Bush Promises Fixes At Walter Reed

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush is setting up a bipartisan commission to investigate the quality of care at all military and veterans hospitals in the wake of published reports of poor treatment of patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

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Since the series of reports appeared in The Washington Post, the general in charge of Walter Reed, Maj. Gen. George Weightman, was fired and the Army's top civilian, Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey, lost his job.

The president said Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirms there are "real problems" at Walter Reed and that those responsible are being held accountable.

In his weekly radio address, Bush said one of his "most solemn experiences" as president has been visiting injured service men and women.

He said they brought "the same courage they showed on the battlefield to their battle for recovery," and they deserve the nation's gratitude.

Bush said he will set a firm deadline for the commission to report back with recommendations.

Senior defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press that Gates had asked Harvey to leave. He was displeased that Harvey, after firing Weightman as the head of Army Medical Center, chose to name as Weightman's temporary replacement another general whose role in the controversy was still in question, the unnamed official said.

Harvey had been secretary of the Army since Nov. 19, 2004. Gates announced that Undersecretary of the Army Pete Geren will serve as acting secretary until a new secretary is in place. Geren served as acting secretary of the Air Force from July to November 2005.

Army officials said that Maj. Gen. Eric R. Schoomaker will be the new commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and North Atlantic Regional Medical Command. Schoomaker currently is the commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md.

The developments follow a series of reports about mice and mold in some patient quarters and wounded soldiers enduring long waits for treatment have embarrassed the Army and the Bush administration at a time when the White House is scrambling to shore up eroding support for the Iraq war.

It has prompted numerous calls in Congress for more information and sullied the reputation of what is supposed to be one of the world's foremost medical facilities.

An independent review group on Walter Reed's conditions led by former Veterans Affairs Secretary Togo West began work Friday, the Defense Department said. Its findings are due within 45 days.

The group has been tasked to "review, report upon and provide recommendations regarding any critical shortcomings and opportunities to improve rehabilitative care, administrative processes and the quality of life of patients," a Defense Department statement said.

That work comes on top of the bipartison commission Bush will appoing.

The president said the administration will use the commission's recommendations "to improve our service to our nation's veterans."

Gates said that the Army will soon name a new permanent commander for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"This flagship institution must have its new leadership in place as quickly as possible," he said.

"I am disappointed that some in the Army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed. Some have shown too much defensiveness and have not shown enough focus on digging into and addressing the problems," Gates said, while still expressing overall confidence in the Walter Reed staff.

"From what I have learned, the problems at Walter Reed appear to be problems of leadership. The Walter Reed doctors, nurses and other staff are among the best and most caring in the world. They deserve our continued deepest thanks and strongest support," Gates said.