Army General Weightman Relieved of Duties Walter Reed Army Medical Center

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The U.S. Army Thursday fired the general in charge of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center following reports of appalling conditions and inadequate treatment of wounded soldiers.

Maj. Gen. George Weightman, the commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and the Walter Reed Medical Center, was relieved of his duties by Army Secretary Francis Harvey.

The Army said service leaders had lost confidence in Weightman's leadership abilities "to address needed solutions for soldier outpatient care" at the facility.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a statement he endorsed the decision.

"The care and welfare of our wounded men and women in uniform demand the highest standard of excellence and commitment that we can muster as a government," Gates said. "When this standard is not met, I will insist on swift and direct corrective action and, where appropriate, accountability up the chain of command."

The Pentagon ordered an investigation after media reports drew attention to the conditions in the Washington D.C.-based facility, and particularly in "building 18," which houses soldiers injured in battle.

The reports said the building's problems included infestation of mice and cockroaches, mold and rot.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said President Bush was aware of the decision to fire Weightman and that the White House supported "the decision to fix the problem as Walter Reed."

Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) promised that the House would address "some of the most pressing deficiencies" at the hospital in an upcoming appropriations bill.

More must be done to make Walter Reed "fully responsive to our wounded troops," she said.

"Our wounded military personnel and combat veterans deserve nothing less than the best care, but the continuing revelations at Walter Reed Army Medical Center show a troubling trend," she said.

House committees are expected to urgently address the matter and conduct "aggressive congressional oversight of military medical care," Pelosi said.

"Of all of the debts owed to the men and women who serve in our military, and to their families, none is more important than to ensure that those wounded in battle are treated immediately, and for as long as is required, with all of the medical skill, compassion, and effectiveness that can be brought to bear," she added.

Source: Army Fires General In Charge of Walter Reed -- 03/01/2007

Gen. Weightman the sacrifical lamb.

Need to get rid a few more people lower on the chain of command.

The nincompoops, elected officals on Capitol Hill spend mega bucks on illegals, foreign aid and other stuff, but can't come up with the financial resources to upgrade Walter Reed.