A Profile In Courage

Dana Priest and Anne Hull are back in the Washington Post today with the continuing story of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Today we learn that the leadership at Walter Reed has known about many of the problems at the facility going back to 2003. In 2004, republican C.W. Bill Young had had enough. He is our profile in courage From The Washington Post:

In 2004, Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and his wife stopped visiting the wounded at Walter Reed out of frustration. Young said he voiced concerns to commanders over troubling incidents he witnessed but was rebuffed or ignored. "When Bev or I would bring problems to the attention of authorities of Walter Reed, we were made to feel very uncomfortable," said Young, who began visiting the wounded recuperating at other facilities.

Yes, when the going gets tough, Bill Young gets going, somewhere else that is. After all, can you really blame him? Why continue to visit the wounded at Walter Reed when there are recuperating veterans at much tidier facilities? Out of sight, out of mind. I'm sure Young slept much easier not having to be exposed to such things.

Hold oversight hearings? Nope. Howl to the press at the time? Nah. When the story breaks 2-1/2 years later run to the press to claim you were complaining to the leadership way back when? Sure.

I don't doubt that Young did complain to Walter Reed's leadership back then, but to just give up and move on to other facilities because you felt uncomfortable? That is pathetically weak. It is, in fact, the kind of leadership we've come to expect from the modern republican party.

Problem Solving, Army Style

After all the recent ado over the atrocious conditions at Walter Reed Medical Center’s Medical Hold Unit, the Army has come up with a solution to the problem, punish the wounded soldiers and limit their access to the media. From the Navy Times:

Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Medical Hold Unit say they have been told they will wake up at 6 a.m. every morning and have their rooms ready for inspection at 7 a.m., and that they must not speak to the media.

“Some soldiers believe this is a form of punishment for the trouble soldiers caused by talking to the media,” one Medical Hold Unit soldier said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

It is unusual for soldiers to have daily inspections after Basic Training.

The wounded have also been moved to a building deeper into the hospital's campus that requires a public affairs escort for reporters to speak with the soldiers. The public affairs escort will provide an intimidating presence for anyone talking to the media thus shutting them up.

It's ridiculous how we treat those who have given the most for this country, isn't it?

Found via Atrios