MSNBC Banner - Head of Walter Reed Army Hospital relieved of duty

[understandinglife]

Story now posted - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17402872

BREAKING NEWS - AP

Updated: 9 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Army said Thursday that the two-star general in charge of Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been relieved of command following disclosures about inadequate treatment of wounded soldiers.

Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, who was commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command as well as Walter Reed hospital, was relieved of command by Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey.

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” at Walter Reed.

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Peace.

[shain from kane]

1. Pubic caning in the offing.

[scarface2004]

2. its a mistake!

bush just called him in for a 'medal of freedom' ceremony.

[napi21]

3. OH MY GOD! Is somebody associated with this admin. really

getting punished????? I can't BELIEVE IT!

[vincent_vega_lives]

37. Military personnel are NOT associated with any administration (n/t)

[napi21]

41. I don't buy that! All military positions above a certain level are

political, and you just don't get them without kissing some a**! The officer in charge of WR wouldn't complain publicly because the Sec. of DOD would have cut him off at the knees. He kept his mouth shut because he wanted to keep his job!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

43. you bet, rummie worked hard to replace those

who disagreed with him

[niyad]

4. he, and every single person involved in the admin of WRAMC needs to be court-martialed and sent to

Leavenworth for life.

[sanskritwarrior]

10. Based on what statute of the UCMJ?

Hey I want people punished too, but there is no provision to do what you want.

[niyad]

17. do you mean to tell me the UCMJ does not cover dereliction of duty?

[sanskritwarrior]

40. not for the entire

Admin staff.......

[leftchick]

5. does this mean he has to give up his house?

or should I say mansion?




Behind the gates of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Butternut Street, the stately homes of Commander George W. Weightman and top Army medical officer Kevin C. Kiley stand in stark contrast to Building 18, which is just across Georgia Avenue. (Photos By Michael Williamson -- The Washington Post)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. pretty houses. staffed, too, I understand.

Kiley should resign, if he had any sliver of honor.

But, Rummie chose his people well. He pushed out those with an independent, honest brain, and kept his puppets.

[PegDAC]

39. Keith just said

that there's a good chance Kiley will be relieved as well.

[jwirr]

34. How many of our injured vets do you think would fit in that beauty?

[radfringe]

6. why is it always the ones that are doing a heckava job that get canned???

that was sarcasm by the way

[Sequoia]

31. Like Brownie.

After all, he was kept in a trailer and Bush's comment was probably sarcastic since I doubt if Bush could compliment anyone.

"Aren't you going to ask me about the pig?" BBQ in Germany last year

"I can't wait to hang it" ref: painting of MLK, Jr.

"How do you know he would've had a good life?" to mother who lost her son in Iraq.

"Are the WMD's here (peeking under table), or are they here (opening cupboard)?" Press Club dinner 2004 or 5 and everyone laughs.

[Roland99]

7. But he won't be able to talk to the media.

[va4wilderness]

8. When are we going to relieve the Commander in Chief...?

Step up and take some punches yourself, Georgie. This is disgraceful. What ever happened to "the buck stops here"?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. Figures. Only the uniforms will get hit

on this.

The Army Sec will skate

Oh, yeah Doctors, at that... no line officers will be in trouble, trust me.

[pokercat999]

32. From the end of the story....

"Last week the Army took disciplinary action against several lower-level soldiers at Walter Reed, but officials have declined to publicly confirm any details of those actions."

Punish the enlisted and NCO's that talked to the press no doubt.


Where was congress? Under the desk in the oval office serving GWB would be my guess.

[Me.]

11. The One Who Is Taking Over Is No Better

in my opinion. Kiley. He recently gave an intervies where he blamed the injured.

[babylonsister]

12. Kevin Kiley is a scumsucking skank. He should have gone first. nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. thanks. you said it better than I.

he still should go.

[Bitwit1234]

13. They will just change command

Nothing will be done, unless the press and public keep on top of it. This is what happens in an administration when cronyism is the criteria for appointing heads of departments. As long as a person is a really truly bush supporter they can be appointed to anything.

Remember the 24 year old guy who never passed a math test got to be in charge of the ordering and supplying in Iraq. And look at the way the attorney general is firing and appointing attorneys who kiss bush ass. And it has to be cronyism, because the attorneys already there were good republicans. They just had a conscience and were prepared to do the correct thing. That don't work with bush he doesn't care how many laws you break or bend as long as the outcome is what HE wants.

[LiberalLovinLug]

20. Along with the medal of freedom...

....he'll be promoted to head of the Department of Veteran Affairs.
And life (and death) will go on. And Bush (I did know about it, before I didn't know about it) will escape responsibility once again.

