Bush picks Army doctor as veterans secretary

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Bush picks Army doctor as veterans secretary
Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:13pm EDT

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Tuesday
chose a retired military doctor and decorated Vietnam veteran to head
the veterans agency criticized over shoddy health care for soldiers
wounded in the Iraq and Afghan wars.

Lt. Gen. James Peake was chosen as Bush's nominee as secretary of the
Veterans Affairs Department. If confirmed by the Senate, he would
replace Jim Nicholson, who left government to join the private sector.

Peake, a former Army surgeon general, would be the first physican and
first general to hold the job. As someone who was wounded twice in
combat, Peake "understands the view from both sides of the hospital bed,"
Bush said.

The selection of Peake came eight months after a scandal erupted over
reports of poor health care for veterans of fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN30436429