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  Searunner521 year, 6 months ago

  Every fu*king one of these "officials" should be courtmartialed if they are in the military or brought up on criminal charges of neglect if they are not!

  There is absolutely no excuse that can be tendered for this irresponsible conduct on their part! NOT A ONE!

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    somecommonsense1 year, 6 months ago

    Go look at what McCain thinks of the 3100 troops we have lost in Iraq, he thinks they are a "waste"

    http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2007/03/01/mccai

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      binxy11 year, 6 months ago

      Mr.McCain of course was being taken out of context. And you are being ignorant to post it.

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      ryan6011 year, 6 months ago

      Interesting that no one on the right has been demanding that McCain retract that comment. Yet when Obama said something very similar awhile back, they were practically tripping over themselves demanding that he apologize.

      I guess their moral outrage only applies to certain people.

      I totally agree with you SeaRunner. However, I believe they said on the news tonight that the general in charge of Walter Reed has already been fired, and will most likely face dereliction of duty charges. Apparently even the guy they got to replace him is ALSO likely to get fired.

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  GODIMMAD1 year, 6 months ago

  I agree completly that they should be kicked out and held responsible. This is what happens when the govt tries to do health care. They cant even take care of the ones they care about. hmmm Hilary Health care good, right

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      MonkeyBiz1 year, 6 months ago

      Hearing this stuff makes me mad as hell! They should court martial all those responsible.

      All you have to do to see what a good government health care program looks like, is take a look at the Veteran's Administration over the last 12years or so. Of course that would be an inconvenient truth to the repugs that claim an efficient national health care system is not only impossible, but a socialist/communist scam.

      It appears that the Army's system needs the assistance of Hershel W. Gober, Deputy Secretary US Dept of Vet Affairs 2/1993 - 1/2001. He is responsible for the complete turnaround of the VA system.

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        GODIMMAD1 year, 6 months ago

        Monkey

        I agree they should be court marialed. Absolutely.

        My grandfather that served in WWII used to go to VA hospitals up to about 3 years ago. They are good for yearly examines, thats it. I have taken him a couple times and our experience was mediocre at best. We started seeing sings that didnt make since becuase they we prescribing things for other illness that he didnt have. About 8 yrs ago, my family decided to pay for him to go a real no VA doctor to find out that he had a cocktail of things that neither his old meds were good for nor his newer meds. I know not to say that your wrong from my one example but after hearing of many examples, I dont know if your statements are truthful or not.

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      GODIMMAD1 year, 6 months ago

      How is it not another(said that I have to another) govt botched program. They are there to keep majority of ppls lives in mind, not all. They are not made to take care of every problem nor event. With that said, they are to make laws and rules that protrays what we the ppl think is right, but give us some sort of safety net. The botched programs is the safety net that they havent figured out in a couple hundreds of years with some small exceptions.

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    cleare1 year, 6 months ago

    where did you get the idea that they care about these vets. my impression is that they only care when the soldier is recruited and signs on the dotted line. after that they couldn't care less.

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  evelyna1 year, 6 months ago

  No it is a military base and they had no need to keep the facilities open after viet nam. They all are dumps except Bethusda.

  The military outsources their care to other hospitals. They cannot outsource this kind of care.

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    jordan111 year, 6 months ago

    They cannot outsource this kind of care.>>>>

    Sure they could, but it wouldn't be good PR to let the country see it. Best to keep it hidden, like not allowing pictures of flag draped coffins.

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      RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

      Jordan11

      I don't think that our overburdened privitized civilian health care system could take on the burden of the large numbers of severally injured soldiers who require long term care. If your not dying today you have to wait weeks for surgery as it is now. Throw another 25,000 severly injured soldiers into the system and civilians would not be able to get care.

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        jordan111 year, 6 months ago

        I disagree. With 50 states, the burden could be spread @ only 500 per state. Considering the extent of injuries, I doubt that the people of any state are beating down the doors for comparable care. As well, there are some states that have the creme of the crop in treating traumatic brain injury. The dept. of defense is pushing those with this condition to return to the front lines.

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          RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

          Jordan,

          I usually agree with waht you say but it would be a hard stretch for alot of medical systems to handle the influx. Were I live it is two hours to a hospital with surgical facilities. People wait weeks for a surgery that is not trama related. I know somw parts of the country the system is not so taxed but in many areas it is. Waiting list for nursing homes and rehab centers are a reality as well. I just don't want to shuffle the troops around and them still get short changed nor do I want to see the needs of the local civilian population get neglected just to cover this admins incompetance.

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            jordan111 year, 6 months ago

            I understand you concerns. I just don't like the alternative. On this, we can disagree. We both want a good outcome, and whatever that is, I hope it's found...quickly.

