Does the general public know that it is Congress's fault for Walter Reed's Condition?

Question

I heard a general was fired from his position due to the poor condition Walter Reed Military hospital is in? Does the the general public know this is due to the lack of funding from Congress, and refusal to replace outdated buildings and not the Hospital Commander's fault? Does the public know Walter Reed is not the only military hospital that is in bad shape and is outdated? Does the public even care?

Funding for weapons development is no problem, yet why taking care of the soldiers that take care of the equipment fall to the sideline?

I know it was not the Democrat recently voted in fault, yet the shape these hospitals are the result of years of neglect.

Answer 1

Actually, the latest catastrophe at Walter Reed was driven by a defense department initiated outsourcing program where support staff were replaced by Halliburton. Democratic Congressmen in early 2006 opposed the plan when they got wind of it, but of course had no power to defeat it.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_Administration_push_for_privatization_may_0303.html

Before that - sure - you've got 12 years of a Republican-controlled Congress and 6 of that with Bush at the helm pushing a cost-cutting, neoconservative agenda with infinite dollars available for fighting a war and very little for anything else that isn't corporate welfare.

Answer 2

No, the general public does not understand that nor do they want to believe it. Instead we'll hear complaints of how much money is being spent for defense already.

It is absolutely due to lack of funding.

Does the public know that Walter Reed isn't the only military hospital that is in bad shape?

No, they don't. However, they probably don't even realize that there ARE other military hospitals.

Does the public care?

Not if it's going to cost them money. I imagine people like HughMorris and the ironically named Erudite will suggest that if we pulled out of Iraq, we'd have the money to fix the hospitals. (Stupid argument, first of all and secondly it's due to years of neglect... not just four years of war.)

All these Generals stepping down and retiring... taking one for the team. It's all a public relations ploy and it's a disgrace. Those men are NOT at fault.

Answer 3

I think the public thinks congressmen are 'serving' as they think they ought,..but Congress is serving as it can appease there special interest groups/..i say 'that' because I've seen moneys allotted to causes, then maimed with divisional attachments that effectively nullified the whole purpose....Mr. Bushes last moneys delegated to the military is a prime example...every federal office got a cut of his generosity, and not one got what was needed....there was even a portion of it went to the BLM, and the Parks and Recreation..

Congress is self serving, and it is out of hand,..and it needs it's arrogant over payed *** kicked publicly.... It doesn't seem to me to be asking to much to dock the greedy bstrds checks, benefits, and gratuity's...but ...what the hell do i know.. i just pay taxes and suck up like every one else, 'cause fixing the problem will take years..!!

I agree with you... i am a combat vet and out patient...have been for 10 years, and have fought for better government attention since i checked into the VA system... what a bureaucratic nightmare this crapola is!!!! I could tell you things that would make your heart weep...

I feel so passionately sorry for these warriors coming home today.. I know first hand the [in[effectiveness of to days psychology to deal in a professional, knowledgeable way with Battle trauma, Battle stress, and war mental woundedness.....been there.....done that..

Answer 4

No, the general in charged resigned. But he had only been the general in charge for six months -- the one now in charge is the one that had been in charge prior to that.

And yes, Congress is partially at fault. Specifically, the House and Senate Armed Services committees (the ones who were running things during 2006), since part of their job is oversight of how military funding is spent.

Answer 5

That business at Walter Reed et.al. has been going on for decades. No Congress has done anything about it. Partly because they were not aware of it and partly because of the allocation of funds, or lack of it, for veterans hospitals.

As much as I would like to blame Bush for this I must admit it is farter back than him, or Clinton.

Answer 6

Yeah, that's right. The Republican Congress. If you think that the Democrats created this situation in 2 months you really should reconsider. Also privitization contributed to the conditions at Walter Reed.

Answer 7

And the fact that the Democrat controlled Congress has not allocated any money to fix the problems demonstrates that they are not out to help those soldier. All they want to do is bash Bush.

Answer 8

it is from under funding