Protecting our soldiers' health

MANIFESTO

The Walter Reed fiasco has been covered expertly by many, so I'll just add one tidbit.

You could almost hear the relief in President Unelected's voice yesterday when he said

"I've asked two of America's fine public servants, Senator Dole and Secretary Shalala, to chair a commission that will analyze our health care both at the Defense Department and at the Veterans Department, to ensure that not only our soldiers but their families have got complete confidence in the government's upholding its responsibility to treat those who have been wounded. ... And I'm confident that this commission will bring forth the truth. And as I assured the chairmen, I am confident that there will be a quick response to any problems that you may find."

Here's Boy George trying to hang his hat on something, anything, that'll make it look as if he's doing something other than simply hanging around 20500-0003 for the next 22 months, waiting for his successor to clean up the messes he's created.

Of course, the Walter Reed situation is a mess he helped create, and it's one that has to be taken care of (or, typically, at least addressed) on his watch.

People are right to say that this is just another example of bad management and overall neglect by the Bush team. Indeed, it has all the characteristics of the Katrina bungle.