Bush to Name Commission on Veteran Care

From today's NYT:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush will name a commission to investigate the quality of care at the nation's military and veterans hospitals after a scandal about the treatment of wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

A day after the firing of the commander of Walter Reed, the White House said Bush would devote his weekly radio address to veterans' health care. The yet-to-be named commission will be bipartisan and will be given a yet-unspecified deadline to report to the president, spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Less than a week after Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Walter Reed and said those responsible would be ''held accountable,'' the Army announced Thursday it had relieved Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman of command. He is a physician who had headed the hospital for only six months.

In a brief announcement, the Army said service leaders had ''lost trust and confidence'' in Weightman's leadership abilities ''to address needed solutions for soldier outpatient care.'' It said the decision to fire him was made by Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey.

We can only hope that the shame and public outcry will be sufficient for Junior to make this commission one with teeth and not one staffed by the usual suspects. It may be too much to hope for but a girl has to have her dreams.