Walter Reed is Not a Photo Op

I just learned that President Bush will visit Walter Reed tomorrow afternoon.

The President should use his visit to gather first-hand accounts from our newly injured soldiers. He should use this trip to become more aware of the appalling state of military and veterans health care in this country, and he should use this trip to reinforce the responsibility that he has to ensure that our service members and veterans receive care for their injuries that is worthy of their sacrifices.

If the President uses this trip as an opportunity to justify a veto of the supplemental, then SHAME ON HIM.

Walter Reed is still broken.

The DoD healthcare system in this country is still broken.

The social contract between our country and those it sends to war is broken.

Now is the time for action. Tomorrow cannot be a photo op; it cannot be a political stunt.

Our troops need their Commander in Chief to start working harder for them.

President Bush should visit the areas of Walter Reed where our soldiers are suffering because of our neglect. He should visit Ward 54, where soldiers are suffering from acute mental health conditions. He should visit the decrepit outpatient holding facilities where our soldiers are waiting close to a year to get processed out of the Army.

Congress, the media, and the American people need to send a strong message that we will not tolerate any more political maneuvering at the expense of our troops.

(Please visit www.veteransforamerica.org to learn about our work with Walter Reed. Veterans for America has been working to address the needs of service members and veterans for over 30 years)