GOP Rep. reveals first hand knowledge of Walter Reed conditions, details Army patient's death..

[Tellurian]

GOP Rep. reveals first hand knowledge of Walter Reed conditions, details Army patient's death

Michael Roston
Thursday March 8, 2007


The top Republican who previously chaired the committee that wrote Defense budget bills admitted yesterday that he was aware of many problems at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, but feared that more aggressive oversight would "give the Army a black eye."

...meanwhile soldiers die because of his incompetence/Bush coverup..

He alleged in a lengthy statement that an Army Staff Sergeant died at Walter Reed Army Medical hospital several days after a respiratory therapist mistakenly conducted a percussive therapy exercise that caused the soldier to bleed heavily.

The explanation appeared to contradict the official cause of death of William T. Latham, pictured at the right, reported by the Pentagon in 2003.

Young's remarks came during the course of a Defense Appropriations hearing on "Walter Reed Infrastructure," before three top Army generals who oversaw the service's medical system.

Preferred 'person to person' oversight

In his introductory remarks remarks, Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (R-FL), who chaired the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, explained why he had not carried out the kind of oversight that was now occurring on the treatment of soldiers at Walter Reed.

"General Kiley, we did not go public with these concerns because we did not want to undermine the confidence of the patients and their families and give the army a black eye while fighting a war," he said.

...if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell ya..

Young also seemed to worry about embarrassing soldiers and their families.

"I would not hold hearings on patients and their problems and violate their privacy," he said.
The former chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee also said his committee had carried out regular hearings on the military medical care system and called out the generals testifying before the committee for not bringing the problems now seen at Walter Reed to the fore."

"Knowing there were problems at Walter Reed, why didn't you just level with us? Why didn't you just tell us what the situation really was if you knew, rather than continue to suggest that everything was OK? " he asked. "This committee has been a partner in ensuring all the services have had what they needed, and more, to provide the best in military medicine." Raises questions about soldier's death.

<snip..>

The Congressman was careful not to say directly that the respiratory therapist had killed Latham.

...shocking evidence provided by the Republican Congressman in charge of wounded GI's..Bush should be crucified for this...imo..


A full transcript of Rep. Young's remarks on Staff Sgt. William Latham are presented below.


http://rawstory.com/news/2007/GOP_Rep._reveals_disturbing_details_of_0307.html

..I'm aware of the 4 paragraph Rule.. In this case, Mods, please make an exception due to content..and extreme coverup revealed by the Bush Administration. (I dare them to complain..)

[Tellurian]

1. Disgraceful, is hardly apropos in describing the indignity and incompetence suffered by our wounded.

They survive getting mortally wounded, to be negligently handled by incompetent Army therapists.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. too true. The first question to ask this pol is, How far up your ass was

your head when you first learned of these problems? And you thought a cover up was better for the army than the black eye caused by disclosure?

what a stupid sob.

[Monkeyman]

2. To say nothing is just pure bullshit

[Tellurian]

4. To say nothing is to "condone" what is going on..

I know thats what you meant. In the eyes of the Law..that Congressman is aiding and abetting Bush denying proper treatment for our families fighting this illegal war.

[Monkeyman]

5. Yep

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. I second that e-motion.

and if that congresscritter still had a shame gene, I would hope that this would activate it.

silly me. I forgot that a requirement of joining the GOP is having that gene segment irradiated and destroyed.

[dsweet]

6. What B.S.

This smells just like the Mark Foley cover up. Allowing injury to the vulnerable to avoid political embarrassment.


edit: spelling

[Tellurian]

7. Rep Young, is guilty of involuntary Manslaughter..

through neglect of his fiduciary responsibility to the soldiers in his oversight and care.

[frylock]

9. this fucking country is a damn joke

[Tellurian]

10. No, it's a crying shame! A World Superpower reduced to human rubble!

by the deliberate misguided stewardship of a corrupt administration for their own self enrichment to the detriment of our country and it's People.

:nuke: :cry:

If this isn't considered Domestic Terrorism, I don't know what IS.

[AwakeAtLast]

11. Can't be embarrassed if you're dead.

:( :cry: :(

This story makes me cry every time I read something new about it.

FWIW, my husband has received excellent care from the VA, however, his injuries are far from life threatening. If we were having to go through this, I don't know how I would react.

[Tellurian]

12. I'm with you 100%

If we were having to go through this, I don't know how I would react.

It's very sad, that as a parent protecting your children from political suicide, necessitates sending them to a foreign country to ensure their survival.

boggles the mind..