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              RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

              I think they should be spread out amoungst military hospital throughout the country. Sent to a large base with a large base medical facility closet to where thier families are. That would enable those that are able to, to live in base housing with thier families and barracks for those that are single but still closer to home to relieve some of the stress that the families are enduring. Appropriate military medical resources could be reassigned to the bases to ensure adequate care.

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                jordan111 year, 6 months ago

                If they have the expertise, the clean and up to date facilities....I have no problem with that.

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          ryan6011 year, 6 months ago

          "With 50 states, the burden could be spread @ only 500 per state. "

          The problem with that theory is that not all states have the appropriate medical facilities available to them.

          In New York for example, you could probably find several trauma centers capable of handling wounded soldiers with combat injuries. A person suffering similar injuries in, say, Montana would probably have to be flown by helicopter to someplace like Seattle or Portland several hundred miles away to find an adequately equipped hospital.

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  vor1 year, 6 months ago

  This all falls squarely on Rummy's shoulders. It is beginning to look like the only real thought prior to the invasion went into purely offensive matters. Little regard for either the Iraqi people or the troops liberating them. That 9 billion USD missing in Iraq could have done alot of good at Walter Reed.

  I think I will raise a toast to this great nation the day the neo-cons, especially Cheney and Rummy, are forced to walk out of the White House and Pentagon. Really Don, it is time to go home. I know I will then feel better about the future of the entire world. Surely the American people will not repeat this mistake again. Will they?

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    RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

    V.O.R

    Don has gone home but it was still under his watch that this began.

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      vor1 year, 6 months ago

      Look again. He resigned but still has an office at the Pentagon. That was very intentionally included.

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  Taganan1 year, 6 months ago

  The building is 97 yrs old and outdated. It was listed to be closed in 2005, when a new hospital was to be built. It takes time to build a new hospital. Priority of repairs on a building scheduled to be torn down is very low. Congress knew it was in bad shape over a decade ago. Bush cannot close it or snap his fingers and have a new hospital built. Congress dropped the ball, the bureaucrats dropped the ball.

  The other problem is that everyone working there is some kind of government employee, too many "by the book" goldbricks and bureaucrats marking time and protected by their union. No one takes responsibility, no one does more than the "job description" and very little is done right.

  The "system" is broken, no one person is responsible, yet all are to blame. Ask though, "How did it get into such deplorable condition and how many administrations back did the decline begin?". Probably all the way back to the Vietnam era.

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    MonkeyBiz1 year, 6 months ago

    Some kind of Government employee? The facility is an Army hospital, which means it is manned and supervised by Army personnel. You seem to be trying to take advantage of an unfortunate situation to bash unions. There are no unions in the military.

    "...how many administrations back did the decline begin?" The facility has not been needed until the current influx of wounded. It should have been inspected, repaired and efficiently integrated into the Walter Reed system before it was used. This is about current incompetence, not previous administrations.

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    ryan6011 year, 6 months ago

    "The other problem is that everyone working there is some kind of government employee, too many "by the book" goldbricks and bureaucrats marking time and protected by their union."

    Umm. . . since when are government employees allowed to unionize?

    Besides which, it's not a federal bureaucracy, it's the Army.

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  cleare1 year, 6 months ago

  the sad fact is that the government has never cared sufficiently for our veterans. but this administration is especially culpable because it CHOSE to go to war without adequete preparation in all areas.

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    RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

    My dear little child. This is not a VA hospital and those are not prior service veterans. These are active duty soldiers and marines returning from combat with current war injuries. The VA system has its problems but that is not relevent to this conversation. This is about the appalling conditions that recovering combat soldiers are force to remain in while they recover. It is direliction of duty and it goes all the way to the top. You are a hypocrite claim to love and support the troops yet make excuses for those who fail them. You are a disgusting excuse for an American.

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    MonkeyBiz1 year, 6 months ago

    "...I don't know of ONE vet who would ever go to the VA hospital..."

    Hey hog16 - Where have you been for the last 14 years? The VA is NOT the same as it was prior to about 1993. They give excellent care, and are "user friendly" now. I have been using the VA since the 70's, so I know how much it has changed. I used to hate them with a burning passion, now I think that they are the best health care system in the US.

    If you know any vets that are qualified to use the VA, do them a big favor and let them know that it is not the same VA that used to let Vietnam vets lay in their own excrement, or slowly starve in their unattended beds.

    I know this is about Walter Reed and their terrible treatment of our wounded, but disregard for our veterans and active duty troops seems to be endemic with the current administration.

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      joemont1 year, 6 months ago

      MonkeyBiz

      Agreed!!!

      I have been using the VA for years. Initial purpose was the inexpensive meds.

