Walter Reed Army Medical Center
There are several things I do not understand about the recent fiasco regarding Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
1) Mississippi Senator and minority whip Trent Lott stated on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that Walter Reed was on a list of possible base closings. At the same time, Walter Reed was described as the “crown jewel” of hospitals serving our wounded military personnel. How could the “crown jewel” wind up on a list of base closings?
2) I understand why our government was closing military bases. Walter Reed is a hospital. Why is a hospital on a list of “base” closings?
3) Lott says that those in charge were reluctant to put too much money into the hospital facility because it was on the list. If Walter Reed was prestigious, why would anyone be concerned about “the list”?
4) If you were in charge at Walter Reed and saw your name was on a potential closing list, wouldn’t you do what you could to make the hospital too important and respected to close?
5) If Walter Reed did close, where would the wounded soldiers who continue to be brought in from Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., be sent to be treated and/or recover?
6) I have read about various politicians visiting the wounded at Walter Reed. Was Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel the first to notice the poor conditions?
7) In a White House briefing on February 21, 2007, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow told reporters that the President was aware of the dismal conditions at Walter Reed. If he knew, why did he choose not to do anything?
These are just a few quick questions I have about the mess that is Walter Reed. There is a lot of finger pointing going on, and will continue for weeks to come.
There are problems in Washington today. It seems like every month or so, another proverbial “hole appears in the dike”. What will be the next crisis? Will it be enough for Congress to take action?
1) Mississippi Senator and minority whip Trent Lott stated on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that Walter Reed was on a list of possible base closings. At the same time, Walter Reed was described as the “crown jewel” of hospitals serving our wounded military personnel. How could the “crown jewel” wind up on a list of base closings?
2) I understand why our government was closing military bases. Walter Reed is a hospital. Why is a hospital on a list of “base” closings?
3) Lott says that those in charge were reluctant to put too much money into the hospital facility because it was on the list. If Walter Reed was prestigious, why would anyone be concerned about “the list”?
4) If you were in charge at Walter Reed and saw your name was on a potential closing list, wouldn’t you do what you could to make the hospital too important and respected to close?
5) If Walter Reed did close, where would the wounded soldiers who continue to be brought in from Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., be sent to be treated and/or recover?
6) I have read about various politicians visiting the wounded at Walter Reed. Was Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel the first to notice the poor conditions?
7) In a White House briefing on February 21, 2007, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow told reporters that the President was aware of the dismal conditions at Walter Reed. If he knew, why did he choose not to do anything?
These are just a few quick questions I have about the mess that is Walter Reed. There is a lot of finger pointing going on, and will continue for weeks to come.
There are problems in Washington today. It seems like every month or so, another proverbial “hole appears in the dike”. What will be the next crisis? Will it be enough for Congress to take action?
Labels: Politics
posted by Alexander Dimm | 6:41 AM
2 Comments:
Walter Reed was placed on the BRAC list because the facilities are milions of dollars behind in maintence spending, the facility cannot be expanded, and has many historic buildings that cannot be altered. WRAMCis in a lousy part of DC and thus cannot attract the best employees. The parking building is too smaller and it is unsafe to walk from the METRO stop in Tacoma Park to WRAMC.
The facility is to be merged with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and will be called the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Bethesda is a better neighborhood and does not suffer from being inside the district.
Thank you for your comment. It does answer a couple of my questions, but leave me with others,including:
8) If WRAMC is so far behind in maintenance and is in such a poor section of Washington, D.C., why is it being referred to as a "crown jewel"?
9) Why are senators, including Lott, saying they disagree with it being placed on the BRAC list if it is truly in the best interest of the veterans and the country?
10) Why isn't the plan to merge facilities being discussed more openly?
What I am hearing as a middle westerner, far removed from Washington, D.C. area discussions, is that WRAMC is a respected facility that should not be shut down. Your brief comment offered six excellent reasons for the merge. Again, I am far removed from the situation, but it seems to me the choice is simple.
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