Supporting the Troops

I didn't think I was going to write a blog about this topic because of my affiliation, but after thinking about it, I'm probably in the clear.

The amount of press over the Walter Reed Army Medical center and the lack of quality facilities is pretty discerning. I've never been to Walter Reed, but I've been to a few military hospitals. I've also been to a few civilian hospitals and I've seen pictures of 'free clinics'. Some are nice, some are OK, and some suck.

Am I shocked that there is mold or mice in some ones dorm room? No. It wasn't a hospital room, there was no nurse buzzer or attendant, it was a place for them to sleep in between physical therapy. I've got nothing but respect for those guys and no one should live in those sub-par conditions but the reaction that the press and congress had was crazy. How is anyone surprised that the Army has lackluster facilities? Its spent the last 15 years engaged in some sort of conflict or another. It has requested to close numerous bases in order to save money but congress has repeatedly turned them down because of the effect it would have on the towns where the bases exist. The Army is not a business. They don't make anything.

Doing all of those things hasn't allowed the Army to spend money on the things it needs, like new facilities, body armor and Humvee armor.

If firing the general officer who over saw this operation, the Army is basically looking for scapegoats. None of them are going to lose a star or a dollar of retirement money, and they shouldn't. Its just politics.

What we need to begin to understand is the amount of responsibility that needs to rest in Congresses hands when it comes to the resources the military has at its disposal because the congress decides how much money the military will spend on an annual basis. Period. So if you pick up the Sunday paper and think that the military is poorly managed or unfunded, don't question the Generals or even the secretaries, ask what your congressmen or president is doing to correct the problem.