Walter Reed Blog

My initial reaction to hearing about this blog was, "Ah, the inevitable, exploitative follow-up to the tragedy-of-the moment. Some soldier trying to buy himself an easy ticket out or a good job afterwards."

But that changes as soon as one reads along a bit. This is the real, compelling and heart-wrenching, self-help of a soldier caught in bureaucratic purgatory.

If you oppose the war, if you support the war, you must read Walter Reed.

The media never came to us, the Soldier.

The problems were quickly and correctly addressed at the highest of levels. Heads did roll. But was it all that necessary to fire or force to resign people who were so separated from the real issues? Most media outlets would say yes. But what has it changed? The real problem is this... the media really didn't care about the issue.

The testimony from two Wounded Warrior and one faithful military spouse were tucked neatly between Anna Nicole Smith and Scooter Libby. And once the government decided to place heads on the chopping block the focus shifted even further from Walter Reed. No longer were Soldiers problems in the spotlight. It became a finger pointing game. Who dropped the ball? Who is to blame? The public cried for closure. And unfortunately they got just that. An end.

The camera trucks stopped watching BLDG 18 and the reconstruction efforts there. They stopped watching the drugs dealers on Georgia Avenue. They stopped watching the war protesters that picket outside the gate of Walter Reed. Please listen to me carefully...the media is gone, but we are still here. The cast may have changed, but its still the same show.