OT: Anti-War Protests Target Wounded at Army Hospital

[TrainTrac]

Washington (CNSNews.com) - The Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the current home of hundreds of wounded veterans from the war in Iraq, has been the target of weekly anti-war demonstrations since March. The protesters hold signs that read "Maimed for Lies" and "Enlist here and die for Halliburton."

While I fully support this group's right to assemble and right to free speech, I also think that there is a time and place for everything. I don't think that right outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center is the appropriate place for this type of demonstration.



The full story and a link to a video report can be found at the link below:

 

[Frank Marano]

Yeah and there is some sort of thing going on where they want to CLOSE Walter Reed medical center and save 300 million a year. Bush has got to go...... I read about it lastnight......thats crazy.

 

[A1cntrler]

The closing of Walter Reed was voted on and approved by the BRAC (Base Realignment And Closure Commitee). They said that injured trrops deserve better care and they will be going to newer state of the art medical facilities...

 

[Wes Davis]

The new hospital is to be built just outside of DC as well.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

I agree with the above, and I will add that the Republican adgenda (which seems to have an underlying theme of have big business take over running this country, if it hasn't already done so) has to go.

 

[Shawn Hennessy]

...they want to CLOSE Walter Reed medical center...Bush has got to go...... I read about it

It is just amazing how people find facts and twist them into ways to support their uninformed viewpoints in order to justify hating someone a little more.



The BRAC commission (meets every 6-10 years) to ensure the current bases are supporting the needs of today's (and the next 10 years) needs to defend our country. My brother-in-law was the BRAC coordinator for a local Naval station.



The way you worded your comment, FMarano, you made it sound as if the DoD was going to abstain from treating the wounded of this (and futire) wars. Last I checked, there are hundreds of first rate hospitals on other bases around this country.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

This is just one of those sticky areas. It is like talking about religion and abortion. You will have people that agree and people that disagree. It is what makes the USA what it is.



We are allowed to voice out thoughts. There are a great many countries out there where you will die trying to put your thoughts out into the public forum.



I do not think this is a Bush thing so much as it is politics in general. The BRAC is who makes these decisions, not the President of the United States... That said, Bush is not perfect, nor has any other Pres that has ever held the office. You vote for the lesser of the two evils or who you think will be the better "good" over all.



Politics run the country, not the President. He certainly has some say in what happens or does not happen. Rest assured that his advisor's feed him the required info for those decisions to be made...

 

[TomT]

This demonstration is no different then those idiot right-to-lifers that demonstrate outside of health clinics.

 

[EddieS'04]

I agree with their right to protest. But they are doing these soldiers a great injustice. I akin their actions to being spit on and talked down to, when I came back from V'Nam. I wasnt spit on myself, but I was talked to like I was dog doo doo.



The protestors actions are only to make the soldiers ashamed. It pisses me off. As much as I see after the fact of Nam. I was and still am proud to have served my 3yr Army enlistment. God Bless America and our troops....

 

[TrainTrac]

Actually, the independent, non-partisan BRAC commission (not President Bush) voted to recommend the closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and consolidate the majority of its staff and responsibilites with those at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Under this recommendation, no new hospital will be built. Funds will be allocated to expand Bethesda. This decision was made based on the fact that the facilities and infrastructure at Bethesda are much more modern than those at WRAMC, and that much better care will be able to be offered to the troops at Bethesda.

I agree with the above, and I will add that the Republican adgenda (which seems to have an underlying theme of have big business take over running this country, if it hasn't already done so) has to go.

Without any facts to back it up, this statement appears to be just another anti-Republican talking point. Perhaps some amplifying information could be added. Truth be told, big business does have an influence on politics, but on both sides of the aisle. Through things such as campaign contributions and their paid lobbyists on K street. The lobbyists' influence can be reduced tremendously by the passage of the FairTax.



Read the New York Times and Amazon.com best seller The FairTax to find out more.



http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060875410/qid=1125070973/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-5514949-0604953?v=glance&s=books&n=507846



Before you denounce the FairTax, read the book or the wealth of research at the link below. Virtually every objection and question is address in both the book and at the web site.

 

[Shawn Hennessy]

This demonstration is no different then those idiot right-to-lifers that demonstrate outside of health clinics.

Hardly.



You're equating men and women who are surving their country to (predomintately) sluts and skanks who choose not to use birth control (don't give me the rape and birth defect scenario...that's just liberal crap). There is no connection and the difference is quite vast.



