It seems there is some question about how much effect the Bush Administration’s efforts toward privatization at Walter Reed Army Medical Center may have had on the deplorable conditions and inadequate treatment our returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been subject to.
According to the piece by AT Staff Writer, Kelly Kennedy,
” The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has subpoenaed Maj. Gen. George Weightman, who was fired as head of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, after Army officials refused to allow him to testify before the committee Monday.
Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and subcommittee Chairman John Tierney asked Weightman to testify about an internal memo that showed privatization of services at Walter Reed could put “patient care services… at risk of mission failure.””
Apparently at the heart of the committee’s concern is an internal memo written by Garrison Commander, Peter Garibaldi to General Weightman addressing the issue of privatization at Walter Reed. The memo, written in September, talks about the awarding of a $120 million contract to IAP Worldwide Services, a private facilities company headed by former senior Halliburton official, Al Neffgen. The memo also addresses concerns about the loss of experienced and skilled employees at the facility. The article goes on to say,
”During the year between awarding the contract to IAP and when the company started, “skilled government workers apparently began leaving Walter Reed in droves,” the letter states. “The memorandum also indicates that officials at the highest levels of Walter Reed and the U.S. Army Medical Command were informed about the dangers of privatization, but appeared to do little to prevent them.””
The letter from The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to General Weightman, which goes into greater detail on the internal memo in question can be seen here
You can also read more background on the story coming from Walter Reed from The Army Times:
here
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
1 comments:
Thank you Chad, for giving attention with detail and links to this story. I borrowed a snippet to carry forth to my own blog with a linkback reference to your blog for more detail.
It was the Army Times link you provided which when you click on it gives a detailed link list of the Army Times coverage as the Walter Reed Army Medical Center story is being uncovered.
Thank you Sir, you do us all a service in reporting on this. Will you be continuing to follow the developments?
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