Halliburton Connection to Walter Reed Fiasco

GOI: This from a report today on CNN's "The Situation Room" from reporter Andrea Koppel:

"This internal memo from Major General George Weightman's deputy to the Army's medical command:

Dated September 2006 the memo describes how the Army's recent decision to privatize support services at Walter Reed had sparked an exodus of "highly skilled and experienced personnel." And as a result Whaitman's deputy warned that Walter Reed's "Base Operations and patient care services are at risk of mission failure." Democrats investigating the situation say the Army awarded the 5 year, $120 million contract in January 2005. At that time, they claim Walter Reed had over 300 federal employees in support services by February 2006 (a year later) that number had dropped dropped to under 60. Democrats say the company that took over (IEP Worldwide Services) was among the companies that had problems delivering ice during FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina.

(GOI: Was Brownie doing a heck of a job again??? That rascal!!!)

The CEO of IAP (Al Neffgan) is a former senior...

...........(GOI: wait for it...................)






Halliburton official (GOI: OH MY GOD WHAT A SHOCK!!!!!!).

In a letter to General Weightman Congressman Henry Waxman says it would be "reprehensible if the deplorable conditions (at Walter Reed) were caused or aggravated by an ideological commitment to privatize government services..."

(GOI: I realize that the Congressman can't jump to conclusions but where's there's smoke there's Walter Reed on fire baby!! Keep on diggin' Congressman Waxman!! My spidey-schizo sense can see the White House's finger prints alllll over this one).

Even before news of this memo broke, Democrats were already calling for more heads to roll.
GOI: See THIS, the FEMA debacle during Katrina and the "Halliburtonization" of the war is what happens when you try and privatize government services!!! Gee, yet another stunning success of the Grover Norquist Neo-Conservative agenda. These clowns will have a sign over the White House pretty soon that says "Welcome to the White House sponsored by Exxon Mobile."

And as Brent says, this is a V.A. wide problem.

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