Blowing huge holes in the argument for the blame Bush crowd (from AP News, via Yahoo! and other outlets):
Flayed by lawmakers' criticism, Army leaders said Monday they accept responsibility for substandard conditions at the service's flagship Walter Reed Army Medical Center but also said they hadn't known about most of the problems.
... later in the article:
Kiley said Monday he had been aware of some issues, including an October service assessment citing problems with Walter Reed staffing, medical evaluations and patient handling.
When asked by Rep. Christopher Shays why he hadn't previously asked Congress for money to fix the problems, Kiley said he did not think money was the issue. The general said the system for outpatient care is "complex, confusing and frustrating" and that more doctors, nurses and other staff are being brought in.
Lawmakers were not convinced.
Of course lawmakers weren't convinced that enough money had been thrown at the issue. That's the typical answer for lawmakers -- throw money at problems and they'll get better. But along with the money, they typically also throw in some new requirements and regulations or restrictions and oversight that adds to the bureaucracy and makes the situation worse.
On the plus side, as we've seen in the daily news cycle, the problems at Walter Reed aren't just there but exist in many places. The red-tape and hassles exist for the military throughout the world. The poor conditions in military hospitals also exist up and down the chain. The troubles at Walter Reed are bringing a spotlight on the problems everywhere. Hopefully these problems will be addressed and the situation will change for the better. It is, after all, what we as a country owe to those that serve on our behalf.
