Heads up for VeryImportantPost about Walter Reed situation at dkos .

[blm]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/1/115859/2838


This is not to be missed.



What does America owe to those who serve?
by Bobby Muller Veterans for America

Thu Mar 01, 2007 at 09:01:26 AM PST

What does America owe to those who serve?

Walter Reed has caused quite a stir here in Washington.

Hearings have been announced, people are starting to get fired, ceilings are being patched, members of congress are taking tours and soldiers are being told to shut up.

Everyone seems to be very upset.

I'm not -

I am outraged.


The conditions at Walter Reed come as no surprise to most of us in the Veterans community. The failure of our government to follow through on their obligation to heal those injured in battle is not a new phenomenon in this country.

These problems didn't happen over night - we just want to think they did.

>>>>>

[radfringe]

1. for some unknown reason dailykos

screws up my coputer when I try to access the page...

could you give a brief synopsis?

[blm]

3. editted a snip

and there is one posted below by Tuesday.

[radfringe]

5. thanks!

[blm]

6. Sorry about your puter and dkos....Muller is posting there

for those who want to weigh in on this.

[blm]

7. check your PM

.

[Tuesday_Morning]

2. K & R!

:kick:

<snip>

As the Washington Post reported this morning, our own Director of veterans affairs, Steve Robinson told Army Surgeon General, Gen. Kiley, point plank in 2003 while he was commander of Walter Reed, that the conditions were appalling and that soldiers were drinking themselves to death, sharing drugs and not getting the care that they needed.

Sadly, this is the way we have always treated injured service members and veterans in this country -- like disposable commodities.

38 years ago, while serving in Vietnam, a bullet severed my spine and left me paralyzed from the chest down. The hospital I recovered at -- Kingsbridge VA Hospital in the Bronx -- was the subject of a shocking cover story in LIFE magazine about the horrible conditions we were forced to endure.

The issue was the second-biggest selling LIFE issue ever. The cover story included a photograph of Mark Dumpert, one of the quadriplegics in my spinal chord injury unit, who had been left dripping wet in his chair after being showered.
<snip>

[blm]

4. Thanks - leaders knew DAMN WELL what was happening at Walter Reed.

I remember Muller talking about veteran and military healthcare back during the 2004 campaign when he would show up to speak out for Kerry.

[Tuesday_Morning]

9. from today's Washpost Anne Hull/Dana Priest story

Hospital Officials Knew of Neglect
Complaints About Walter Reed Were Voiced for Years

<snip>

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."

<snip>

more at link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/28/AR2007022801954.html

[BonnieJW]

10. Typical pub solution -

Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and his wife stopped visiting the wounded at Walter Reed out of frustration.

Don't fix the problem, don't scream in the streets until something is done, don't call in the news so everyone can see the outrage...

Just walk away so you don't get frustrated.

[blm]

11. the change the channel mentality of the Republican party.

.

[Old and In the Way]

8. $500BB/year defense budget.

And we can't provide basic healthcare for the 100,000 casualties that this war has created.

The American people will be paying the bill for this elective and immoral war for decades to come...deservedly so.

[blm]

12. We're still paying the bills for Vietnam disaster.

.