      After I became disabled, due to MS, I started using them more and more. Here in Kansas they have great Care at Ft. Leavenworth and in Topeka.

      I split between the local civilian med facilities and the VA's. That way I can pick and choose which one is going to give me the best care.

      I have the best of both worlds and have it made.

      I also work part time with the local vets as a Mental Health

      Tec. The people in the VA system I have worked with are by and large really outstanding. We have a few slackers, but, they somehow always seem to get sorted out and moved out.

      Thank God the VA cleaned up its act after the Nam fiasco's.

      Go Jayhawks (3) !!!

      (:>)

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  saneman1 year, 6 months ago

  Apparently, the meaning of "support our troops" has different meanings for conservatives and liberals. It reminds me of the Jodie Foster movie when she was getting banged in a pool hall room by a bunch of guys and in the background, there were a number of other guys who were egging them on, something like what the conservatives are doing to support our troops.

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  Consuelo1 year, 6 months ago

  This is a National Disgrace and it deserves front page coverage everywhere in this country. The many people who are so vocal about supporting our troops should turn their attention to this problem. Unfortunately, this situation just echoes the deplorable lack of care in our mental health system, our foster care system, and among the elderly poor. At least our soldiers have many Americans willing to speak out on their behalf and the public will demand answers.

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  joemont1 year, 6 months ago

  KelLuv

  I know you suffer from Bash Bushitis, but, you are way off base here.

  The was the result of local incompetence and arrogance at Walter Reed. Not the entire VA system.

  See MoneyBiz's and my previous post.

  It was a local issue and NOT something to lay on Bush.

  Go Jayhawks (3) !!!

  (:>)

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    darth-chris1 year, 6 months ago

    So Bush can start a war, the Republicans can be in power for six years, call anyone who does not support the war a traitor and a coward, and yet not be responsible for the treatment of the soldiers that were sent over and returned wounded and maimed. You are absolutely right. It certainly is not the duty or responsibility of the Commander-In-Chief to make sure that his wounded soldiers are in rat free buildings with cracked plaster. It is certainly not the duty of Congress to make sure that the soldiers from their respective states and districts are recieving comfortable quarters while they recover from trauma suffered in battle.

    Undoubtedly saying how much they support the troops is enough, and allowing what you call local incompetence and arrogance is not within their purview. After all, why should they be expected to do more than mouth their platitudes and follow through with actual results? No reason to lay this on Bush at all.

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      questionseverything1 year, 6 months ago

      exactly darth...trillions of dollars for bombing peops all ovr the ME but no money to take care of soldiers

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      joemont1 year, 6 months ago

      Darth Chris

      Let me provide some info as you obviously do not know what the H**l you are talking about.

      As I said in my post if you would read it. The VA system does a really good job in most areas. There were funding allocations that look like some cuts recently, but, they were needed to do exactly what the damn Clinton administration did not get done. They had to move funding around so some places had to make do. That is what happened to Walter Reed's building 18. We had the same thing here in Kansas, when funds had to be moved to do some badly needed repairs at the big Wichita and Kansas City VA hospitals. It left us short here in Topeka, but we got through it without any patients getting short changed. This should have been done during the 8 years of Clinton and Gore. I know cause I have had to go through it.

      So take your Bash Bushitis elsewhere. We're just catching up on Clinton's term. He hated the military.

      Go Jayhawks (3) !!!

      (:>)

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  joeblowe1 year, 6 months ago

  It appears that there is universal outrage at this story, and towards the persons responsible for this reprehensible treatment of our veterans. As is correct. The thing that puzzles me is, if EVERYONE is outraged, and EVERYONE agrees that our injured vets should be much taken care of much better, WHY ISN'T IT HAPPENING? I have a hard time believing that our representatives in Washington don't ALSO feel this way. They certainly SAY they do whenever they are asked. Do they fail to allocate sufficient money? Or is the chain of command within the army that is responsible for this operation failing to do their jobs? Or diverting the funds somewhere else? I recommend that everyone write your elected representatives and INSIST that they FIX this horror. I've already done so -- about a year ago.

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    jordan111 year, 6 months ago

    Gates got rid of the person in charge of the facility today. It's a start.

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  fudgie1 year, 6 months ago

  This is a straight up f*cking embarassment.

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  Baynagirl1 year, 6 months ago

  Let me all ask you this How many of you have been to Walter reed and Bethesda Navel? For a military wife like myself who frequents both places have seen the flaws in both places walter reed is an old outdated bulding and that is why they will be closing it in the next few years but it cant take one day to build a new hospital. Are you going to tell me that YOUR local hospital has no problems??? I can guarentee it does, its just not being put in the news because its NOT a military issue.