[newyawker99]

35. Hi LiberalLovinLug!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[benld74]

16. He was only on the job for 6 months

Come on people, 6 months?! He is the sacrificial lamb for whoever. This thing has been ongoing for a number of years now. Do you think this will change things? I hope so but doubt it seriously. Just more fodder for the MSM types to harp on and say, Yes they are making changes.

[Lasher]

18. Scapegoat

I'm sure he was doing just as told - make do with what you have and never ever ask for more money. That doesn't make Weightman a good guy, it just means the Chimp in Chief should take most of the blame for this. All they're doing is replacing Weightman with someone who will do a better job of hiding the same conditions from the public.

[Madspirit]

19. Great ...Except!

You know how they work. They will use this one guy as a scapegoat to cover everyone else's crimes in all of this. People even higher than him HAD to know and they will never get caught or punished or fired. This is a great first step but let's just see if they go any further in finding the culpable.
Lee

[JNelson6563]

21. See General, you let the cat get out of the bag somehow

our secret neglect of our wounded soldiers is now widely known. This came to light under your watch therefore you will be the scapegoat. Now if you'll just step over here to the chopping block....

Then they'll make a big ta-doo about "new leadership" and yadda, yadda, yadda....in no time some other distraction can come up like a missing blonde girl or a really important celebrity antic.

Julie

[VP505]

22. Is it that

he was relieved because of the deplorable condition there, or because it got out into the MSM and the public eye. Guess we'll never know for sure but considering the track record of the Bu$h misAdministration it's prob the latter.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

23. But of course the patients are now prohibited from talking

We should just accept the fact that the Bush Administration knew nothing about this, was shocked to discover the truth, and move on. And, um, pay no attention to the fact that the vets who were being treated in these deplorable circumstances are being ordered not to comment on the facts.

[caligirl]

24. This is another blunder by the Army, Kiley is just as bad and had

every chance to correct the problems he was personally informed of. He neglected the troops too!!!

But I will say its reat that the army announces this in the face of the Priest/Halle news story with all the ugly details about Kiley's neglect. What idiots!

[Little Wing]

25. Name is George W. - that's your problem right there

scumbag

[MADem]

26. They should go joint, and get that female admiral that cleaned up Bethesda in there

She worked her ass off; was there from zero dark thirty until late, late at night. She's probably retired by now, that was a few years back....but she did clean up a shithole.

[Vinca]

27. This is a start. Kiley needs to go next. nt

[XOKCowboy]

28. WHAT? No Medal of Freedom? NT

[GreenTea]

29. But will he still receive full payment & benefits to take the fall & keep his mouth

shut for BushCo----We will never know. That's the usual procedure with these neocon assholes!

[dardango]

30. They Don't Give A Sh*t!

Somebody's gotta take the fall.

These guys just don't care.



DemocracyInteractive.com - Say it NOW

[jwirr]

33. Sure, window dressing. They make it look like something is being

done. Fire the workers but for God's sake do not fix the real problem.:sarcasm:

[michreject]

36. Anybody ever see the movie "Article 99"

Meet you new boss- same as the old boss.

[pwb]

38. republicans have gutted every agency in our government...

i don't remember generals doing building inspections in the army, it was usually a captain or a major. maybe less should be spent on high tech war toys and more on our veterans and troops. the war machine is spinning out of control.

Veterans affairs seems to be failing us also. Nicholson should resign, but he won't. veterans claims are delayed or refused regularly and the v a just always seems to be moving the goal post back.

F.E.M.A. is a joke.

limited government is the republican mantra. kind of like fuck everybody you are on our own.


thanks to the republicans our military can not sustain itself anymore. it depends on contractors for everything from water to food.

republicans smile too much while talking about things very important to me and that pisses me off.

[lakercub]

42. Message to the people

You are in trouble...but only if you're caught.

The conditions at Walter Reed were obvious to many. But no one was fired, disciplined, or reprimanded in any way until it became public knowledge. Typical of the whole last six years. No one takes a fall, no one gets in trouble, no one pays a price. Mistake after mistake, crime after crime, and....nothing. If the problems become public, the offender either gets reassigned or retires and receives a medal. Aside from this guy and Karpinski, I can't think of anyone else of any importance who has gotten any punishment at all for failing miserably. It took an a special prosecutor to do what the government should be doing on its own.

As my kids get older, this is the administration I will use to teach them about corruption and its devastating effects. I just hope we get some arrests over the next few years so I can also point out that there are consequences to corruption.

[sinkingfeeling]

44. But this guy was only in charge for 6 months and he's been 'temporarily' replaced

by the guy who really messed it up for the 4 or 5 years before.