Elections have consequences

Is this what accountability looks like? It's been so long I forget.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey abruptly stepped down Friday as the Bush administration struggled to cope with the fallout from a scandal over substandard conditions for wounded Iraq soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The surprise move came one day after Harvey fired the two-star general in charge of the medical center in response to disclosures of problems at the hospital compound.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Harvey had resigned. But senior defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity said Gates had asked Harvey to leave. Gates was displeased that Harvey, after firing Maj. Gen. George Weightman as the head of Walter Reed, chose to name as Weightman's temporary replacement another general whose role in the controversy was still in question.

"I am disappointed that some in the Army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed," Gates said in the Pentagon briefing room. He took no questions from reporters.

Gates has the distinct advantage of being the new guy in this scandal. He can fire people and point fingers without the Army's problems reflecting back on him. So, it's worth noting, that without the midterm GOP thumpin' Secretary Gates would not be in charge, and this scandal would be playing out very differently. If Donald Rumsfeld still had the reins we would be watching a scandal run out of the vice president's office. From Cheney's mouth to Rummy's ears we would be watching a policy of dig-in and deny.