Rumsfeld Screwed The Wounded
The Associated Press has the results of the Pentagon’s review of the problems: Walter Reed review cites money woes, neglect
Money woes and Pentagon neglect are to blame for shoddy outpatient conditions and bureaucratic delays at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, an independent review has concluded.
The blistering report called for major changes in troop care and cautioned that problems probably extend to Army hospitals around the country.
[snip]
Citing lapses in leadership and oversight as main reasons for the problems, the nine-member independent group concluded that the Defense Department was, or should have been, aware of the widespread problems but neglected them because they knew Walter Reed was slated for eventual closure.
In addition, the Pentagon made problems worse by ordering a hold-down on costs and expenses — dubbed “efficiency wedges” — even as Walter Reed began experiencing an influx of thousands of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Two wars in progress and Rumsfeld recommends eliminating a major military hospital, and then cuts its funding. Rumsfeld was never interested in “supporting the troops,” he was interested in reducing the military to low-paid killers, with all of the money going to private companies that were Republan campaign supporters.
He was pushing to eliminate schools, hospitals, and grocery stores on military bases, and anything else that wasn’t directly involved in combat. He was attempting to implement the Soviet military dream of central control through a computer network.
2 comments
Why isn’t anybody addressing the “PRIVATIZATION” clusterfucks at Walter Reed that are directly responsible for letting the place fall into the gutter through graft, incompetence, and just plain NOT GIVING A FUCK?!?!??!
We know how much the never-served/draft-dodging/deferment-queen motherfuckers in this government absolutely fucking LOATHE those who HAVE served, and those who continue to serve because even though they know that their government hates them, they still love this country? (Ignoring the herds who actually buy-into the fake affection from the Commander Codpiece costume and Biggus Dickus “Other Priorities” Cheney, not to mention Smartass Who Couldn’t Be Drafted Rumsfeld, of course)
Why can’t we get a good, heartfelt COUP running amongst the active and retired/disabled military who see the horseshit for what it is, and the war criminals and cowards for what THEY are??!?!!? Where is the revolution of the righteous against those who have tried to use their bodies to pave the way to their own palaces?
The real military, the people that really keep things together, truly and honestly believe in the Constitution and in the concept of civilian leadership. The thing that scares them most is that these people will push things to the point that there is a revolt in the military.
We were so damn close in the 1970s because of Nixon and ‘Nam.
The military has to stay out of politics, which is harder than ever because of the crap these people have pulled. They keep wanting to pull the military in on their side and don’t see the danger. The military has to stay out of politics if we are to keep a democracy.
Unit cohesion is a real factor in staying alive in combat. Politics and religion are corrosive to unit cohesion.