Shrub claims Rumsfeld often visits wounded...True or False?

[Career Prole]

Shrub mentioned it in his defense of Rummy during his press conference yesterday...

"I know Secretary Rumsfeld's heart. I know how much he cares for the troops," the president said. He noted that Rumsfeld and his wife Joyce regularly visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center to provide "comfort and solace" to troops wounded in the war on terror.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2004/n12202004_2004122004.html


It's my nature to be skeptical about just about everything these fools say nowadays so I thought I'd poke around a bit at the DoD's website. I searched for everything they had archived (speech transcripts, press releases, briefings, interview transcripts, etc.) with the search terms "rumsfeld" and "walter reed".

In numerous interviews and speeches throughout the conflict rummy has mentioned his "frequent visits" to the wounded at Walter Reed, and each mention came up in the search.

Curiously, there was only one single news release stating that rummy had visited the wounded at Walter Reed.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2003 - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld visited wounded service men, women and their families Nov. 3 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Television reporters in Texas and Washington state, interviewed the secretary upon his return to the Pentagon. "I just came back from Walter Reed," Rumsfeld told KHOU-TV in Houston, "where the troops from Iraq are arriving with bad wounds, serious wounds. And I met a number of the families that were there visiting their loved ones.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2003/n11042003_200311044.html


Both before and after the November 3rd visit Rummy had mentioned his frequent visits many times...so how come only one news release from DoD about a visit?
Was he sneaking down the chimney like Santa Claus?
Is he the kind of guy that doesn't want people to know he cares?

Me? I think he's visited the wounded once...anyone know of any eyewitnesses?

[GetTheRightVote]

1. Has to be a big false, I do not believe it, no way

[secedeeconomically]

2. Even if its true, he still is incompetent.

[babylonsister]

3. No, but if he's too damned busy

to sign "personal" letters of sympathy for our fallen soldiers' families, how could he find the time to visit the wounded? :shrug:

[Career Prole]

8. He didn't even have time to go to the party he threw for the wounded...

...not even two weeks before shrub was forced to defend him.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2004 — Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz hosted a gala holiday dinner at the Pentagon Dec. 9 to express appreciation to wounded servicemembers being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center and their families.
The star-studded event included Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Marine Gen. Peter Pace, Joint Chiefs vice chairman ; and other top leaders from every military service, as well as Joyce Rumsfeld, wife of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2004/n12102004_2004121003.html

His wife went...he was "busy".

[justinsb]

4. Maybe if the wounded

are hanging out in the Halliburton board room.

[DS1]

5. In comparison to Shrub's two documented visits, he only needs three

to be 'often'

[Cleita]

6. Maybe one of our DC DUers could poke around

Walter Reed, if possible. Talk to nurses and janitors. Ask if they ever saw Rummy around. Could be interesting even if only ancedotal.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Seems to me that if Rummy were frequently visiting wounded soldiers

we'd hear about it. These are not people who would pass up a self-serving photo-op like that. And if you were lying in a hospital bed, all shot up, would you *want* to see Rummy slink into your room? Jeez -- it would be like getting a visit from Freddy Kruger. Nobody in a weakened condition should have to see Rumsferatu in person.

[beam me up scottie]

11. Rumsferatu, LOL

Priceless, right up there with Jar Jar McClellan.

[evil genius]

9. if you were wounded, would you want to see him?

except maybe to kick his ass?

[Career Prole]

12. Oh no...hell no.

He wouldn't visit me anyway. I won't sign any loyalty oaths.
Like St. Nick I'm sure he only visits the good boys and girls.
Anyone with an ax to grind no doubt gets bypassed.

[Florida_Geek]

10. let me guess

Mmmmm. "Rumsfeld and his wife Joyce regularly visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center"

Where are the doctors that Rumsfeld and his wife see for their personal care.... Mmmmm the VIP section of Walter Reed......... Mmmmm..

[Allenberg]

13. Acutally...

I think the SecDef would use Bethesda. Navy docs are far better than Army docs.

At any rate, I can't imagine Rumsfeld visiting WRAMC without it turning into a photo-op, so I'm highly skeptical of the "often" claim.

[Career Prole]

15. Just did the search with Bethesda and came up even emptier

than with Walter Reed.
I just don't think he's done any visiting worth bragging about, even though he has in the past bragged about it.

[Career Prole]

14. AHA!! Here's another documented visit!!

While at there, the clowns also put on a special performance in the pediatrics childcare room to the delight of the children, parents and caretakers.

While some of the wounded soldiers didn't want their pictures taken with the clowns, Army Sgt. Eric R. Torres jumped at the chance.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2003/n04102003_200304105.html


Oh, I'm sorry. False alarm. That press release from DoD was about actual circus clowns visiting the wounded, not the guvmint clowns. :+

There's also one about Wynona Judd visiting...

A pro wrestler visiting...

Nope...just the single visit for Rummy.