posted on March 2, 2007 09:57:23 AM new
Bush Orders Review of Veterans' Hospitals
Updated 11:24 AM ET March 2, 2007
By TERENCE HUNT
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush ordered a comprehensive review Friday of conditions at the nation's military and veteran hospitals in the wake of a scandal surrounding care for wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
The White House said the president would name a bipartisan commission to assess whether the problems at Walter Reed existed at other facilities.
The action came after The Washington Post
documented
squalid living conditions for some outpatient soldiers at Walter Reed and bureaucratic problems that prevented many troops from getting adequate care.
Bush devoted his weekly radio address _ to be broadcast on Saturday _ to the problems of veterans' care, and the White House took the unusual step of releasing excerpts in advance. A full text also was to be released later Friday.
The administration's response came amid growing outrage about the poor treatment of some veterans _
and the prospect that it could backfire on the White House.
posted on March 2, 2007 10:09:30 AM new
Nope....because he actually CARES about our soldiers.
He just wants to be sure there arent other facilities that he's not aware of with these same problems.
That's responsible behavior....to be sure there aren't more of the same.
==========
And the rest of sybil's article says:
"One of my most solemn experiences as president is visiting men and women recovering from wounds they suffered in defense of country," Bush said his prepared address. "Spending time with these wounded warriors is also inspiring because so many of them bring the same courage they showed on the battlefield to their battle for recovery."
A day earlier, the Pentagon announced the firing of Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, the commander of Walter Reed. In a brief announcement, the Army said service leaders had "lost trust and confidence" in Weightman's leadership abilities "to address needed solutions for soldier outpatient care." It said the decision to fire him was made by Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey.
Bush, in his radio address, said he had asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to make a firsthand assessment of conditions at Walter Reed. "He confirmed to me there are real problems at Walter Reed and he has taken action to hold people accountable, including relieving the general in charge of the facility.
"As we work to improve conditions at Walter Reed, we are also taking steps to find out whether similar problems have occurred at other military and veteran hospitals," the president said.
"We will use the commission's recommendations as part of our ongoing effort to improve our service to our nation's veterans," Bush said.
The commission to be named by Bush is separate from a review panel appointed by Gates to investigate outpatient care at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.
The presidential panel will look at all of the nation's military and veteran facilities, according to White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino.
posted on March 2, 2007 10:18:35 AM new
Claim vs. Fact: Treatment of Troops at a Time of War
MEDICAL CARE FOR TROOPS
?Seeing the care that these troops get is comforting for me and Laura. We should and must provide the best care for anybody who is willing to put their life in harm's way.?
? President Bush, 1/17/03
The President made these comments on the same day that his Administration announced it was cutting off access to its health care system for approximately 164,000 veterans. The Administration also is pushing a cut of $1.5 billion in military housing/medical facility funding, despite the fact that UPI reports ?hundreds of sick and wounded U.S. soldiers including many who served in the Iraq war are languishing in hot cement barracks here while they wait - sometimes for months - to see doctors.?
? Wash Post, 1/17/03, UPI, 10/17/03
HEALTH CARE FOR GUARD & RESERVES
?Your lives can be changed in a moment with the sudden call to duty. I want to thank you for your willingness to heed that important call, and I want to thank your families. I want to thank your sons, daughters, husbands and wives who share in your sacrifice, who are willing to sacrifice for our country and who stand behind you.?
? President Bush to National Guard and Reserves, 10/9/03
Less than 2 weeks after the President made these comments, ?the Bush administration announced its formal opposition to a proposal to give National Guard and Reserve members access to the Pentagon's health-insurance system, jeopardizing the plan's future and angering supporters. A recent General Accounting Office report estimated that one of every five Guard members has no health insurance.
? Gannett News Service, 10/23/03
DEPLOYMENT TIMETABLE
?The services and the Joint Staff have been working with Central Command to develop a rotation plan so that we can, in fact, see that we treat these terrific young men and young women in a way that's respectful of their lives and their circumstances.?
? Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 7/9/03
?Troops were told they'd be going home in May. Then in early July. Then late July.? Then Rumsfeld said August. Then officials changed the story again, saying ?they could make no hard promises.? Then the Pentagon announced for the first time since Vietnam, they might ?have to start serving back-to-back overseas tours of up to a year.? Then Secretary of State Colin Powell said some troops would probably be serving at least another year in Iraq. And now the Pentagon acknowledges that the ?United States will have to provide the overwhelming majority of the occupying troops indefinitely.?
? ABC News, 7/16/03, USA Today, 8/24/03, Figaro, 10/24/03, NY Times, 10/27/03
SOLDIERS PAY
?I want to make sure that our soldiers have the best possible pay.?
? President Bush, 1/3/03
?The Bush administration announced that on Oct. 1 it wants to roll back recent modest increases in monthly imminent-danger pay (from $225 to $150) and family-separation allowance (from $250 to $100) for troops getting shot at in combat zones.?
? Army Times, 6/30/03
MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING
?I want to make sure the housing is the best possible for our military families.?
? President Bush, 1/3/03
The Bush's 2004 budget proposes a $1.5 billion reduction in funds to military family housing/medical facilities ? a 14% cut.
? Bush FY 2004 Budget
TAX RELIEF FOR TROOPS
?I twice led the Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We wanted tax relief to be as broad and as fair as possible, so we reduced taxes on everyone who pays taxes.?
? President Bush, 10/16/03
?One million children living in military and veteran families are being denied child tax credit help? in President Bush's tax cut. ?More than 260,000 of these children have parents on active military duty.?
posted on March 2, 2007 10:22:46 AM new
Obama rips Bush on vets' funds
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
By Jennifer Skalka
Senator sees need for $4 billion more
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama chided President Bush on Monday for proposing a federal budget that Obama says falls about $4 billion short of honoring the nation's commitment to veterans.
"Four billion dollars is a lot, but it's not a lot when you consider the overall [Department of Veterans Affairs] budget or the fact, for example, that the president is looking to borrow one trillion dollars in order to finance his Social Security scheme," Obama told reporters in Chicago.
Obama said Bush's budget would slow down a claims system already plagued by backlog. He also criticized the administration's proposal to charge some veterans a $250 enrollment fee for health-care coverage, and he cited a number of cuts in funding for veterans nursing homes. Obama noted that some veterans will see their prescription drug co-payments rise under the Bush plan.
"This budget tells our veterans that if they want increased funding for the VA they'll have to pay for it themselves," Obama said.
The president's proposed fiscal 2006 budget would provide $70.8 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs. That's a 2 percent increase over the 2005 budget.
"The president is deeply committed to honoring our nation's veterans and providing them with the health care, retirement security and benefits they deserve," said Allen Abney, a White House spokesman.
Abney noted that the $250 enrollment fee would not affect veterans with military disabilities, low incomes or special needs.
But several veterans groups say the department needs at least an additional $4 billion as Obama suggests, especially given the expected influx of soldiers returning from Iraq. Those groups are also criticizing the administration's proposal to charge veterans for entry into the VA health benefits system.
"Our honorable military service should be our enrollment fee in the system," said Steve Robertson, legislative director for the American Legion.
Richard Fuller, national legislative director for the Paralyzed Veterans of America, said Bush's budget is "the worst budget we've seen."
posted on March 2, 2007 10:46:21 AM new
Try and keep up, sybil.
They're NOW working on 2008's budget.
clips from 2003????
You must have missed the FACT that this administration has INCREASED benefits for our vets by 70%.
Go back to posting PARIAL news articles.....that you've EDITED out when you try and DECEIVE everyone. tsk tsk tsk
Deception describes what you continue to do.....deceiver is what you are. tsk tsk tsk
I didn't think your reputaton credibiliy could sink any lower than it's been for quite a while.....but you've proven me wrong. You still haven't reached bottom. You CAN still make it worse.
posted on March 2, 2007 10:50:33 AM new
I know what year it is, linduh, and MY hands aren't shaking so badly from drug use that I double post all the time like you do.
I don't care what year it is....I have proven over and over again that bushit has a history of not giving a damn about our vets.
posted on March 2, 2007 10:53:19 AM new
You've proven NOTHING except what a hateful FOOL you are.
You once again refuse to recognize FACTS. And you're always pulling up garbage from years and years ago...when the situation was very different from what it's become.
posted on March 2, 2007 10:56:55 AM new
Facts from years and years ago....funny coming from someone who just brought up Obama's ancestors LOL!
