WASHINGTON, March 3, 2007

New Defense Chief Shows Who The Boss Is

Gates' Reaction To Walter Reed Scandal Was Swift, Blunt

  • Play CBS Video Video Walter Reed Head Fired

    The general in charge of Walter Reed Army Medical Center was fired at the urging of Defense Secretary Robert Gates after a series of newspaper articles exposed shoddy conditions. David Martin reports.

  • Video Notebook: Wounded War Veterans

    Only On The Web: The problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center point to wider problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Katie Couric wonders how our vets can get the care they deserve.

  • Video Secretary Of The Army Resigns

    Defense Secretary Robert Gates demanded and got the resignation of Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey. David Martin reports.

  • Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, Friday, Feb. 23, 2007.

    Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, Friday, Feb. 23, 2007.  (AP)

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(CBS)  The scandal over the substandard care and poor living conditions for veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center continues to shake the Bush administration and the military establishment.

But, as CBS News correspondent Joie Chen reports, swift, sure reaction by the new defense secretary has signaled new and different leadership at the Pentagon.

If anyone had somehow missed the point, the new Pentagon boss ended the week with a sharp jab at his own team.

"I am disappointed that some in the army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation," Robert Gates said told reporters Friday.

In an unusually blunt and swift – by Washington standards – reaction Gates ousted army chief Francis Harvey over Harvey's handling of a spiraling scandal at the nation's premier military hospital.

News reports last month exposed filthy conditions facing Iraq war veterans at Walter Reed hospital.

Harvey had fired the general in charge but replaced him with the former commander who many veterans blame for allowing things to deteriorate in the first place.

Fed up Gates forced both men out and signaled his limited patience for the way things used to be.

"He wanted to send a message early that this was a different leadership, and a different kind of accountability," said Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution.

In the short time he has been on the job, Gates' hands-on, no-holds-barred, Texan-style has quickly come into play – jetting off to see the troops in Iraq as soon as he was sworn in.

And, in contrast to the distance reporters had with former Pentagon boss Donald Rumsfeld, he is setting up a new relationship with the press, telling one group of reporters that he would "prefer a more informal setting."

"He has basically said to the press, 'you're right you did me a favor, you did a good story'," O'Hanlon said.

Gates' actions may also be important for George W. Bush as the president tries to sure up the relationship with an important part of his constituency: military families and veterans.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 89 Comments
by energyecon March 5, 2007 11:58 AM EST
liars008 you show your true colors when you try to turn this forum on the need to improve treatment for our veterans into an incoherent screed against Islam or score points on other issues - another CON artist showing what they really think of the troops!
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 March 5, 2007 12:18 AM EST
on the contrary.....
i think the vets deserve way better treatment than socialize medicine......

What Thomas Jefferson learned
from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim
Reply to this comment
by energyecon March 5, 2007 12:11 AM EST
liars008 excuses the matreatment of our vets and suggests that is acceptable:
"it is well known to both political parties and all news media that the va/military hospitals have been c r a p..... they always have been c r a p...... "

then goes on to try and score partisan talking points while continuing to present the maltreatment of our veterans as acceptable:
"but then what do you expect from socialized medicine and that is what you will get when the demonic-rats try to force socialized medicine on the usa..... all the hospitals will be c r a p like the va/military hospitals...."

liars008 you MUST be already working in the Bush administration!
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 March 4, 2007 10:18 PM EST
I'm shocked, shocked to find such conditions.....
yeahhhhhh rightttttttttt

it is well known to both political parties and all news media that the va/military hospitals have been c r a p..... they always have been c r a p...... but then what do you expect from socialized medicine...... and that is what you will get when the demonic-rats try to force socialized medicine on the usa..... all the hospitals will be c r a p like the va/military hospitals....

reminds me of casablanca.......
Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
[aloud]
Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/quotes
Reply to this comment
by trchase4 March 4, 2007 8:54 PM EST
Gates is rolling heads all for show. Gates needs
to explain to our troops why the Bush Administration
will be cutting funding for veterans health care in
2009 coming from Bush himself.
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 8:36 PM EST
lars...I looked up the definition of Fascism. This is what I got:

