Walter Reed Whitewash: Kiley Replacement ‘Demoralizing’ To Hospital Staff

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/02/kiley-demoralizing/

Walter Reed Whitewash: Kiley Replacement ‘Demoralizing’ To Hospital Staff

Yesterday’s management shake-up at Walter Reed looks increasingly suspect. The Washington Post reports today that the hospital chief who was relieved of duty, Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, is “well respected in the military medical community and well liked among the staff at Walter Reed.” He had been at the hospital for just half a year, and “instituted some changes to improve outpatient care.”

Weightman is being replaced for now by Army surgeon general Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley. As ThinkProgress documented yesterday, Kiley has known for years about the neglect and deplorable conditions at Walter Reed. Kiley was personally told about injured veterans who were “languishing and lost on the grounds,” sharing drugs and “drinking themselves to death,” and reportedly did nothing to address the problems. In one stunning case, Kiley took no action when personally informed that a soldier was sleeping in his own urine.

The Post today cites a defense official saying that Weightman’s firing and his replacement by Kiley “are likely to be demoralizing to the staff at the medical center.” The L.A. Times says Kiley may still be fired:

One military official said the Army was continuing to examine Kiley’s oversight of Walter Reed to determine whether he knew of the problems in the outpatient facilities.

“Those questions are being looked at,” said the official, who spoke on condition on anonymity. “Is this it? We don’t know. Potentially, there could be other heads that roll.”

But in the meantime, why would this man with a long record of neglect be placed back in charge of Walter Reed? The Post’s answer: because “the Army’s reshuffle is really about projecting the appearance of accountability, not punishing those most responsible.”

UPDATE: Both Kiley and Weightman have been called to testify at a hearing on Monday of the House Oversight and Government Reform national security subcommittee.

[Monkeyman]

1. Kiley needs to face a jury

[don954]

2. agreed, and one made of his charges...

[babylonsister]

3. That just might happen. Here's an article I just posted that raises

many questions about Kiley:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3145262&mesg_id=3145262

I, for one, so hope he gets what's coming to him.

[19jet54]

10. Congress...

They are somewhat; Congress is the second highest court in the land?

Now that we have oversight again, let it take it's natural course before burning them at the stake?

"We'll give 'em a fair trial before we hang 'em" - Judge Roy Bean

[justmakingsense3]

12. I was there and it was treated well.

[MaineDem]

4. Kiley has also been replaced, I think

I'll look for the article but he's been replaced by a General Schoonmaker, or something like that. (Not the former Chief of the Army.)

Edited: I know I heard this somewhere but I can't find it in print.

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, he has, by Gen. Schoomaker, the other gen's brother.

He still is pond-sucking scum that needs to go. Here's an article about Kiley I found today on HuffPo.
He's despicable.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3145262&mesg_id=3145262

[Doctor Panacea]

6. Usually

Usually what happens is that the person on the front line has been trying to work for positive change, but people higher up (the ass kissers) have opposed all the changes.

Then when an issue comes up and the light of public attention is on a problem, the guy on the front line loses his head.

[geiger]

7. Kiley was the problem to begin with; what do they think they are doing

?!?as if noone would notice?!?

[what now toons]

8. disregard for our troops.

Yes the GOP supports the troops, just look at the deplorable conditions they have allowed our Iraq vets to live in with the Walter Reed out patient services. Mold,rat and roach infested, no one to answer a call for help from the little hospital bedside buttons, then there's the overflowing urine bags left unattended. This problem has existed for years, and has been covered up. The Army fired the head of Walter Reed, the new guy who's taking over until they can hire a permanent replacement is Kevin Kiley, the same guy who in 2004 reportedly let a soldier sleep in his own urine, and refused to lift a finger when he was notified by the wife of a GOP congressman who had witnessed this and other horrifying situations. This administration tells us they support the troops! They have just proven their support is nothing but lip service. That and those little yellow ribbons on their gas guzzlers, fueled by the lives of our sons and daughters for corporate profit.
My latest cartoon deals with this flagrant disregard for our troops.
www.whatnowtoons.com

[Black Adder]

9. Isn't it ironic that an Administration that is so sure of

about "facts" in other parts of the world (e.g. WMDs in Iraq, being greeted as liberators, insurgency in last gasps, nuclear weapons program in Iran, etc, etc, etc), doesn't know what the hell is going on right across the street at Walter Reed with the soldiers they profess to support so much...

[WatchOutBelow1]

11. I never knew soldiers were in that place. It used to be called the

Water Reed Inn. I lived in the neighborhood and passed by it all the time. It was crappy since 1988. I moved away in 2004. The only real change was the 'Walter Reed Inn' sign came down. It is horrible that the Army would treat its members that way. The only shred of truth, that the lying sacks o'crap Kiley and Weightman said, was that the BRAC finding that they should close and move to Bethesda was part of the funding problem at Walter Reed. The only truth is the BRAC finding that Walter Reed Should close and move to Bethesda. They did not say treat our troops like used toilet paper. These generals should be grilled and punished for their inaction and disregard for the wounded soldiers' needs.