Yes, years and years of bushit bashing the vets....he KNEW there was a war going on in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006...didn't he????Or did he fail to read a newspaper or his daily memo AGAIN ???
Or did he think no one would be killed or maimed for life because of the war???DUH!!!!
posted on March 2, 2007 11:01:31 AM new
Again you prove you just CAN'T enter current day reality.
This President has NEVER bashed our troops.
You are confused. That was KERRY - a couple of times, KENNEDY and our own hellen.
NEVER this President.
He has been rebuilding our military and has worked to rebuild the neglected vet homes and put more towards our vets care than ANY other democratic President EVER thought of doing.
He understands America NEEDS a strong military....so unlike clinton who torn it down.
posted on March 2, 2007 11:06:22 AM new
Sometimes it's good to pull up articles from years ago to show that concerns had arisen before and weren't taken care of. That way when someone tries to play dumb like Bush has in this case it is recognized that he knew all along and didn't give a crap because it wasn't affecting him or his family personally.
When he visited Walter Reed or any other medical facility he was taken to select areas for sure. After all, his handlers as well as Bush himself wouldn't want his psyche damaged by seeing the reality of the true pain and suffering he has caused the soldiers and their families by his stupidity. If he was a real man he'd walk right through the whole area (with cameras) and see it first-hand.
posted on March 2, 2007 11:27:03 AM new
Can't address anything , can you old shaky hands
Facts from years and years ago....funny coming from someone who just brought up Obama's ancestors LOL!
Yes, years and years of bushit bashing the vets....he KNEW there was a war going on in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006...didn't he????Or did he fail to read a newspaper or his daily memo AGAIN ???
Or did he think no one would be killed or maimed for life because of the war???DUH!!!!
That's just REALITY!!!!!
Again you prove you just CAN'T enter current day reality.
posted on March 2, 2007 11:36:15 AM new
If there were backlogs years ago and the war was getting worse with more soldiers being injured it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the problems would increase as the war went on.
I'm glad that soldiers and the media are reporting and commenting on this. I've been reading some of their stories and all the red tape they have to go through and how their records are lost, etc and it's a nightmare. No wonder some start drinking and finally end up on the street.
As far as your other comment, Linda_K your jealousy over me and your extraordinary interest lately in my partner must be fueled by the reality you are about 60 years old with a nasty disposition and are unable to find a man so can't keep up with being Ann Coulter's mini-me with a slut reputation.
posted on March 2, 2007 11:38:52 AM new
Kiara, linduh just isn't any fun....she doesn't want to discuss Hillary hiding silverware under her coat or Obama's long dead ancestors who seem , to linduh, to be pertinent to today's reality
posted on March 2, 2007 11:46:19 AM new
Mingo, whenever I don't speak that fondly of Bush I forget that Linda_K considers him "Her Guy" so right away she tries to insult my guy.
posted on March 2, 2007 11:46:45 AM new
Yes, kiara...you're total HATRED for this President has LONG been evident.
You're approve of our soldiers going AWOL has also long been understood.
Your bashing of American policy and how we don't care about any other Nation other than our own....has also long been understood.
They are YOUR opinions...MOST rational Americans would NOT agree with them...but that's life.
Now you try and make the President look like something that he's not.
Bash away...it's all you have...and it won't CHANGE a thing. He does his best...and there has never been a democratic president that has done as much for our soldiers as this man has.
The liberal, anti-war Bush bashers/haters will endlessly find something to try and SMEAR him with. But his RECORD proves them WRONG....as wrong as you could EVER be.
They'll whine about how much we're spending on the war....which is also money spent directly on our troops and their care....then they'll turn around and WHINE more about how high our deficit has gone.
You and your ilk want it both ways....that's just NOT reality.
It's this uptopia the liberals are always seeking...never found...never WILL find.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on March 2, 2007 11:52:11 AM new
Linda_K
posted on March 2, 2007 11:46:45 AM new
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, kiara...you're total HATRED for this President has LONG been evident.
( so what, she has that right)
You're approve of our soldiers going AWOL has also long been understood.
Your bashing of American policy and how we don't care about any other Nation other than our own....has also long been understood.
