Compassionate Cat-servative

Lynea Lattanzio runs California's--maybe the country's--largest cage-free, no-kill cat shelter and adoption center. She does it all with the help of a small staff, a large house, helpful volunteers and donations. Take a five minute tour of Lyn's Cat House on the Kings

Bob WoodRuff on Iraq

For anyone that missed it, I'm linking the ABC News docmentary, "To Iraq and back" done by reporter Bob Woodruff who himself was the victim of a roadside IED in Iraq while reporting 13 months ago. Bob has made a remarkable recovery and is now trying to shed light on the mis treatment and plight of injured soldiers waiting to be medically boarded and the newest veterans who are being warehoused without adequate treatment and resources. So worth it. Watch it here.

Another Horrific Consequence of Poor War Planning.

The situation a Walter Reed is personal for me. We are military and my husband works at a military hospital. As I write this he is at the Audie Murphy VA hospital here in San Antonio. He works 12- 15 hours a day, 5 days a week, with every other weekend on call. "On-call" in critical care means several calls a night and having to go into the hospital one out of five phone calls. It means going into the hospital at 7 AM Saturaday and Sunday mornings, then back on Monday with no time off. He routinely works 14 days without a day off. The doctors and medical staff at these military hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of casualties and the lack of resources and support for the job they have to do. I'm really glad congress has decided to get off their fat, lazy asses and "look into the situation at Walter Reed." HuffPo has commentary and the New York Times Story.

A suggestion for probing our shameful treatment of fallen troops

Let's get this straight once and for all: With great power comes great responsibility.

The president and the Congress have the power to send America's fighting men and women to war. They also bear the responsibility for caring for those troops and their families.

It's their duty to make certain that the families of those who fall in battle don't fall through the cracks. They also have a sacred obligation to see that those who are wounded or injured in service receive the finest medical care that a rich nation can provide.

Joe Galloway lays out his plan for 'winning in Iraq'--treating our servicepersons successfully. Read the rest...

Walter Reed General Loses His Command

My own OpEd response:ha ha
Headlines via Lotus:(thank you)

Walter Reed General Loses His Command
The Associated Press
Thursday, March 1, 2007; 2:01 PM

WASHINGTON — The Army said Thursday that the two-star general in charge of Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been relieved of command following disclosures about inadequate treatment of wounded soldiers.

Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, who was commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command as well as Walter Reed hospital, was relieved of command by Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey.

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” at Walter Reed.

Kiley needs to go too, but this is a start. -Lotus
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. Army Public Affairs office said this:

Maj. Gen. Weightman was informed this morning that the senior Army leadership had lost trust and confidence in the commander's leadership abilities to address needed solutions for Soldier-outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Commanding General of U.S. Army Medical Command, Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, will be acting temporarily as the Walter Reed commander until a general officer is selected for this important leadership position.

I concur with Lotus, Kiley needs to go. He has spun this despicable treatment of soldiers right into the ground, he needs to pay for his purposeful inattention and breach of contract to the soldiers that have fulfilled their duties. As far as Maj.Gen. George Weightman, good riddance to bad garbage.

More AYFKM: Walter Reed

Loose Lips Sink Shits

Beyond the Bush administrations incredibly shameful behavior after the discovery of the abuses at Walter Reed that came to light in recent reports, the newest information posted in an Army Times article tells us the DOD has ordered these soldiers to stop talking to the media. If that doesn't make your blood boil maybe this will: soldiers are being punished for the speaking out that has already occurred. Seasoned, experienced, professional soldiers are being told to wake up, clean their rooms, and report for formation and inspection by 7AM. The Army Times article states it this way,"It is unusual for soldiers to have daily inspections after Basic Training."

"Unusual" doesn't begin to cover it. I'm a Veteran, married to an active duty servicemember. Formations and room inspections are part of training for new recruits as part of instilling discipline. To expect these soldiers, marines and airmen who have been in war to engage in these punitive practices is not only humiliating but possibly medically unsound. These servicemembers are amputees, some multiple; they are blind, deaf, have serious traumatic brain injury and multilple other serious health problems. Once you move past the facility neglect exposed in the WaPo write-ups, the stark reality of the more severe problems are brought to the fore: the warehousing and abandonment of severely brain-injured troops.

Where's the outrage America? Is this how we support the troops? Is there a car magnet ribbon for this one? Get back to me on that one.

Bush Family=Cowards (can I add selfish to that?)

I came across this at Brother Tim's place, Blog of Revelation. He found it at Buzzflash. Read how not a single member of the Bush family (extended version),"...have volunteered for service in any branch of the military or volunteered to serve in any capacity in Iraq."

Not one of them has felt the cause was noble enough to put his or her life on the line.

Read this and explain to me how this family of criminals can claim to, "support the troops." Pleeze use small wurds so I can unnerstan.

Walter Reed Patients Told to STFU

File under AYFKM? (are you f'ing kidding me?): Patients at Walter Reed have been ordered to stop talking to the media. These severely injured servicemembers are active duty and still subject to orders from superiors. The Army Times brings this compounding shameful behavior of the US Army to light.

Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Medical Hold Unit say they have been told they will wake up at 6 a.m. every morning and have their rooms ready for inspection at 7 a.m., and that they must not speak to the media.

“Some soldiers believe this is a form of punishment for the trouble soldiers caused by talking to the media,” one Medical Hold Unit soldier said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Tell me again how junior's administration supports the troops? These warmongering hawks HATE the troops or worse don't care about them one whit. If there is one way to truly show support for the servicemembers of this country, not just lip service, please contact your representatives and DEMAND action. Heads should roll for this ignominious disservice. Our troops were doing their jobs; make congress do theirs.

In related news, ABC news anchor Bob Woodruff who himself was severly injured by an IED in Iraq, produced a special documentary called "To Iraq and Back" broadcast last night on the topic of wounded soldiers and their recovery process.. Watch it here.

Finally, please go to the site "Wounded Warriors" and toss some support their way. They are advocate for veterans and applying pressure to this criminal administration to compel them to do the right thing in regard to our injured soldiers and veterans.

Thanks to my ear to-the-ground, Lotus.

Final Mission:Updated

I posted the story a few weeks ago about an Army Captain who's last act on earth was to save a young Iraqi boy. Today an update comes in via the Washington Post regarding the Iraqi boy's current disposition. If this story doesn't break your heart, you don't have one. [H/T to Mary for the link.]

US Generals 'Will Quit' if Ordered on Iran

Times of London is reporting a number of senior U.S. commanders will resign if Bush orders a military strike against Iran.

“There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,” a source with close ties to British intelligence said. “There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.”

In related news, 60 Minutes last night had a segment, "Dissension in the Ranks," Watch video here via Raw Story. Also, Servicemembers join war protest with petition to congress, Common Dreams has it. It would appear that finally the servicemembers are catching a clue. I knew they would. Please read/watch this story-in-progress.
H/T to Naj and Lotus for the links.

9th Downed U.S. Helicopter in 5 Weeks

Can someone explain to me why I have to go to China to find this article that really should be on the front page of AMERICAN newspapers? Oh yeah, teh MSM and non-military people don't really care...

More Walter Reed Horror

The unbelievable, shocking repugnance continues at Walter Reed. At the very least, the mainstream media is giving it some light, for which I am grateful. Read "The Hotel Aftermath" at WaPo. When you're done with that give these articles a read, Wounded and Waiting," "The Forgotten Families," "Uninvited." "Hospital Investigates Former Aid Chief" and when you're finished, get angry and write your senator or congressperson a letter. Then seek out anyone who will listen and if they are Republican, all the better, and ask them how they are 'supporting the troops.' Do it. Remember every letter received represents the same opinion being shared by 10,000 other people who feel the same way but didn't write, or so say the marketing pros. Thanks from a Vet.

As If To Prove It...UPDATED

...it being the true incompetence of BushCo, Shakespeare's Sister has a great post up reporting on the abhorrent "support" our troops get from the criminal BushCo and it's minions. Once beyond the facts of the incredible mismanagement and neglect of our servicepersons is the stunning irony and frequency with which the bushies invoke their oaths of "troop support." It is truly sickening.

UPDATE:WaPO reports repairs to begin on Bldg. 18 at Walter Reed.
Also I'm including a poem written by a friend especially for this topic:

Walter Reed
Ave to the wounded heart
To the fragile mind
To the shattered soul

To the morning
And the evening
And the morning again
Ave

Ave to the next breath
To the next thought
To the next prayer

To the waiting
And the asking
And the waiting again
Ave

Ave to the scarring
To the screaming
To the nightmares

To the enduring
And the suffering
And the dying
Ave

Ave to the healing
That flits like a shadow
Down dingy corridors

Like a mirage
In the desert

Like the armor
That never came

Like the mercy we denied them
To be its givers or receivers

Like the justice they are owed

Even if it comes
Too slowly
For too many

And is not enough

Ave to the wounded
And to those who will not let them
Be forgotten.

Tammy Duckworth's Husband to be Deployed to Iraq

Iraq war veteran and former candidate for a congressional seat in Illinois, Tammy Duckworth, was notified that her husband Maj.Brian Bowlsby will be deployed to Iraq in March. Read the Chicago Tribune story here.

Final Mission of Mercy

I read this in the WaPo this morning and wept into my coffee. The poignant heartbreak of this senseless war deepens daily. This is the story of an Army Captain who's last act on earth was to save an Iraqi child's life. Read it here.

Open Letter to the Senate

I have just emailed this to my Senators. Please take any part of it or write your own and send it. Send it to your Senators today.

