Commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center Relieved of Duty

Fox News ^ | 3/1/07 | AP

[gogogodzilla]

Or Walter Reed could have initially solved the problem with regard to proper accomodations...

...by housing them 'per-diem' in Washington area hotels previously inspected and found up to military standards.

That would have cost money, a LOT of money... which would then have attracted a lot of attention from the next higher level of command. That attention could have then been used to highlight the need for additional funding to build proper 'on-post' housing for the added influx of wounded personnel. (IE - the squeaky wheel gets the grease philosphy)

Not only that, but the commander could have used it to garner 'brownie points' with higher leadership... by arguing that he cares for the wounded troops' health, welfare, and moral. Then turned the argument around and asked his leadership if it was appropriate to deny those who have sacrificed so much the simple dignity of residing in adequate housing.

I highly doubt that any military leadership would want to be on the record as stating otherwise... and any response to that would have to be on the record.

But instead, the leadership of Walter Reed chose to find ways to operate out of a woefully underfunded budget. Thus leading to the current outrage.

And that is the major problem with the current crop of military leadership. That they are no longer willing to do what is right, but instead will try to 'make-do' with what is wrong.

And that is simply a long-term recipe for disaster.