(CNSNews.com) - One year after the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were exposed by The Washington Post, Senate Democrats said they have made significant strides in improving care for soldiers and veterans, though the situation is still "completely unacceptable." At the same time, some observers contend that politicians are using the Walter Reed situation to score political points.

The Washington Post published a series of articles, beginning Feb. 18, 2007, which outlined cases of neglect at Walter Reed as detailed by wounded soldiers and their family members. The articles also led to the firing of the general in charge of Walter Reed and the resignation of Army Secretary Francis Harvey.

"Even though the public is very much divided about the war in Iraq, they're totally united in terms of their support for our troops and our veterans," Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said during a conference call briefing with reporters on Friday.

"The Democratic Congress very speedily and very forcefully responded, and we adopted on a bipartisan basis probably in record time a dramatic change in the way we work with our wounded warriors," he said.

Levin touted the efforts by congressional Democrats to aid American troops and veterans.

"We've also authorized additional money for improved diagnoses and treatment and rehab of our troops that have traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder," he said, adding that they have also extended active duty medical benefits for three years.

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) added, "We have a moral obligation to do right by those who have been harmed in defense of our country.

"Too often, it's an obligation we have not fulfilled," he said.

"One of my concerns is that this is just the latest chapter in a continuing narrative, particularly with regard to the conflict in Iraq, where there has been a consistent lack of planning across the board - inadequate armored vehicles on the way in, inadequate troop strength, inadequate body armor, and now we've seen inadequate planning for the aftermath of combat in that country and inadequate planning and preparation for what to do with our brave soldiers who were injured in combat when they returned home," Bayh said.

However, "The biggest concern that we all have is that our soldiers and veterans not be used as political footballs to score political points," said Kristinn Taylor, a spokesman for the pro-troop organization Gathering of Eagles.

"There were problems at Walter Reed, but they were blown so out of proportion," Taylor told Cybercast News Service.

Taylor noted that patients at Walter Reed held a press conference "to let military families know that if their loved ones ended up having to go to Walter Reed that they would be taken care of and to not be afraid because the news media and some of the Democrats really worked to hurt the reputation of Walter Reed to score political points."

"I think the government has a long history of not doing everything in its power to adequately care for veterans once they've returned," Taylor said. "The people will always step up and volunteer and donate time and money for our soldiers, as they've been doing in the current war on terror.

"The biggest thing the Democrats could do if they want to help our soldiers is to support them in their mission now," Taylor said.

Make media inquiries or request an interview about this article.



E-mail a comment or news tip to Monisha Bansal