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    RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

    I have been to Walter Reed to visit a friend. But you know what if I am building a house it just makes sense not to let the one I am living in to fall down until I finish the new one. That becomes even more critical if I have ailing family members who are living there.

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    mesodude1 year, 6 months ago

    I live in DC and have been to Walter Reed many times. The war started several hundred billion dollars ago. Do you honestly think it's acceptable that our troops are being shortchanged while defense contractors in Iraq are enriching themselves over an illegal war that should never have happened?

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  Bobcat61 year, 6 months ago

  I'm sure it's the fault of the democrats. Blame them.

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  time4change1 year, 6 months ago

  "Support Our Troops" rings hollow from these administrative military....have any of them spent time in Iraq ?? Why not send them over with Bush, Cheney, Rove, Snow....all of them, commanded by McCain to fight until "mission is REALLY accomplished" !! If they are wounded...bring 'em back to suffer further harm in their own facilities !!!

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  litnat02a1 year, 6 months ago

  If I may beg to differ with some pionts here. The problems at WRAMC have been around for some time. I had open hart surgery there in the middle 1960's. Then when we returned in the middle 1970's there had been biult the current biulding.

  So just for old times I decided to look around the old part of WRAMC. What I found then was shocking to me. Many of the wards had been closed off, floor looked like they hadn't been cared for in some time, the areas between the wards had been stripped of their table, benchs etc.

  When I asked some of the staff, they answered that the older part of the WRAMC had been deemed as unneeded. An the Congress was no longer placing the needed money in the budget to maintain the Older parts of the facility.

  When I returned in the early 1980's conditions had gotten worse. So if we are to be seeking those responable we needed to blaim both parties, an ourselves. WRAMC's older biuldings are victums of out of sight out of mind.

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    RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

    Previous administrations are not the one using an inadequate living facility to house wounded combat Vets. If the facility is not up to standards move them to other bases and military hospitals and staff those facilities accordingly. Ft Gorden in Ga has a Hospital as do many other stateside bases.

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    mesodude1 year, 6 months ago

    You're correct. This officially absolves the Bush administration--because it's been going on for years. Got it...

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      RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

      Right, other admins. closed down a building that was falling apart and not in use. It is not Bush's fault that under his leadership it was reopened and used even though it was well known that it was inadequate. After all we have no other military hospitals stateside to send those troops to when they are no longer critical and are in the recovery stage. I am sure if we did have other hospitals none of them would be closer to home and would not ease some of the stress on their families. Because that might make sense and we can't have that.

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  Harbeas1 year, 6 months ago

  I hope they fire more than the scapegoat General that had been in charge there only 6 months.

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    jordan111 year, 6 months ago

    I agree.

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    mesodude1 year, 6 months ago

    Has Dick Cheney announced that this guy did a "great job" yet? I wonder if he will...

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  Openeyes1 year, 6 months ago

  This administration lied the nation into a war,shorted the troops on equipment and has replaced every high ranking military commander that disagreed with the program.Is it any real surprise that these chicken hawks,who also have no family members currently serving,would also short the wounded on care that was promised as part and parcel of their service?

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  RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

  Dear IRS,

  I did not expect to incur such a large tax bill for 2006. Therefore I am not prepared to pay the taxes at this time. However I should make more money in 2 years and will be prepared to pay my taxes for last year at that time. I know you can understand that these things happen and my intentions are good. Thank you for allowing me to defer my responsibility to a future date when it is more convieniant for me.

  U.S. Taxpayers

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  Cyberfool1 year, 6 months ago

  I see a lot of blame being thrown around. Was it the Military? The President? Congress?

  The Patients probably know the names of the people responsible, because first and foremost it is the Nurses and the Doctors who are to blame for neglect of a patient.

  TRUE, the oversight needs to be improved, complaints looked into, stupid people fired (and/or arrested), but blaming those far removed from the chain of information about a problem is ridiculous.

  Bill for President! http://www.myspace.com/cyberfool1

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    RedstateLib1 year, 6 months ago

    The nurses and doctors are responsible to see that the troops are housed in buildings that do not have rats and mold. That is a stretch. Why don't we blame the soldier who mows the grass, yeah it's his fault. Drs. and Nurses do not decide where soldiers who need outpatient care are housed, They are a little busy trying to meet these soldiers medical needs. Drs. and nurses do not decide to reopen buildings that have been closed because they are falling down and use them to house recovering soldiers. The Brass makes those decisions. What is it with people that want to blame the soldiers for the failure of thier commands.

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  mom4rtroops1 year, 6 months ago

  Sad to say this seems to be an attitude not only in the military but every where today. It's NOT my problem. It's not me. Only until it DOES happen to them something will get done.

  If you love your freedom thank a veteran. Keep them all in your prayers!

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