They are YOUR opinions...MOST rational Americans would NOT agree with them
(ONCE AGAIN LINDUH SPEAKS FOR OTHERS TSK TSK TSK)
...but that's life.
Now you try and make the President look like something that he's not.
(Oh yes he is)
Bash away...it's all you have...and it won't CHANGE a thing. He does his best...and there has never been a democratic president that has done as much for our soldiers as this man has.
The liberal, anti-war Bush bashers/haters will endlessly find something to try and SMEAR him with. But his RECORD proves them WRONG....as wrong as you could EVER be.
(His record proves he's a nasty, ignorant, #*!@)
They'll whine about how much we're spending on the war....which is also money spent directly on our troops and their care....then they'll turn around and WHINE more about how high our deficit has gone.
You and your ilk want it both ways....that's just NOT reality.
It's this uptopia the liberals are always seeking...never found...never WILL find.
(Nope we're not looking for a Utopia but there you go again SPEAKING FOR OTHERS TSK TSK TSK)
posted on March 2, 2007 11:58:26 AM new
I don't hate the president, Linda_K. He lives in a bubble, he's incompetent and lacks the ability to take care of the job he's required to do. When you say he does his best then it proves he's not qualified to be a leader of a wonderful country like the US. Everyone deserves better.
As far as the soldiers going AWOL or not agreeing with the war, I don't walk in their shoes. It's their lives and the government doesn't own them so they should do whatever their hearts tell them to.
And it always amuses me how you think you speak for most Americans. Obviously you don't because the polls show different.
posted on March 2, 2007 12:11:27 PM new
Kiara, your posts here have proven differently than what you continue to repeat...repeat...repeat.
POLLS aren't always correct. Remember kerry was ahead in the polls and STILL lost.
The polls now won't change a thing. Something you anti-war folks just don't get. We're in this as long as this President says we're in it.
Until then....nothing he does will EVER find ANY favor from you and your ilk. It's just something you're going to have to adjust to.
And you even go to such extremes as bring up the AMERICAN troops in Germany.
LOL LOL LOL Always looking for anything NEGATIVE you can find.
You've always supported draft dodgers, soldiers who go AWOL....your positions are quite clear.
You misunderstand that these are NOT soldiers who have been drafted...but rather those who have changed their minds....decided they don't want to fight. COWARDS....and you support them.
They weren't drafted....they volunteered. And YES....when they signed on the dotted line...our GOVERNMENTS ownes them lock, stock and barrel.
They can apply to be released....but you just LOVE it and mention it all the time when you find an article where they're DESERTING their committments.
To me that says a lot about your own lack of character....lack of understanding what the word committment even means....lack of understanding what 'not being a quitter' is all about.
But then, imo, you're one of those people who will just sit back until you're being forced to kneel and say your prayers FIVE TIME A DAY....facing mecca.
posted on March 2, 2007 12:44:59 PM new
Linda_K, you become upset when news is reported from different sources besides the US or your preferred sources. If you think it's bad, it just happens to be the news of the day and the soldiers that didn't agree with the surge were front page news on the Germany site that day.
Your opposition to any article that doesn't show the president or his administration in a favorable light is astounding because the facts are what brought the situation to the journalists and the people to begin with....... the shortage of troops, the lack of armor, the prison scandals, the corrupt politicians, the care of the injured soldiers, the increasing insurgency, Katrina and the list goes on. Yet you spend hours trying to dig up more smear campaigns that usually can't be proven and many aren't even important enough in the big scheme of things to be addressed.
Are you trying to tell me that most of the news events or reality should be hidden from public view so no one is aware of what is going on while the president and his administration carry on 'doing their best' as you put it?
posted on March 3, 2007 12:51:30 PM new
[i]If there were backlogs years ago and the war was getting worse with more soldiers being injured it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the problems would increase as the war went on.{/i]
Why should TEAM SHRUB treat the Iraq war veterans any different than they have treated the war itself. It has always been "STAY THE COURSE". Let's keep trying the same old things even though they have not been working. You know how effective that method was with the war so why should it be any different when it is applied to Walter Reed.
Bush thinks things will magically change over night. If he stops living in Disneyland and faces reality things might actually change.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
Are YOU a Bunghole?