Dear Senators Boxer and Feinstein,

My request as an American , a voter, a USAF service-connected disabled veteran, the spouse of an active duty USAF officer and constituent is that you and the other 98 senators go to the nearest VA hospital, or Walter Reed, or Bethesda and look those broken souls in the eye. Explain to them why you can't take a more principled stand on their behalf. Then tell these soldiers, marines and airman that if they wait another two years, there might be enough funding to help with their problems.
Then I want you and your duly elected colleagues to go to the nearest military base and look those kids, and the parents who must leave their kids, and tell them why you can’t do anything to prevent their deployment to Iraq. Then tell them if they are still alive in two years, you might be able to help them then.
Next, I would like you to go visit some widows, widowers and family members, part of the one percent of the American people actually sacrificing, and tell them you would have really liked to have taken a stand to prevent their loved one from dying, but you couldn’t figure out a way to do that and get re-elected. Tell them you are sorry that in two years their loved ones will still be dead, but only then you will try to keep someone else’s kid, parent, spouse, from getting killed.
Finally, I want you to face the American people with respect to the resolution against the escalation of the war, and follow Chuck Hagel's advice, “I want 100 senators to look in that camera and tell your people back home what you think. Don’t hide anymore.”

This hand wringing on the part of those of you in power is unconscionable. As you posture, people die. It’s that simple.

Sincerely,
(my name)or yours

Please contact your senators and congressperson. Thank you.

Be One of the 1%

This is old news now since it happened more than a week ago but the Blackhawk helicopter crash that occurred on January 20th where twelve servicemembers were killed really affected me.

If you read here you know I'm married to a USAF physician who is a CCAT team(Critical Care Air Transport) member. One of the people that died was Colonel Brian Allgood an orthopedic surgeon. Certainly that Dr. Allgood was in the medical corp hits close to home, but the awful irony of the highest ranking death to date being someone there to impart healing stops me cold. Equally upsetting was the death of Command Sergeant Marilyn Gabbard, the first woman promoted to the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the history of the Army. My emotional reaction is manifold, Cmd.Sgt.Maj.Gabbard being a military woman like myself, is one dimension and the loss of a physician, like my husband another. The other ten losses are no less tragic and my heart goes out to the family and friends of all who were lost.

I do not agree with this occupation. Three quarters of the American public concur that the US needs to leave Iraq. Two thirds of active duty military also want out but do not have a choice, they just continue to do their jobs. The highest ranking officer, 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, who refused a second trip to Iraq, is now on trial. The people that serve need your help.

I cannot entreat anyone to have a personal stake in the loss of life that is now and will continue to mount as this illegal war/occupation continues, but look at the faces of the nearly 3,100 lost your government has shoved down the memory hole and withheld from public view. The lives the media scantly covered and George Bush refused to let you see return home. Then replace the face of someone whose died with the face of a loved one. Imagine yourself as part of the one percent and then contact your Senator. war

Ain't This A Bitch?

Two Year Old Boy Loses Father In War; Mother Scheduled To Return To Active Duty
I found this over at Steve Gillard's new place.
It's hard to keep up, but I trust that that which I need to pass along will appear as it is needed. I know virtually everyone that reads here are already 'part of the choir' but very few have or know people that are in Iraq or scheduled to go to Iraq. I am in the one percent of the American people "sacrificing" for this illegal, immoral quagmire. My loved one is going. Not today, but soon enough to be of concern. Read this story and then think about how every little bit of support for ending the war, any energy put forth toward ending this fiasco counts. Read it then do something, anything to add your voice to the public outcry. Please do something, we that sacrifice are counting on you.

DOD Lays Off Case Workers for Injured Troops

Yes sir, I am afraid of you...
Another story you won't see on the evening news, certain to be preempted by the State of the Union Address. This president finds soldiers useful as backdrops or for publicity photos but not important enough to take care of in spite of the promises made by the federal government.
The liar president who crows about supporting the troops has allowed the Department of Defense to lay off numerous case workers which effectively ends a program to assist injured troops. The Army Times writes it up.

Defense Department officials have laid off most of their case workers who help severely injured service members, sources said.

The case workers for the Military Severely Injured Center serve as advocates for wounded service members who have questions or issues related to benefits, financial resources and their successful return to duty or reintegration into civilian life — all forms of support other than medical care.

“They did a fabulous job for these families,” Buckley said. “The kind of work they do for these families who are hanging by a thread ... no other organization helped service members and their families like they did.”

When a Smile Says it All

This is a photo of the Dunham Family at the Medal of Honor Ceremony for their son, Marine Corporal Jason Dunham. Let's play the game from Sesame Street, "one of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn't belong..."
WTF is wrong with Peter Pace? Why is he smiling? Is something funny about a 22 year-old man who dies after falling on a live grenade to save his companions? Clearly the effects of the diabolical koolaid the top brass in Washington have been drinking has set in. Notice the appropriately somber faces of the Dunham family and how terribly wrong Pace's smiling pie-hole looks.

Pace seems to think he's at an "American Idol" audition
while the scope of this tragedy hits the Dunham family.

Newsweak does an interesting story on the top brass and how we should blame them for our failure in Iraq. I say there is plenty of blame to go around.

H/T to Lotus for the Newsweek link.