repairs worsened

some good background here:

WASHINGTON - An Army contract to privatize maintenance at Walter Reed Medical Center was delayed more than three years amid bureaucratic bickering and legal squabbles that led to staff shortages and a hospital in disarray just as the number of severely wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan was rising rapidly.

( Documents from the investigative and auditing arm of Congress map a trail of bid, rebid, protests and appeals between 2003, when Walter Reed was first selected for outsourcing, and 2006, when a five-year, $120 million contract was finally awarded.

The disputes involved hospital management, the Pentagon, Congress and IAP Worldwide Services Inc., a company with powerful political connections and the only private bidder to handle maintenance, security, public works and management of military personnel.

While medical care was not directly affected, needed repairs went undone as the staff shrank from almost 300 to less than 50 in the last year and hospital officials were unable to find enough skilled replacements.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070318/ap_on_bi_ge/walter_reed_iap_contract_1

[Marrak]

4. Good local reporting!

K&R!