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Politics

Surgeon general of Army quits

By ANITA KUMAR
Published March 13, 2007

WASHINGTON - Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, the U.S. Army's surgeon general, announced his resignation Monday - the third high-level official to lose his job in a growing scandal over the poor treatment of soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Kiley, who headed the facility between 2002 and 2004, had faced repeated calls to step down.

"It was the appropriate thing to do," said U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, who toured Walter Reed with other members of Congress on Monday. "He was negligent. The buck stopped there."

Kiley angered lawmakers by blaming low-level managers for the problems at Walter Reed, one of the nation's premier facilities for wounded soldiers. Last week, he admitted the care "has not met our standards." Lawmakers were still unsatisfied.

Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, who had complained about problems at Walter Reed for years, said it was "something that needed to happen."

"His attitude just didn't measure up to the responsibility," Young said. "His attitude was, 'Don't try to tell me how to do my job.' "

Kiley, 56, submitted his retirement request Sunday.

"I submitted my retirement because I think it is in the best interest of the Army," Kiley said in a statement. He said he wanted to allow officials to "focus completely on the way ahead."

The Washington Post reported last month that soldiers recovering from injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan faced lengthy bureaucratic problems while being housed in filthy outpatient facilities.

Since then, a slew of lawmakers have visited Walter Reed, including Brown-Waite and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, on Monday and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, on Friday.

"Obviously it's very negative, an awful situation," Buchanan said. "But I hope it puts more focus on the soldiers and a commitment to them and their families."

Members say they saw many physical improvements to two outpatient buildings that were never built as hospitals, including new paint, mold removal, and bug and rodent extermination, but still found soldiers complaining about the redundant paperwork and long procedures.

Brown-Waite said the Army needs to expedite the process for soldiers to find out if they are considered disabled and will be discharged. She met soldiers who had been there for months.

Congress, the Pentagon and the White House have launched several investigations into the conditions at the facility.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates also has moved swiftly to change leaders: Army Secretary Francis Harvey was forced to resign, and Maj. Gen. George Weightman, who had been in charge of Walter Reed since August 2006, was fired.

Times staff writer Bill Adair and researcher Angie Drobnic Holan contributed to this report. Staff writer Anita Kumar can be reached at akumar@sptimes.com or 202 463-0576.

Fast Facts:

A widening net

The three Army leaders to lose their jobs so far:

Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, the Army's surgeon general, is retiring, the service said Monday. Kiley, who headed Walter Reed from 2002 to 2004, was asked to leave, officials said.

Army Secretary Francis Harvey was forced to resign on March 2 by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, in charge of Walter Reed since August 2006, was ousted a day earlier.

[Last modified March 13, 2007, 02:28:38]