Fascism (also Fas.cism)
Noun
An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
(In general use) extreme right-wing authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice
Reply to this comment
by sclaires March 4, 2007 8:33 PM EST
I just hope that what Gates is doing is not just for show so that when things quiet down, as they will unless kept on top of, everything will go back to the way it was. Have seen too much of that happening to hope that the changes now being made will continue.
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 March 4, 2007 6:43 PM EST
nope...... it is the fascist nazi islamic nations that are......

ISLAM / PERFECT EXAMPLE OF FASCISM!!!
islam is intent on killing or enslaving all nonmuslims......

The most notable characteristic of a fascist country is the separation and persecution or denial of equality to a specific segment of the population based upon superficial qualities or belief systems.

Simply stated, a fascist government always has one class of citizens that is considered superior (good) to another (bad) based upon race, creed or origin. It is possible to be both a republic and a fascist state. The preferred class lives in a republic while the oppressed class lives in a fascist state.
http://www.couplescompany.com/Fe
atures/Politics/Structure3.htm
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 6:25 PM EST
lars

I got it. Let's get Hillary and GENGHIS KHAN to clean up Walter Reed.
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 6:21 PM EST
lars..."Momma-say, momma-saw, mom-ma-cu-saw!"

-Michael Jackson
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 6:17 PM EST
lars...Based on your post (below) sounds like you're the Fascist.


"GENGHIS KHAN KNEW HOW 2 TREAT FASCIST NAZI ISLAMIC MUSLIMS!
The Mongol Empire practiced religious tolerance to a large degree because it was generally indifferent to belief. The exception was when religious groups challenged the state. For example Ismaili Muslims that resisted the Mongols were exterminated."
http://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/Genghis_Khan
Posted by lars008 at 02:56 PM : Mar 04, 2007
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 March 4, 2007 6:07 PM EST
Ezekiel 25:17 among others]
Jules: The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/quotes
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 6:03 PM EST
lars...

You are so right. Cheney is sort of a cross between GENGHIS KHAN/Darth Vader. Perhaps there's a movie of the week here?
Reply to this comment
by tmn March 4, 2007 6:01 PM EST
Bush has been in office for nearly 6 years. It is his responsibility now. No buck passing...
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 5:59 PM EST
lars...

You are so right. Cheney is sort of a cross between GENGHIS KHAN/Darth Vader. Perhaps there's a movie of the keep here?
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 5:56 PM EST
lars008...Quick find us a quote from the movie "Battle Field Earth" which gives evidence that the World is actually flat.
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 March 4, 2007 5:56 PM EST
GENGHIS KHAN KNEW HOW 2 TREAT FASCIST NAZI ISLAMIC MUSLIMS!
The Mongol Empire practiced religious tolerance to a large degree because it was generally indifferent to belief. The exception was when religious groups challenged the state. For example Ismaili Muslims that resisted the Mongols were exterminated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan
Reply to this comment
by david1737 March 4, 2007 5:52 PM EST
lars008

I'm worried about you. I've noticed that you like to use these quotes from movies, old political speeches etc... You're living in a "fantasy world" where Bush's policy in Iraq is working and Democracy has spread throughout the region.
Get some help!
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 March 4, 2007 5:41 PM EST
it is no secret that it has been going on for longer than bush...... this is the media playing anti bush politics as usual......

i do hope something does happen cause the vets deserve the best..... but to pretend this is new is just politics as usual.....

reminds me of casablanca.......
Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
[aloud]
Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/qu
otes
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 March 4, 2007 5:39 PM EST


Bush has been using Americans patriotism and support for the troops to insulate himself from criticism for to long. He doesn't support the troops and never has. He sent them into Iraq on a lie, under-equiped and undermaned. When they return home broken, he sweeps them under a the rug and forgets about them.


Reply to this comment
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