Some folks don't see that service to their country is a sacred thing. I guess it is no different then spending a night out with some Joe Dirt and getting knocked up.



"Hey soldier...you're a friggin' moron!"

.

"Go get yourself some friggin' birthcontrol next time."



Please.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

That is horrible they are picketing in front of the hospital. US Military is one of the few if not the only one that is completely voluntary to be in the military. And, these men and women are protecting our rights and freedom. The exact freedom of those fools picketing. It's a shame. As I've always said right or wrong about the war please support the soldiers.



Thanks,

SST

 

[Mark Grumpy]

No comment on the idiots outside the gate. I guess that was a comment, wasn't it. Anyway, same thing is happening here in San Antonio with regard to the hospital reallignment. Wilford Hall Medical Center, the Air Force's oldest hospital, is being converted to an outpatient only facility. In-patient services are transferring to Brooke Army Medical Center, an ultra modern facility just 15 minutes away. It makes sense, fiscally, to combine the two and provide even better care to our troops.



Edit - I meant to say, MY first experience with BRAC was under Reagan in 86/87.



grump

 

[Shawn Hennessy]

Apparently, it is only a bad thing and the result of big business when Republicans have the white house:





"The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process had its origins in the 1960s. Understanding that the Department of Defense (DOD) had to reduce its base structure that had been created during World War II and the Korean War, President John F. Kennedy directed Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara to develop and implement an extensive base realignment and closure program to adjust to the realities of the 1960s. The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) subsequently established the criteria to govern the selection of bases without consulting Congress or the military. Under McNamara's guidance DOD closed sixty bases early in the 1960s without Congress or other government agencies being involved."



Read the <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/brac.htm" target="_blank">full synopsis</a> of BRAC.

 

[TomT]

I stand by my original comment in that there is a time and place for everything. No, I do not think it is right to protest right outside of Walter Reed Hospital. Just like I don't think holy-rollers should protest outside of health clinics. Yes, what they are protesting against is completely different but the protesters share one thing in common. They're idiots.

 

[Deleted deleted]

We got young kids dying overseas and a president who takes vacation 1 day out of every 5 (as discussed on ABC's This Morning America).



If I hired a new employee who asked for 1 day off each week, he'd get fired!



What kind of message is Mr. President trying to give the people?

 

[Mark Grumpy]

Not to start a political debate but; Darin, do you think he works 8 hours a day the other 4? My guess is that he works more hours, hours not days, than most of us.



grump

 

[Deleted deleted]

grumpy: actually, it was mentioned he quits at 5pm on the days he is working.

 

[TrainTrac]

We got young kids dying overseas and a president who takes vacation 1 day out of every 5 (as discussed on ABC's This Morning America). If I hired a new employee who asked for 1 day off each week, he'd get fired!

All of the reports about President Bush's time away from the White House are just desparate attempts to make him look bad. Now think about this for a minute: Do you truly believe that the President of the United States can just take off on vacation and leave his work behind at the office, or just "knock off" at 1700, ever???



The President never, ever gets an opportunity to leave his work behind. You would be amazed at how much they are even awakened in the middle of the night. A shipmate of mine served for six years with the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) and he said that traditionally, the President doesn't even share a bedroom with his wife. He usually sleeps in a different part of the White House so as to not disturb his family if he's awakened during the night. Imagine having to do that for four or eight years. I wouldn't wish that job on my worst enemy! Yes, it was their choice to run for office. But take a good look at any President when they first enter office, and then again when they leave office. It's unbelieveable how much that job ages them. So don't begrudge any President who takes an opportunity to go somewhere where they might be able to get even a little bit of rest and relaxation.



Besides, another reason the President chose to go to Crawford is that Congress is not in session during the month of August either. Do you see the media bad-mouthing them about taking a vacation while "We got young kids dying overseas"?

 

[Shawn Hennessy]

Andy,



President Clinton never slept, took piss breaks, or any time away from his demanding job while our boys were serving their country in Bosnia. Clinton met with every mother of soldiers who were KIA. He took them into the White House, fed them, gave them millions of dollars, added them to his military advisory council, and he immediately pulled out...of Bosnia.



He was the model of what a president should be. Purest of the pure. Clinton was a far more honest and good president and he should replace that hack, Washington on our dollar and quarter.