Walter Reed Exposes Weakened Top Brass

Blame the Walter Reed scandal on "the silence of our top officers," writes a retired Army general. Paul Eaton, who spent a year in Baghdad rebuilding the Iraqi army, says the administration and Congress "pointedly failed to provide the money and resources for our returned troops," and top military officials let it happen.

Eaton lists ten steps that could improve medical care for returning veterans, ranging from budget increases to de-privatization of services. But his main challenge is to the military leadership to stand up to wrong-headed civilians. "I expect the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be able to resume their rightful role in our nation's defense," Eaton writes. (More Bush administration stories.)