Charming Army Brass Get Little Rebuke From Vet Care Panel

Faced with little evidence of progress in caring for wounded veterans 16 months after the Walter Reed scandal, US Army generals resorted to battlefield tactics in a hearing before a House subcommittee yesterday, Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post: “A tactical retreat in the face of an overwhelming enemy: the facts.” The generals fell over themselves apologizing, and disarmed the committee with flattery.

“It absolutely needs to work better,” said one general. “Some would say that we're a step slow,” said another. “I have no argument with that complaint.” One said he wanted to “thank Congress for the leadership … you provide.” Lawmakers thanked the generals for a pleasant hearing, expressed confidence in the group’s “overall positive direction,” and ended the affair quickly. (More Walter Reed fallout stories.)