Building Number Eighteen
Americans have varied views about things: something, anything, everything. It makes getting a consensus pretty tough.
The likely exception is that most people agree that military troops should be respected. Neglect of out-patient Building 18 at Walter Reed Health Care Systems is making heads spin, tongues lash, and speculation about more upper echelon resignations.
Thus far, Major General George W. Weightman was relieved from duty and Army Secretary Francis Harvey resigned. Weightman's post was filled by Lieutenant General Kevin Kiley. However, Kiley's glory may be fast over because there is loud rumbling that he was part of a cover up in the first place. He had held Weightman's post in the past and shifted the responsibility for Building 18's viable rat population down to the troops by saying they left food out.
Walter Reed is the Army’s largest healthcare facility. It opened in 1904 and was named after surgeon and research Physician Walter Reed for studies lead by him which practically extinguished yellow fever in the States. Additionally, Dr. Reed was a forerunner in setting ethical standards for conducting scientific experiments involving humans.
The health care system provides service to soldiers, their families, military retirees and selected dignitaries. There is a potential patient base of eight million people. The system is multifaceted and includes focus on troops injured or ill while at war.
Notwithstanding the bad conditions of Building 18, troops have also been lost in never-ending red tape -- bureaucracy. Citizens have long braced with an impending doom type expectation that anything government means prolonged wait, unfairness, confusion, and disappointment. The bureaucrats brought it all together at Walter Reed.
Only after the Washington Post broke the story did President Bush go into action. He called for an investigation, sounded his drums of support for our military, and boasted that wounded warriors inspired him during visits. His inspiration was apparently shallow because when he left, black mold increased, rats scurried about rat business, and walls continued to crumble.
Congressional committee members toured Building 18 last week and hearings are expected to follow, but Senator Trent Lott was dismissive of the problems because Walter Reed is on the list of bases to be closed. Hopefully, someone can focus the Senator. An anticipated closing some day does not justify nor rectify the danger forced on troops and staff.
Exposure to black mold can cause nasal stuffiness; throat, eye and skin irritation; coughing; and lung infections. Rats transmit disease, some deadly. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is contracted merely by breathing and eosinophilic meningitis, a brain infection, can be caused by rat exposure. It is common knowledge that rats carry typhoid. Likewise, a small scratch or bite can cause infection. Symptoms of rat contact are diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, jaundice, and red eyes. The bottom line risks are kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress, and death. This is hardly the ideal environment for physical and mental healing.
Walter Reed is a big deal. When it fell short on providing safe housing for troops and staff charged with taking care of the troops, it struck the core of on-going military defense and patriotism. But, Walter Reed may only be a glimpse of a larger decomposition.
The public is now beginning to hear these problems aren't isolated to Walter Reed, but rather permeate the military health care system. Fort Campbell has an asbestos problem that is so well known warning signs are posted. Of course, a warning is of no use to troops under orders to be there or those too injured, weak or sick to heed it. At Fort Irwin a waiver of conditions is required to be signed by the troops. Others facilities are troubled as well and include the 154 Veteran Hospitals.
The cat is out of the bag and it is troubling that so far, everyone in command has denied knowledge of the obvious and is ducking from the buck stops here, particularly since the concept of responsibility is a basic that is taught to troops. It rings of do as I say, not as I do and it is shameful.
The Commander-In-Chief owes a duty to provide our troops with basic survival elements: adequate food, shelter, and medical care. Congress will ask questions and get answers, but the fact is duty has been shirked beginning with the Commander-In-Chief and rolling right down the line. Our troops and veterans are smarting from the sting of living lies, the crushing blows of cover up, and the sinking feeling of listening to more empty promises.
Salute!
© Coninc., TheDownsideUp.Com 2007
The likely exception is that most people agree that military troops should be respected. Neglect of out-patient Building 18 at Walter Reed Health Care Systems is making heads spin, tongues lash, and speculation about more upper echelon resignations.
Thus far, Major General George W. Weightman was relieved from duty and Army Secretary Francis Harvey resigned. Weightman's post was filled by Lieutenant General Kevin Kiley. However, Kiley's glory may be fast over because there is loud rumbling that he was part of a cover up in the first place. He had held Weightman's post in the past and shifted the responsibility for Building 18's viable rat population down to the troops by saying they left food out.
Walter Reed is the Army’s largest healthcare facility. It opened in 1904 and was named after surgeon and research Physician Walter Reed for studies lead by him which practically extinguished yellow fever in the States. Additionally, Dr. Reed was a forerunner in setting ethical standards for conducting scientific experiments involving humans.
The health care system provides service to soldiers, their families, military retirees and selected dignitaries. There is a potential patient base of eight million people. The system is multifaceted and includes focus on troops injured or ill while at war.
Notwithstanding the bad conditions of Building 18, troops have also been lost in never-ending red tape -- bureaucracy. Citizens have long braced with an impending doom type expectation that anything government means prolonged wait, unfairness, confusion, and disappointment. The bureaucrats brought it all together at Walter Reed.
Only after the Washington Post broke the story did President Bush go into action. He called for an investigation, sounded his drums of support for our military, and boasted that wounded warriors inspired him during visits. His inspiration was apparently shallow because when he left, black mold increased, rats scurried about rat business, and walls continued to crumble.
Congressional committee members toured Building 18 last week and hearings are expected to follow, but Senator Trent Lott was dismissive of the problems because Walter Reed is on the list of bases to be closed. Hopefully, someone can focus the Senator. An anticipated closing some day does not justify nor rectify the danger forced on troops and staff.
Exposure to black mold can cause nasal stuffiness; throat, eye and skin irritation; coughing; and lung infections. Rats transmit disease, some deadly. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is contracted merely by breathing and eosinophilic meningitis, a brain infection, can be caused by rat exposure. It is common knowledge that rats carry typhoid. Likewise, a small scratch or bite can cause infection. Symptoms of rat contact are diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, jaundice, and red eyes. The bottom line risks are kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress, and death. This is hardly the ideal environment for physical and mental healing.
Walter Reed is a big deal. When it fell short on providing safe housing for troops and staff charged with taking care of the troops, it struck the core of on-going military defense and patriotism. But, Walter Reed may only be a glimpse of a larger decomposition.
The public is now beginning to hear these problems aren't isolated to Walter Reed, but rather permeate the military health care system. Fort Campbell has an asbestos problem that is so well known warning signs are posted. Of course, a warning is of no use to troops under orders to be there or those too injured, weak or sick to heed it. At Fort Irwin a waiver of conditions is required to be signed by the troops. Others facilities are troubled as well and include the 154 Veteran Hospitals.
The cat is out of the bag and it is troubling that so far, everyone in command has denied knowledge of the obvious and is ducking from the buck stops here, particularly since the concept of responsibility is a basic that is taught to troops. It rings of do as I say, not as I do and it is shameful.
The Commander-In-Chief owes a duty to provide our troops with basic survival elements: adequate food, shelter, and medical care. Congress will ask questions and get answers, but the fact is duty has been shirked beginning with the Commander-In-Chief and rolling right down the line. Our troops and veterans are smarting from the sting of living lies, the crushing blows of cover up, and the sinking feeling of listening to more empty promises.
Salute!
© Coninc., TheDownsideUp.Com 2007
Labels: EglPress
posted by KKHC | 4:32 PM
