The homefront challenge

The Baltimore Sun

Jim Nicholson's resignation last week after 2 1/2 years as secretary of veterans affairs was described as abrupt, but the wonder is that he lasted so long.

A former real estate developer, Republican Party chairman and ambassador to the Vatican, Mr. Nicholson was overwhelmed by a hidebound bureaucracy unable to cope with the sheer size and complexity of its rapidly expanding client load. And he was no match for White House political bosses trying to hide the true cost of the Iraq war by shorting veterans' care.

What the Department of Veterans Affairs desperately needs now is a creatively bold advocate for the damaged and disabled service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan at a record rate - as well as for the growing numbers of Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans in need of physical and mental help.

If President Bush chooses another political hack or even a well-meaning caretaker to replace Mr. Nicholson, he will be adding to the injuries of Americans who have already sacrificed plenty in service to their country.

Mr. Nicholson's turbulent tenure has been marked by embarrassing episodes that prompted frequent calls for his resignation. He repeatedly defended before Congress budgets that were inadequate to deal with a continuing conflict in which the U.S. wounded outnumber those killed by 17-to-1, compared with 3-to-1 for the Vietnam War. After reality caught up with him, the secretary was forced to return for $3 billion in emergency funds.

Money woes combined with antiquated methods and outdated computer technology to create a backlog of 600,000 disability claims. The scandal over shoddy outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center exposed similar shortcomings at VA facilities all over the country that have been particularly unprepared to deal with the brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders that plague veterans of the Iraq conflict.

Meanwhile, a VA laptop containing personal data on 26.5 million veterans was stolen last year in the first of several such security breaches, and there was a flap this spring over bonuses paid to VA officials despite the agency's poor performance.

An overhaul of the VA to reflect its modern mission is long overdue, but the job of secretary isn't going to get easier. Mr. Bush should make sure he finds someone who's up to the task.

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